Is the M-4 barrel (14.5") with a perm. attached regular miltary flash suppressor (A2 birdcage) 16"??

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Is the M-4 barrel (14.5") with a perm. attached regular miltary flash suppressor (A2 birdcage) 16"??

Posted: 8/8/2014 8:46:40 PM EDT

I want to build a M-4 clone but the 16" M-4 contoured barrel with a removable flash suppressor doesn't look right to me. If I buy a 14.5" barreled upper and add a regular peel washer and drill, pin and weld a regular A1 or A2 birdcage flash suppressor onto it, does that bring the overall barrel length to 16". Obviously I can't measure the flash suppressor and add it to 14.5" as some of that would be overlap as the threads on the barrel and the threading inside the birdcage overlap. I don't have the upper yet and all I have is 2 NIB Colt 6920's and don't want to mar the flash suppressor on a new gun as I am sure someone has gone down this road before here. If it is not 16" would adding a lock washer bring it to length? If not, how can I accomplish this? Thanks

Posted: 8/8/2014 8:49:35 PM EDT

[#1]

No it is not. You would need a 14.7" or spacer to equal 16". Cmmg made a 14.7" barrel with a perm A2 hider. Not sure if they still make them or not.

Edit: i forgot about BCM's extended A2 hider option. You can use a 14.5" barrel then pin and weld an extended A2 hider.

Posted: 8/8/2014 8:59:34 PM EDT

[#2]

Quote History

Quoted:
No it is not. You would need a 14.7" or spacer to equal 16". Cmmg made a 14.7" barrel with a perm A2 hider. Not sure if they still make them or not.

Edit: i forgot about BCM's extended A2 hider option. You can use a 14.5" barrel then pin and weld an extended A2 hider.

View Quote

+1 to use standard A1/A2 need 14.7. Can use special extended muzzle device to get a 14.5" to legal length when pinned and welded, though.

Posted: 8/8/2014 9:24:29 PM EDT

[#3]

BCM has an extended A2 flash hider of you want the basic look. Del-Ton also has an M4 rifle kit that has a 14.7" barrel with pinned A2.

Posted: 8/8/2014 9:44:23 PM EDT

[#4]

As a side note on measuring barrel length: Do what the ATF does, which is to close the bolt forward in battery, insert cleaning rod, mark with a Sharpie where the longest part of the barrel ends, then take the cleaning rod out and measure that. That is how they test overall barrel length and it had better be 16" or longer. Of course if you drill, pin, and weld then your muzzle device becomes part of the "barrel" and is now counted in the overall barrel length. Word to the wise: simply using Loc Tite, super glue, or any other temporary method of affixing the muzzle device does not constitute a "permanent" addition to the barrel in the ATF's book. I've seen WAY too many customers come in the gun shop with crazy ways of attempting to do the 14.7"/muzzle device thing. Know the law, stay out of club Fed.

Posted: 8/8/2014 10:29:53 PM EDT

[#5]

A 14.5 barrel with a BCM A2X flash hider brings your overall length to 16.1. Which is what is on my current build

Posted: 8/8/2014 10:33:31 PM EDT

[#6]

Here is one of my BCM 14.5s with a A2x

Gives you an idea

Posted: 8/9/2014 5:03:21 AM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:
No it is not. You would need a 14.7" or spacer to equal 16". Cmmg made a 14.7" barrel with a perm A2 hider. Not sure if they still make them or not.

Edit: i forgot about BCM's extended A2 hider option. You can use a 14.5" barrel then pin and weld an extended A2 hider.

View Quote

CMMG has advertised 14.5" barrels with extended A2 flash hider. Tempting

Posted: 8/9/2014 5:29:53 AM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
A 14.5 barrel with a BCM A2X flash hider brings your overall length to 16.1. Which is what is on my current build

View Quote

This exactly what you need. Here is a pic of my M4 clone with the BCM extended A2 FH installed on the 14.5" barrel.

Posted: 8/9/2014 6:02:29 AM EDT

[#9]

I use a Phantom.

Posted: 8/9/2014 7:59:21 AM EDT

[#10]

Here is a pic of my 14.7 Del-Ton with regular A2.

Posted: 8/9/2014 8:22:56 AM EDT

[#11]

Rainier also makes an A2X. The BCM comes with a prilled drilled hole and pin which makes home welding a little easier.

Posted: 8/9/2014 12:45:23 PM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
Here is one of my BCM 14.5s with a A2x

Gives you an idea

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h385/alaskaLTZ/DSC_6704.jpg

View Quote

That thing is beautimus. After I finish this "service rifle clone", then build an A1 or A2 clone, my next m4gery is probably going to have one of those Rainer lowers. I just love the way those things look.