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Posted: 4/17/2006 7:51:16 PM EDT
I got in a debate earlier with my buddy about barrel length. Now, I know you lose more velocity with a 14.5" barrel; I know that a 16" barrel will keep the bullet above 2700 fps for an additional 50 yards (approx) or so. This is all well and good, but I don't think 16" barrels *totally* render 14.5" barreled rifles useless, especially as CQB weapons.
Anyway, I don't want a flame war here. Just wondering why so many of you decided in the end to go with a 14.5" barrel, just as I did recently with a midlength. Keep it lighthearted guys, I have faith we can avoid a pissing contest. 
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Posted: 4/17/2006 7:54:26 PM EDT
[#1]
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Posted: 4/17/2006 7:57:54 PM EDT
[#2]
umm.....huh. Should have used the search function.............right.
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Posted: 4/17/2006 7:58:49 PM EDT
[#3]
Cuz it's so tacticool! And my location is mountains and trees, no stretching plains or fields anywhere so I don't plan on having to snipe a deer at 3-400+ yards. And in the rare case I think I needed a longer barrell, I'd just order one later to have the best of both worlds.
Edit: And who knows, if we get a lib. president again, they might start banning them again, same with the mags, suppressors, etc so I want to get while the getting's good. |
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Posted: 4/17/2006 8:01:10 PM EDT
[#4]
Because I like it and it works just fine without the extra 1.5 inches.
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Posted: 4/17/2006 8:01:58 PM EDT
[#5]
i had some silver solder that i had to use for something.
actually i really don't notice much difference, except my bayonette fits on the 14.5. |
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Posted: 4/17/2006 8:11:28 PM EDT
[#6]
If makes tight spaces easier to navigate and it's more evil.
TS |
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Posted: 4/17/2006 8:20:11 PM EDT
[#7]
I have one of each. Its the only way to do, Its the AR15.com way. You MUST have a 14.5, 16, 18, 20, and a 24. I'm still working on th 18 and 20 but soon.
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Posted: 4/17/2006 8:26:11 PM EDT
[#8]
I like the shorter feel. Although it is hella loud compaired to a 20"
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Posted: 4/17/2006 8:26:12 PM EDT
[#9]
I have 11.5, 14.5, and 20" I have uses for them all too.
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Posted: 4/17/2006 8:32:25 PM EDT
[#10]
11.5" ARs sure are sexy, unfortunately SBR aren't legal in MIchigan... 
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Posted: 4/17/2006 8:41:43 PM EDT
[#11]
I just put together an 11.5/5.5 on an A1 upper, a la commando clone. Lets just say that the muzzle flash is a wee bit excessive...
 .....we were laughing at the range because someone thought my "flash-supressor" was broken.
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Posted: 4/17/2006 8:45:53 PM EDT
[#12]
You're dreaming if you think you get an extra 50 yards. Try 15 (that is ONE FIVE) yards. |
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Posted: 4/17/2006 8:56:09 PM EDT
[#13]
Because a 14.5" with a Phantom FH is a good inch shorter overall than a 16" with an A2 FH.
It is as short as you are going to get without going NFA. |
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Posted: 4/17/2006 9:01:54 PM EDT
[#14]
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Posted: 4/17/2006 9:14:56 PM EDT
[#15]
can't remember where I got the 50 yards figure.......I think it was ammo oracle, and I think it was actually more like 45 yards. Not a lot, in any case...... |
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Posted: 4/17/2006 9:17:31 PM EDT
[#16]
My POF upper came that way. I got a great deal, and didnt care. I like the vortex brake, and the short overall length.
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Posted: 4/17/2006 9:17:52 PM EDT
[#17]
 
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Posted: 4/17/2006 9:34:12 PM EDT
[#18]
Is that what she said? I agree, it's better than the 16"+A2. I wanted compact for plinking and easy transport, but not so much that I have to file fargin paperwork on it. My 20" Varmint Death Machine handles anything at longer ranges. |
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Posted: 4/17/2006 9:50:32 PM EDT
[#19]
I like a 14.5 so that its a "true m4" And shooting up to 300 yards, I cant tell a difference between my 14.5 and 20.
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Posted: 4/17/2006 10:18:06 PM EDT
[#20]
Since there are no SBRs (yet) in MI, I'd much rather have a proper 16" than a 14.5+long-ass FH.
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Posted: 4/17/2006 10:26:07 PM EDT
[#21]
I think the ammo oracle says 50 yards but I have not looked at in ages. I would like to know if it was 15 or 50 yards. Anyone know? |
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Posted: 4/17/2006 10:29:20 PM EDT
[#22]
Cause it was the only one they had at the gunshop when I went to buy a carbine and due to the money being on the verge of flashpoint in my pocket I got the 14.5".
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Posted: 4/17/2006 11:33:30 PM EDT
[#23]
+1
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Posted: 4/17/2006 11:39:22 PM EDT
[#24]
because.
Then why have a 16" when you could have a 17.5"...? 
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Posted: 4/18/2006 3:14:35 AM EDT
[#25]
Lighter and more manueverable than my 16" H bar. Plus it has a good CDI factor.
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Posted: 4/18/2006 3:17:50 AM EDT
[#26]
+1 If SBRs were legal in MI, I'd get a 11.5" or so barrel, not a 14.5" 16" at least gives me the flexibility of removing the flash suppressor and re-installing it w/o dremeling the flash suppressor or dicking around with silver solder and pins
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Posted: 4/18/2006 3:51:42 AM EDT
[#27]
Because the Military use them.
