Question about 14.5 vs 16" barrels

[problemchild]

So I am looking at building or buying a 14.5 inch ar15. Is there any disadvantage to having a 14.5 pinned with a flash hider vs a 16 inch? I am ok with the hider being pinned I wont be changing it. Im also not going to be shooting to 1k so I am also ok with the lower velocity.

One more thing. What barrel brand would you go with? Noveske or Raineer ultra match 14.5? Or is there a better choice? I do not want a pencil barrel.

 

[opshin556]

Re: Question about 14.5 vs 16" barrels

The disadvantage comes from RAD, Rifle Attention Disorder, which most guys will get at some point.
You might be happy with the pinned A2 flash hider today, but youll want a surefire brake for a can at some point.
just ask half the guys on this site how many have built a carbine and left it alone...
The 14.5 is a bit handier in buildings, getting in and out of trucks, etc.
Velocity difference from 62 and 77 grain really wont mean much either way.
Barrels are user preference, so many good quality ones today.
twist rate is important if your plan on shooting the heavier 77 grain bullets.
1 in 7 is the milspec standard, hard to go wrong with it.
I am sure you will get 100 or so different answers, thats my .02

 

[Mike B]

Re: Question about 14.5 vs 16" barrels

LW make some nice tubes. I have a 24" on my Seekins/Mega build it performs very well. 1 in 8 twist wyld chamber.

 

[BgBmBoo]

Re: Question about 14.5 vs 16" barrels

I just put this one together: http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=3179914#Post3179914

The OP is in CA so a non-pinned 14 1/2" is a no go. I am partial to JP. One of the advantages to JP's barrels is you can get the "pencil" barrel but add the thermal dissipater (heat sink). That way you have the advantage of a light weight upper/barrel, but have the cooling that far exceeds a heavy barrel. More info here: http://www.jprifles.com/1.4.5_hs.php
Plus they make very accurate barrels....I currently own 3 JP upper based AR's. And have owned a total of 5.
They are not a price point company, but you get what you pay for.

Good luck on your search/build.

 

[problemchild]

Re: Question about 14.5 vs 16" barrels

Could you run the JP pencil with heat-sink inside a Vltor monolithic rail?

Thanks everyone for the info.....



<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BgBmBoo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just put this one together: http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=3179914#Post3179914

The OP is in CA so a non-pinned 14 1/2" is a no go. I am partial to JP. One of the advantages to JP's barrels is you can get the "pencil" barrel but add the thermal dissipater (heat sink). That way you have the advantage of a light weight upper/barrel, but have the cooling that far exceeds a heavy barrel. More info here: http://www.jprifles.com/1.4.5_hs.php
Plus they make very accurate barrels....I currently own 3 JP upper based AR's. And have owned a total of 5.
They are not a price point company, but you get what you pay for.

Good luck on your search/build. </div></div>

 

[BgBmBoo]

Re: Question about 14.5 vs 16" barrels

You would have to measure it to be sure, but from the looks of it, yes. The JP hand guards are pretty small.

 

[BBJones13]

Re: Question about 14.5 vs 16" barrels

IMO not a big enough difference between a pinned 14.5 and a 16 to get a 14.5. You are talking about an inch less in length in exchange for never being able to change your muzzle device and gas block (unless you get a clamp on which is less than ideal). If you are looking to shave some weight get a thinner profile barrel. The two you mention are on the heavy side.

Have you looked into this noveske: http://noveskerifleworks.com/cgi-bin/imc...tus=&title=
It is not a pencil barrel but thinner than a medium profile. IMO it is an ideal profile for an all around barrel.

 

[pupdawg]

Re: Question about 14.5 vs 16" barrels

I would say just stay with the 16". Unless you want to build a "M4" clone of course it would be a 14.5 w/pinned A2 FH and the barrel would be "m4" contour.

Also if this is a blaster then any chrome-lined spec barrel from LMT, BCM, etc would work really nice.

If you want to do double duty as a precision rig you can build a Recon spec'd upper with a 16" medium contour precision barrel and railed handguard covering the gas block.

 

[BgBmBoo]

Re: Question about 14.5 vs 16" barrels

I hear that a lot..."your only talking less then an inch". Really? Cause my 16" and my 14 1/2" are about 2 3/4" difference. I guess your leaving out the flash hider/brake?

And most precision AR builder agree that clamp on style gas blocks are the way to go. Discussed in this thread here: http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1951633

I understand that having a pinned brake is not ideal. But again...myself and the OP are in CA where SBR's are not allowed. So a pinned brake or FH is the only way we can legally have a 14 1/2" (or less) carbine.

Pics of my 16" and 14 1/2" AR's

 

[BCP]

Re: Question about 14.5 vs 16" barrels

I would stick to 16" because of the laws besides they both feel the same to me. Also I've had to remove faulty gas blocks/tubes and a pinned flash hider would have been a headache for that.

FWIW I have an ultra match barrel and it is very accurate. I would buy another.

 

[problemchild]

Re: Question about 14.5 vs 16" barrels

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BCP</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would stick to 16" because of the laws besides they both feel the same to me. Also I've had to remove faulty gas blocks/tubes and a pinned flash hider would have been a headache for that.

FWIW I have an ultra match barrel and it is very accurate. I would buy another. </div></div>

Good to know....

I was wondering about the repair replace aspect. Pinned and welded is the only way we can have a 14.5 here in the PRK

 

[BBJones13]

Re: Question about 14.5 vs 16" barrels

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BgBmBoo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I hear that a lot..."your only talking less then an inch". Really? Cause my 16" and my 14 1/2" are about 2 3/4" difference. I guess your leaving out the flash hider/brake?

And most precision AR builder agree that clamp on style gas blocks are the way to go. Discussed in this thread here: http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1951633

I understand that having a pinned brake is not ideal. But again...myself and the OP are in CA where SBR's are not allowed. So a pinned brake or FH is the only way we can legally have a 14 1/2" (or less) carbine.

Pics of my 16" and 14 1/2" AR's



</div></div>

Your measuring technique is flawed. You have a fairly long brake on your 16" and 1.6" FH on your 14.5".

If you used an a2 and a2X, the difference is about 1". Or a BC 2.0 and BC 1.5 again approx. 1". By your method, I could put a brake/FH that is 4" long on the 16" and a brake/FH that is 1.6" long on a 14.5" and the difference would be almost 4".

Even if you used the same phantom on both of your rifles the difference would only be the length of the barrel (1.5").