Are 16" actually the best all around?

Despite the fact that 16" is the shortest legal length without going through the ATF, are they unironically the best length? They are short enough to be light and handy but are long enough to retain accuracy and velocity.

I dont see much point in having a 5.56 gun shorter than 14.5" or longer than 18"

After 18" the velocity gains are not worth adding any more length, and shorter than 14.5" is reducing velocity too much for a round that is highly velocity dependent.

Am I right or am I just a cuck coping with the fact that I cant own a gun shorter than 16"

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  1. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    No it's a good length. 95% of the velocity of a 20 inch barrel, but 80% as long.

    I would argue that 14.5 has 92% of the velocity and loses another 1.5 inches, but 1.5 inches is really not worth the $200 tax stamp. Anything shorter really starts to lose velocity fast, and Mk18s are going out of style rapidly as operators realized that 10.5 inch barrels really are too short for anything other than an entry weapon. 12.5 inches is currently en vogue, but I honestly think if you need a weapon that short in 5.56 you should just bite the bullet and go for a bullpup.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      Interesting and sensible take

      Would you say a 14.5 pin/weld is worth it over a 16?

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        If you like the look, sure. Problem is that you now have a barrel that is as long as a 16 inch without the muzzle velocity or the ability to accept attachments like silencers (if you have one.) Honestly though, the difference between the two is basically splitting hairs. Go with whichever you like more.

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          >withoutthe ability to accept attachments like silencers (if you have one.)
          k.

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          What about the flash hiders that the suppressor screws onto?

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          I have a suppressor on multiple pin and weld rifles

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        As someone with a 14.5 P&W, probably not, unless you are trying to save every possible ounce or need the upper to fit in 26" places and are never going to suppress it.

    • 1 year ago
      BigC

      >I would argue that 14.5 has 92% of the velocity and loses another 1.5 inches, but 1.5 inches is really not worth the $200 tax stamp
      just pin a flash hider

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        I would really have to like the flash hider to do that

        Are you required to weld as well or can you just pin it?

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          >drill hole through flash hider into barrel threads
          >place a steel pin in hole
          >weld the top of the pin into the flash hider body
          >muzzle device should not be able to come off

        • 1 year ago
          BigC

          >Are you required to weld as well or can you just pin it?
          you drill a hole, then insert the pin, the pin is what stops the flash hider from unthreading
          the weld holds the pin in place

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          Legally speaking you need to both pin and weld

          Realistically speaking nobody will care unless you specifically invite atf agents to your home and ask them to inspect your md

          If you wanna be a good boy then pw it
          If you don't care or want to live dangerously then dont pw it

          I have a 14.5 and pinned and welded

          • 1 year ago
            Anonymous

            Well, I think legally you could weld the thing without a pin, to the barrel, but you'd frick the barrel up.

            • 1 year ago
              BigC

              you can do this but you need 4 solid welds
              "A muzzle device, such as a muzzle brake or barrel extension, which
              is attached to a barrel by means of welding or high temperature
              silver solder having a melting point of at least 1,100 degrees
              Fahrenheit, is considered to be part of the barrel for purposes of
              measurement. A seam weld extending at least one-half the
              circumference of the barrel or four equidistant tack welds around
              the circumference of the barrel are adequate for this purpose."
              better off pinning it than this shit

              • 1 year ago
                Anonymous

                Or just silver solder.

                The stupidest most expensive and damage causing option but still an option.

                This is horrible advice. Pin and weld builds are a thing to get around SBR laws. If you grease someone with a P&W rifle, the cops are going to hand it over to the ATF, and when they get it in their hands and can visually see that the muzzle device is not pinned and welded, they're going to rape your ass for having an unregistered SBR.

                Never mind the fact that Loctite isn't good for installing suppressor mounts (even the high temp stuff). Use Rocksett.