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Posted: 4/18/2006 3:52:38 AM EDT
[#28]
I didn't realize mine was 14.5 till I got home and set it in the safe next to my 16 inch middy. I wasn't looking for the 14.5, I just got a fairly decent deal.
BK |
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Posted: 4/18/2006 4:02:38 AM EDT
[#29]
Main reason is I wanted shortest overall legal barrel length possible with a flash suppressor still attached.
The fact that a bayonet fits nicely on the 14.5 is just additional fluff. |
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Posted: 4/18/2006 4:15:33 AM EDT
[#30]
It's the bbl I am most familiar with.
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Posted: 4/18/2006 4:32:30 AM EDT
[#31]
My 16" M4 is basically a 14.5" M4 with an extra length of barrel (light under handguards, M203 cut, M203 cuts on front handguard ring) How does that make the barrel "unfamiliar"?
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Posted: 4/18/2006 5:50:45 AM EDT
[#32]
BC of M193 projectile: .243 MV of M193 from a 16" barrel: 3132 fps MV of M193 from a 14.5" barrel: 3064fps assumed standard atmospheric conditions at 1400' ASL Run your favorite ballistics software, I use PBX mostly. From PBX I get 2708fps @ 110y for a 16" and 2720 fps @ 90y for a 14.5" (2700 should be just about 95y as at 100y it's 2683fps). Hmm looks like it's about 15y to me. |
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Posted: 4/18/2006 7:56:48 AM EDT
[#33]
IMI M193 is the closest ammo I've found to U.S. military specs for M193. Out of my chrome lined Colt 14.5" barrels with NATO chambers the best IMI M193 will do is about a 3000 FPS muzzle velocity. Same ammo out of my Colt 16" barrels runs between 3100 and 3128 FPS muzzle velocity.
Running these numbers through Oehler's Ballistic Explorer software gives a difference of 25 to 30 yards for the 2700 FPS threshold. |
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Posted: 4/18/2006 8:42:40 AM EDT
[#34]
I wanted as short an AR as possible without paying a $200 tax stamp. My M4gery is designed for close in stuff (<100) so frag range is not an issue. I'm not fond of the perm. muzzle device thing, I don't feel its as big of an issue as some would have you believe.
Just my $.02 |
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Posted: 4/18/2006 8:53:26 AM EDT
[#35]
exactly my thoughts. I bought a 14.5" middy because I intend on using it (in the unlikely event it is ever fired in anger) within 100 yards. In all likelyhood, an engagement would happen within 50 yards. If I need to make shots at long distances I'll reach for my FAL. So if I know I'll use it within 100 yards, why not have a rifle that is a bit better balanced, more manuverable, and handier? I don't like the idea of a perm. attached hider either, but the Phantom works very well and I don't see every needing to replace it. |
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Posted: 4/18/2006 9:31:05 AM EDT
[#36]
+1 |
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Posted: 4/18/2006 10:00:57 AM EDT
[#37]
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Posted: 4/18/2006 11:04:36 AM EDT
[#38]
Back in the late 90's the best price I could get was on 14.5" barrels (YTM, remember them?). The 16" LLW barrels were not available. So I added a Vortex to each. Still shooting them today.
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Posted: 4/18/2006 11:55:59 AM EDT
[#39]
I own a 14.5" barrel because I haven't had a chance to dump it after putting the 10.5" on.
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Posted: 4/18/2006 12:00:35 PM EDT
[#40]
because I can
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Posted: 4/18/2006 12:34:57 PM EDT
[#41]
+1 |
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Posted: 4/18/2006 3:16:02 PM EDT
[#42]
According to http://www.ammo-oracle.com/body.htm#diff the 16" gives about 50 more yards of reliable fragmentation with M193 and M855 over a 14.5" barrel.
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Posted: 4/18/2006 3:25:32 PM EDT
[#43]
I own a 14.5" because I got a terrific deal on a post-ban A2 HBAR Bushmaster AK brake model.
I feel that these were some of the best rifles Bushmaster ever produced and were available at very good prices new in the box. When the Clinton ban ended it got the no-ban treatment. (Bipod for photo shoot only.)  |
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Posted: 4/18/2006 3:45:59 PM EDT
[#44]
First off, you suck!Mine followed me home so I decided to keep it. |
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Posted: 4/18/2006 4:19:26 PM EDT
[#45]
What brand is that bipod? |
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Posted: 4/18/2006 4:35:00 PM EDT
[#46]
It's a GG&G Standard Tactical Bipod. It's normal home is on my 20" gov prof.  |
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Posted: 4/18/2006 4:38:58 PM EDT
[#47]
That was my exact reasoning too. That, and because I can.
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Posted: 4/18/2006 4:47:49 PM EDT
[#48]
Edited... Wrong thread.
The 14.5" M4 barrel is inexpensive, lightweight, and easy to maneuver with. you couln't ask for a much better rifle to walk around the property with. |
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Posted: 4/18/2006 4:48:49 PM EDT
[#49]
I like the 14.5 w/the Phantom because the pig sticker looks right on the 14.5 barrel:
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Posted: 4/18/2006 8:10:54 PM EDT
[#50]
I had a 14.5" + permanent Phantom because it was the shortest I could have in this state (no SBR).
But I discovered that by going with a 16" with an A2 it was only an inch longer, I gain some velocity, and I have the midlength gas option. Seemed like a good trade. I haven't read of too many 14.5" mid-length gas setups. BTW this was on my MRP so the switch took me about two minutes.
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