So I tried looking for this but I couldn’t find it on this forum. My question is will there be a big difference in performance from he 5.56 when being delivered from the 16" barrel vs. the 14.5 M4 barrel? A pretty knowledgeable guy at my local gun shop told me to pass on getting the 14.5, and to get a 16" for better over all performance. He said that I would lose about 100, to 150 FPS with the shorter barrel. If possible I would rather have a shorter carbine but if the terminal ballistics of the 5.56 are significantly better from the 16" platform then so be it. I know that the 5.56 is nasty coming out of an M16 length barrel but obviously there is nothing to carbine-ish about that now is there…
there is a tool for every job. the OP said it was “defensive”. for me “defensive” means defending my house, which is 20 floors up so the shorter barrel makes moving around my condo a bit easier. i’ll take maneuverability over some FPS anyday
16" only because of not having to SBR it and being able to take it apart if you need to without dealing with a pinned and welded flashhider. IMO the length of the gas system doesn’t matter just use an H or H2 buffer in your carbine if you’re worried about wear. If I were buying new, I’d choose a middy 16" although my primary rifle is an LMT with carbine gas and 16" m4 barrel and I have no inclination to replace it.
Inside 100 meters, the difference in terminal ballistics of quality ammo between a 14.5" and 16" will be academic at best.
That being said- the only reason I have a 14.5 gun is to mirror my work gun, it is slightly more maneuverable inside, but not all that different than a 16" gun. For broader application I would go with a 16" middie (which I also have), which is arguably that best GP configuration available.
I personally find the excessive exposed barrel past the front sight annoying on 16" carbine gas guns. It just feels weird to me. I like the feel of a 16" middie, despite the fact that identical configurations will be slightly heavier (unless you are using middie HGs on a CAR, in which they will be the same, obviously).
Can anyone honestly tell me that they can feel a difference between a 14.5 or 16 in. barrel? I know I sure as hell can’t. We are taking about 1.5 inches.
Yes .
It’s not like the difference between a 20" and a 10.5", but I can feel a difference. It feels different both in handling and firing. As I said, nothing earth-shattering, but enough to have a preference.
I agree, with the caveat that we’re definitely reaching the point of minutiae with conversations like this. The differences between 16" and 14.5", or mid-length vs. carbine-length gas systems is virtually inconsequential.
If I was going to own ONE, and was buying today, it would be a midlength 16". But who the hell owns just ONE? :eek:
so the shorter barrel makes moving around my condo a bit easier. i’ll take maneuverability over some FPS anyday