                Years ago I did a 14.5 build. I agonized over the best way to do this without changing the heat treatment of the bbl. It was actually rather simple. I used silver solder as something of a lock washer ICW an actual lock washer. Then I danced a MAPP torch over the solder just enough to let the solder flash. I know that is not how you are supposed to apply silver solder. I also know there is no regulatory requirement for proper craftsmanship. I permanently attached it with 1100 degree silver solder per the law.

          • 1 year ago
            Anonymous

            Or just silver solder.

            • 1 year ago
              Anonymous

              The stupidest most expensive and damage causing option but still an option.

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          What do you think "just pinning" means?

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          just use locktite on the threads and tighten it really hard.

          • 1 year ago
            Anonymous

            This is horrible advice. Pin and weld builds are a thing to get around SBR laws. If you grease someone with a P&W rifle, the cops are going to hand it over to the ATF, and when they get it in their hands and can visually see that the muzzle device is not pinned and welded, they're going to rape your ass for having an unregistered SBR.

            Never mind the fact that Loctite isn't good for installing suppressor mounts (even the high temp stuff). Use Rocksett.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      Are you saying the 14.5 has 92% of the velocity of a 16 or 20?

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        What do you think? Use your brain and derive information from context.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      Ask yourself why an uncredentialed noguns internet nerd would regurgitate the same thing the other spec sheet ninjas on /k/ do, while actual end users time and time again select shorter barrels.
      > Mk18s are going out of style rapidly as operators realized that 10.5 inch barrels really are too short for anything other than an entry weapon.
      lol this is your brain on /arg/, pure LARPerator flavor of the month delusion.

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        /arg/ loves SBRs.
        Someone’s salty he got bullied for his shitheap rifle.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      For 5.56 I feel 14.5 is about the best all around, for retained velocity and maneuverability.

      >I would argue that 14.5 has 92% of the velocity and loses another 1.5 inches, but 1.5 inches is really not worth the $200 tax stamp
      just pin a flash hider

      Yes 16" is fine all around and 14.5" is also fine all around

      If you have to ask these questions you will never shoot at a level where the difference in barrel length matters so just get whichever you like more

      At the end of the day, you will tell yourself what you want to hear. All those studies about CQC, all those tactical operators doing their little operator things. All your screeching about ratios of length to velocity, all your pinning and welding just for a few inches. All those compromises, all that effort. All in vain. At the end of the day, your gas pressure is too high.Your velocity is too low. You dont even have a bayonet lug. At the end of the day, you will never be a REAL Rifle.

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        Nobody talking here will ever be a rifle, period. Rifles can’t talk, and even if they could we wouldn’t post on this gay forum

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          >rifles don't talk
          Mine barks.

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous
        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          This. If a motherfricker had me all hemmed up I'll start shooting through doors and walls with my 20". Frick this moron room clearing shit. In a shtf scenario, if i came to a place i thought had baddies in it, I'd just burn it to the ground or use explosives.

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          Based.

          Room clearing was made due being innocent civilians that could be involved, but if you know that inside a room there is only hostiles, you don't really do that, you blow the insides with as much explosives as you got. Basically you do what

          This. If a motherfricker had me all hemmed up I'll start shooting through doors and walls with my 20". Frick this moron room clearing shit. In a shtf scenario, if i came to a place i thought had baddies in it, I'd just burn it to the ground or use explosives.

          said.

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        You talk alot of shit for someone with a ~~*detachable*~~ carry handle.

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          quirky but comfy build anon

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          Why can't i see the seam between the upper and lower? Is that a bb gun?

          • 1 year ago
            Anonymous

            >Fortunate son stops
            I've been found out

            • 1 year ago
              Anonymous

              It's an airsoft? looks cool regardless.

              • 1 year ago
                Anonymous

                Na it's real, I just propagate rumors on the side.

              • 1 year ago
                Anonymous

                You're concerned about it being airsoft? I'm more concerned a cat owns a rifle and can use the internet.

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          whats that sling from and is that a brownells build?

