Monty is to the DI AR15 what LAV is to the 1911.
He is an absolute student to the design and perhaps one of, if not the premier SME of any of the current real world end users.
I have talked for many hours with Monty on what the best Barrel Lengths of a DI AR15 variant are and why. We both shared the opinion that a 16.1" Barrel was optimum for the 5.56 cartridge in many respects. And in a shorty platform the 12.5" was perhaps best for a DI gun.
Perhaps Monty can elaborate on these barrel length choices for some prospective. Personally I see no allure in a 14.5" barrel. The DI ones that are currently being fielded by many of our overseas end users are rarely being toted outside LW Operations; and even these are currently being displaced by 7.62 weapons in the major LW theater.
To those that would prefer a 14.5" AR15 over a 16.1" one, Why? Is there something gained in a shorter by 1.5" barrel that I am missing? If a short barrel is what one seeks then the 12.5" seems to be the right choice for so many more reasons.
Monty? What say you?