SBR barrel length questions

I have a standard 16" barrel and would like to go a little shorter, ideally a 10.5 or 12.5. I know you need pay a tax/fee and get some paperwork for these, but my question is, what is the shortest barrel you can get on these rifles without the tax/fee and paperwork?

I know in california you can get a 14.5" barrel if you weld the flash hider on, but I haven't been able to find much about minimum barrel lengths in co.

Any other personal advice would be appreciated too. I know going shorter messes some things up, need different buffer springs, etc. Can you get away with all the regular components if only going to a 12.5"?

Thanks for the help!

16" total. If under 16", there must be a permanently (welded) attached muzzle device bringing the length over 16".

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wack8

I know in california you can get a 14.5" barrel if you weld the flash hider on, but I haven't been able to find much about minimum barrel lengths in co.

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You could chop your barrel down to 2" and weld a 14" flash hider on if you want, as long as the total permanent length is over 16".

Here's mine before I got my Tax Stamp.

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/p...t/IMAG0262.jpg

I had to buy this 10 inch aluminum bar and have it pinned to my 7 inch barrel to keep it legal[Coffee]

Here's my converted Draco. Not as nice as Islander's Krink, but it's a start...

http://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/...1/0d53bc08.jpg

12.5" will be the most forgiving of the 10.5/11.5/12.5 subset. Shouldn't require too much tinkering or swapping of parts. Possibly an H buffer, but that is about it.

Keep in mind that these things take time and cost money to do properly. You are going to have a bit of a wait before you can throw a gun together.

When you do have the appropriate paperwork, there are many good places to get a barrel from. If you have a barrel that you want cut down, Burt with BPS Tactical does a phenomenal job, threads concentric to the bore (the right way) and is in Aurora.

http://www.johnnyego.com/firearms/ar...2/ubrgna4a.jpg

Actually shoot a few SBR's before assuming you want one based on aesthetics. I've had 10.5" and 11.5" AR's and when you tally up the wait time, tax stamp, Etc., the novelty can wear off prior to the end of the third magazine of ammo. It makes use with a can a more compact proposition but unless you plan to suppress it, the advantages of a 12.5" over a pinned 14.5 are fairly minimal unless you really like muzzle blast and having your name engraved on the lower.

Thanks for all the replies, definitely some feedback I was looking for.