          • 1 year ago
            Anonymous

            I made the sling with webbing from ebay.
            Furniture is Brownells, kinda pissed they don't match but I bought it too long ago to return. Upper came from Tony's custom and lower is just a PSA while I wait for the 601 lowers to become available again.

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          Pathetic

          • 1 year ago
            Anonymous

            His everything is aesthetic > only your bipod is aesthetic.

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        Is that a troony copypasta? I want the original

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        >he fell for the SADF battle jacket meme

        bet you even bought it from ks

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        That's not a rifle either. Rifles shoot rifle rounds.

        This is a rifle.

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        >Getting a 20in, but not making it an A1, A2 or A4 clone

        Why? Your rifle is hideous

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          people can talk all they want about how those Magpul handguards are so comfortable or whatever, but that doesn't change the fact that they always look like absolute shit. Either go retro or get rails.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      >but I honestly think if you need a weapon that short in 5.56 you should just bite the bullet and go for a bullpup.
      If you go that short just pick up a gun in 7.62x39 or .300, way better performance

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      >is really not worth the $200 tax stam
      pin and weld exists but then you have to gauge whether or not thats worth the extra $80

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      14.5pin and weld is the correct answer

  2. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    For 5.56 I feel 14.5 is about the best all around, for retained velocity and maneuverability.

  3. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Yes 16" is fine all around and 14.5" is also fine all around

    If you have to ask these questions you will never shoot at a level where the difference in barrel length matters so just get whichever you like more

  4. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    No, 26" or frick off

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      post yours

  5. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    >"why did you buy a 14.5"

  6. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    16" is the "best" for anything you could think of, if you want to suppress your rifle it will make it the same length as a 20" or 22" barrel. 20" barrels are for milking as much practical fps out of most loads.

  7. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Despite all the braying about muh musket, an AR with a 20" barrel is several inches shorter than a 590 with the 18.5" barrel that a million people run for a bedside gun.
    20.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      They should be very close to the same overall length. Collapsing the stock to its minimal setting is cucking your length of pull and not doing you any favors.

  8. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    13.9" + Surefire 3 or 4 prong flash hider is the bees knees. You can use Dead Air's 3 prong too, if you prefer their cans. There are quite a few companies making 13.9" barrels these days (Criterion, Centurion, BRT, BA, etc).

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      What makes 13.9" so great compared to 14.5" or lower lengths?

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        13.9" is just the best length if you want to do a pin and weld build, so that it's legally a rifle and not an SBR.

        14.5" is still good if you don't want to use a muzzle device that acts as a suppressor mount. There are a lot of muzzle devices that are shorter and cheaper than the Surefire 3/4 prong, although I'd argue that even if you're not suppressing, they're still great muzzle devices. The Dead Air 3 prong is cheaper than the Surefires, so that one would probably be the best option if you know you won't be getting a suppressor for the gun.

        Otherwise, if you go shorter, you're either going to need to pay the tax man and register the gun with the ATF, or simply live dangerously, as any Free Man would.

        Wouldn't a bullup design with a 16" barrel defeat the SBR crap?

        They do, but bullpups are all kind of shitty, IMHO.

        Can someone explain what the issue is with lightweight barrels and suppressors? Thinking of mounting surefire mini on a 20" pencil profile. People are saying it's moronic but won't give an actual reason.

        One issue is that if you do a lot of rapid fire, it doesn't take long for suppressed pencil barrels to heat up and cause accuracy issues.

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          >They do, but bullpups are all kind of shitty, IMHO

          I used to hate bullpups. I actually like them a lot now. Most of that comes from comparing them to an AR. Manual of arms is different, but doesnt seem to matter when talking about lever actions, bolt action or pump. You learn to use that particular weapon. The X95 has made it a lot more similar.

          People that complain about the triggers are either parroting info they heard or have target triggers on al their rifles. They are on par with a mil-spec AR trigger.

          Then again, I don't buy my guns expecting SHTF or an expectation I'm going to be operating. I like them for how they operate. They are nothing more than a range toy.

