Since we lost some wonderful threads...

I stopped by my local gunshop this evening and saw something that I didn't expect: a California legal AR--this one converted to 9mm--with a barrel even shorter than mine. Although I thought I had the shortest barrel (non-SBR) that was legal on my carbine, I find there are even shorter ones...14.5" barrels with permanently attached flash hiders (to bring them up to 16").

Now, clearly, there is some disadvantage to a permanently fixed muzzle device--you can't easily change your front sight post, gas block, etc.--but I think this may be well worth it in order to gain the 1.5-2 inches decrease in overall length. That 9mm carbine was VERY handy.

I hereby vow to make my next carbine build with one of these shorter barrels. Perhaps in 6.8mm...

So the barrel is shortened, but they then lengthen it? What good is that?

If you have a REMOVABLE flash hider, the barrel has to be 16" BEFORE the length of the flash hider is added.

If you have a PERMANENT flash hider, the 16" requirement INCLUDES the flash hider.

By getting a barrel with a permanent flash hider, I could save almost 2 inches on the overall length...and, as I saw tonight, that 2 inches means A LOT for the rifle's handiness.

So you're saying that on a normal AR-15, it's 16" plus the flash hider for, say, 17.5"?

I'm trying to follow you here; sorry if I'm being dense.

Yeah. Straight up barrel length, 16" is the minimum....but if you permanently attach a standard 1.5" flash hider to a 14.5 inch barrel, then technically, it's a 16" barrel...and therefore not an nfa gun.

So, I've seen some AR-15's without flash suppressors. Don't flash suppressors cause a loss of muzzle velocity? Why not just have a 16" barrel without a flash suppressor?

Not that I'm aware of, other than the fact that in order for the "barrel" to be 16", the flash supressor might make the overall length more than you want.

That would be fine for a carbine just specifically for target or range blaster shooting...but not so good in a low light, self defense type situation. It's there so that the flash from firing doesn't mess with your vision.

That CAR15 copy I posted earlier has a permanently-mounted 5.5" (I misspoke when I said it was 6.5") flash suppressor on a 10.5" barrel.

It's very handy.

I don't think I'll ever alter that rifle because it looks too much like a Vietnam-era CAR15/XM177E1/E2.

What type of velocity do you lose with a 5.5" suppressor? I'm very curious - is it legal to have a gunsmith modify your weapon like that or does it have to be factory original?

^
I'm sure you lose *some* MV.

AFAIK, that rifle came from the factory that way.

I'd sooner have the 16" just for the betters odds of bullet fragmentation due to its initial higher velocity.

I don't have hump my rifle in and out of Humvees all day.

If I must absolutely have a shorter OAL I'd check out the bullpups.

Enough with the technical shit that doesn't make sense anyway.

Post more porn.

Some more porn coming soon...

I had the local gun shop install a low profile gas block and free float handguards on my AR...I should have a whole new gun come tomorrow!

You didn't do it yourself?!

You shame me!

No suitable work space and I don't have the tools.

I did watch the video on YouTube, however, so I think I could do it myself if it were absolutely necessary.

You have to print out the flash videos frame by frame. That way, you could do it even if the emp hit.