I am wanting to convert my 16" standard mid-length BCM upper into a 14.5". Is there any reason not to do so in terms of reliability or damage to the upper? I am wanting to keep everything else the same. I am aware of a NFA and SBR regulations as well as the issues with permanent flash hiders. If there are no such problems, where could I send it to to get this done?
Thank you for your time.
I would send it to ADCO.
Thanks for the reply Stickman!
Personally I do not think there is a real benefit to reducing the length to 14.5. I would just get a 14.5" barrel.
yea…i would also just buy a 14.5" barrel. but ADCO is the answer if you want it cut down.
cutting it down to 14.5" is mainly for looks thing. the weight you save isn’t all that much - but it does look better. i use http://www.ar15barrels.com/ for my barrel work.
I’ve had exactly the same work done on one of my 16 inch BCMs by ADCO. Rifle is not just reliable, it is very reliable (no malfunctions with heavy firing schedule, with weak ammo and across wide range of temp), accuracy got better - I think ADCO’s crown was better than stock. Static weight difference is not big, but it does swing lighter.
Agreed, by the time you add everything up, its probably worth buying a 14.5" barrel by itself, and using the 16" for another build down the road.
However, if money is tight, or there are other considerations, I know that the 14.5" (16oal) that I run in my cruiser works better for my needs than the 16". While there isn’t much difference in weight, there is a difference in maneuvering that I pick up on right away.
When I’m removing the weapon from its rack, and chambering a round heading to a priority call, its funny how little things add up.
I am not sure there is a general availability of 14.5 mid-length barrels out there except the DD M4 profile.
If you wanted to keep it a mid an Adco chop is likely the most immediate options.
But I may be mistaken.
Theyre not that rare anymore. On top of the 3 that originally had them (Noveske Afghan, Sabre and CMMG), 3 more companies have ventured into CFH/Chrome Lined 14.5 mids. – BCM, Centurion Arms and DD. Primary problem is supply (I just contradicted my first statement about them no longer being so rare. :o ). They had a few for a bit but have since been out of stock.
Check with Centurion, they may still have some. PM Monty (Grinch) or post in their thread in the Custom Build section linked below.
**note: these are in house cut downs of their 16mids. This is also discussed in the attached thread.
http://m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=42471
I went ahead and checked… Centurion has 14.5" middys in stock.
They also have a taper pinned gas block option/package.
Thanks for all the input. Part of my decision was based on the fact that BCM is out of stoke on their 14.5" Mids. Thanks for pointing out the other options that I did not know about.
one advantage to getting a barrel cut, is you can have them cut it to 14.7, and be able to use almost any flash hider you want, rather than being limited to the long ones.
Good point! I was actually considering that as well seeing as how I could then use my current standard flash hider.
interesting thread, any drawbacks by doing this?
none, so long as you use a GOOD shop.
Good point on the 14.7. Didnt think of that.
BTW, when they cut these down, do they re-park just the affected part or strip and re-park the whole barrel? What happens when they re-crown, do they just park it rather than chrome it like a factory crown?
you can have them strip ad re-park, obviously, but a good cold-blue app is good enough, and doesn’t cost an extra $125 or so
here’s cold-blue on a cut/re-thread- notice how the first 1/16th of the barrel OD is a slightly different huge than the rest of the barrel… and the shoulder and threads are also blue.
don’t ask me about the turn down on the thread-shoulder… i dont know whats up with that.
