Hello,
What are the advantages or disadvantages of a 14.5" barrel vs 16" barrel? What I was REALLY going for was the look. But knowing that I would need a 1.5" comp to legaly own it in NY (16") would just make it 16" anyway, so the look factor is out. What I really need to know now is advantages or disadvantages of the two. I will be only doing paper shooting 20 yards min -100 yards max. Why do people like them so much?
I was “going for the look” too
I had a 16 inch barrel with a standard birdcage on my LMT. It annoyed me to no end because I am accustomed to my issue M4 which has a 14.5 inch barrel with a birdcage. Every time I looked at my LMT with its 16 inch barrel I wanted to choke something furry. It just didn’t look like the M4 I was used to.
So, I had my 16 inch barrel chopped down to 14.7 inches (thanks Wilson Combat). Wilson pinned the birdcage (1.25 inches in length) on to bring the total length of my barrel to the legal minimum of 16 inches.
Now, a standard issue M4 barrel is 15.75 inches to the end of the birdcage. My rifle is 16 inches to the end of the birdcage -only a quarter of an inch longer. It looks close to what I’ve used to so I am a happy camper.
Is there an advantage to what I did? No, not really. My rifle is now 1.25 inches shorter -a difference in length that doesn’t sum up to anything significant. However, my weapon has more aesthetic appeal to me now. It looks like the M4 I’m used to.
I could have got a 14.5 inch barrel and added a 1.5 inch compensator/suppressor, but I was aiming to set up my rifle as close to my Iraq service rifle as possible and thus wanted a standard birdcage (which is only 1.25 inches long).
blank
There is really no advantage of a 14.5 over a 16".
C4
I find that the 14.5 barrel really helps with maneuverability without resorting to an SBR. With the 14.5 and a permanant FH, you get a package that is 16" total.
Everyone always talks how the 16" barrel is still just 16". Sorry to burst your bubble, but once you add a good FH (like the Vortex or Phantom) then the length is now 17.5". Why not save the extra inch and a half by making the quality FH part of the legal length?
I find the 1.5" length saved by going with the 14.5 helps when doing any kind of close in work with doorways, etc.
The only reason that a person should stay away from 14.5 is if they have some fetish for the A2 FH, are unsure about what they are wanting in freefloating handguards, or enjoy periodically removing FSB’s.
So in my eyes, I see 16" as being the anomaly, especially in typical M4-cut profiles.
14.5 to 16"
My everyday go gun
16" Midlength (by KAC) both aesthetic, reliable, and useful.
As the chart above shows, a bit of extra velocity is all that I have ever known to be the benefit of a 16" over a 14.5".
I am with Kevin… 16" barrel with a mid-length gas system, makes about the perfect carbine in my book. Shorter than that, go to 12" with a carbine gas system…
BTW: Nice new flight suit Kevin
And shorter than that is where gas piston systems come into their own.
Meh, I got over this years ago. The difference is 1.5". Not worth worrying about. A middy might be a better solution if you dont like the extra bit of barrel sticking out the handguards.
I happen to like the look of the Colt Canada’s SFW personally
panzer, can you still mount a bayonet to the 14.7 barrel. i just always wondered about that?
No, you shouldn’t be able to correctly lock a bayonet unto a 14.7". The barrel ring of the tang would be just past the FH. The ring locks around the rear of the FH any thing past the FH the ring will be unsupported around the barrel.
The 14.5" with long FH ablitily to mount a bayonet is the reason its my next build. I just retired and I like the ability to mount a bayonet on my military arms. The shorter bbl maybe advantagious to the user if tight quarters are encountered. Its all a personel preference.
CD
Hmmm, that’s a good question. I’ve never really thought about it. If I weren’t in the middle of bumphuck, far away from my rifle I would check for ya.
I really dont find a difference between a 14.5" and 16" barrel for inside work.
if you want it “correct” for the M4 (14.5 w/A2 birdcage), then the difference is $200.00 and getting the ATF even more involved in your personal business.
16" doesn’t draw any attention from the not so knowledgeable local fudds, anything that looks remotely “exotic” gets attention at some of the ranges (Fudd sometimes calls the police about the EBR’s).
However, since I like to piss off Fudd, my next carbine will be an SBR with the original style XM177 compensator.
Bayonets? If am that close to the target there are bigger problems than fixing bayonets, my bayonet is a Sig 226.
KevinB–Everyone is saying go lightweight with your rifle. I realize a SHTF rifle is better to grab if it’s light, but your’s which I assume is a combat rifle, is not lightweight. Sometimes there’s a need for the extra weight. Different jobs, different weights? What does it weigh? BTW, I really like the look of a used rifle that’s earned it’s stripes.
very cool
yeah? I even want a bayonet on my SIG!
heck, I’ve been accused of wanting a bayonet on my flashlight if I could find a way to mount it…
A bayonet on a carbine is like a midget with a broadsword.
True. An educated guess would tell me that stabbing with bayonet on a 14.5" M4 would be more effective than stabbing with an A2 flash hider…I’m not saying, I’m just saying.