Barrel Modifacation?

AR/M4 AR Technical Discussion
1

I guess I am looking for opinions, and maybe experience on shortening an AR barrel. I have a Saber Defense 16" mid-length upper with a brake I really don’t like pinned on the end. It is a V style and is super obnoxious, and I want to replace it with a PWS FSC556. I know pinned brakes can be removed, and it is not something I want to attempt myself. My thought is, if I took it to a smith, I am thinking about cutting the barrel to 14.5 and pinning the FSC556. The brake is 2.1 inches so that would bring the barrel to a legal 16.1 inches, right?

Does something like this generally cost a lot of money to do?

Is there a reason this should not be done with a mid length gas system?

Should I just leave it the way it is and buy a new upper? (I’d rather not)

I have a lower sitting waiting for a mk12 clone upper, so I am not really concerned with the loss of an inch and a half of barrel, if there is any real loss of performance anyways.

Thanks for your thoughts,
Ed

BTW, I live in a ban state hence the need for a pinned brake.

2

time to move!

the difference between 16.1 and 14.5" barrels is around ~75fps… gonna be up to you to make an educated decision on what your velocity needs are. if you’re shooting NATO pressure ammo, your effective range probably won’t change, factoring in usual carbine application.

removing a pinned muzzle device does require a degree of mechanical ability and the right tools, or an experienced gunsmith. it shouldn’t be expensive, though. i think i charge $35, for example. dont go to the first guy in the phone book- call around and find somebody who knows ARs specifically. if nothing else, an ARsmith is gonna have the right receiver blocks and wont try some gay crap that’ll warp your shit.