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        13.7-9 is the shortest length most suppressor hosts will take a gun to 16 inches

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          >suppresor host
          Shutup gay. Opinion discarded

          • 1 year ago
            Anonymous

            It wasn't an opinion moron, I was answering a question, with facts

          • 1 year ago
            Anonymous

            Welding a suppressor-compatible muzzle device onto a gun seems to fit the definition of "suppressor host."

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        Use your head

  9. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Wouldn't a bullup design with a 16" barrel defeat the SBR crap?

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      Kinda, but a bullpup with a shorter barrel could be even smaller with a shorter barrel. Depends on how big the SBR is and what velocity/barrel you find acceptable.
      Plus you're still dealing with all the bullpup shit like a worse trigger, more complicated action, and issues with swapping shoulders.

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        What the FRICK is that grip and those sights? Holy hell man. Keltec are creative and have good ideas but they have to frick everything up somehow.

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          its a standard rifle grip. theyre super handy guns
          also bonus points can be had in cuck states. the trigger is great for bullpup

  10. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    >am I just a cuck coping with the fact that I cant own a gun shorter than 16
    most americans are

    • 1 year ago
      ChaosCustoms

      ARs with pistol braces lower your testosterone

  11. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    5.56 FMJ will penetrate 1/4th inch hardened steel out of long barrels only. You should always be PEN MAXXXING

  12. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    24" is the best barrel length right now. I'm not gonna been seen out here with a stubby lil rod

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      post yours

      >slaps 28" on table
      NTA but i see there's a need to post long barrelled ARs.

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        Noice. Post moar.

  13. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Can someone explain what the issue is with lightweight barrels and suppressors? Thinking of mounting surefire mini on a 20" pencil profile. People are saying it's moronic but won't give an actual reason.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      Your zero with a without a suppressor attached wil be horrendous.
      Your balance will be less than ideal hanging a pound at the end of your 20 inch barrel.

      Your shift of zero when the barrel is hot will probably not be great either.

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        13.9" is just the best length if you want to do a pin and weld build, so that it's legally a rifle and not an SBR.

        14.5" is still good if you don't want to use a muzzle device that acts as a suppressor mount. There are a lot of muzzle devices that are shorter and cheaper than the Surefire 3/4 prong, although I'd argue that even if you're not suppressing, they're still great muzzle devices. The Dead Air 3 prong is cheaper than the Surefires, so that one would probably be the best option if you know you won't be getting a suppressor for the gun.

        Otherwise, if you go shorter, you're either going to need to pay the tax man and register the gun with the ATF, or simply live dangerously, as any Free Man would.

        [...]
        They do, but bullpups are all kind of shitty, IMHO.

        [...]
        One issue is that if you do a lot of rapid fire, it doesn't take long for suppressed pencil barrels to heat up and cause accuracy issues.

        suppressors cause barrels to heat up very quickly

        the thicker the barrel the longer it takes to heat up, if your barrel is very lightweight it will heat up very fast

        lots of heat = innacuracy

        depending on what you use it for, it may be a huge issue, or it may be a minor issue, it just depends

        Thanks

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      suppressors cause barrels to heat up very quickly

      the thicker the barrel the longer it takes to heat up, if your barrel is very lightweight it will heat up very fast

      lots of heat = innacuracy

      depending on what you use it for, it may be a huge issue, or it may be a minor issue, it just depends

  14. 1 year ago
    ChaosCustoms

    "Going from a 10" to a 16" barrel might increase velocity by 15%. Going from a 16" to a 20" barrel may increase velocity by just 3%."

    "Our increase in velocity jumps by 184 FPS, and when we go up one more inch (to 17"), we actually lose velocity! As we continue adding length to our barrel (from 17" up to 26"), we start to see more of those diminishing returns. Eventually, we gain just 11 and 19 FPS per extra inch of barrel. Small potatoes."

    https://www.gunbuilders.com/blog/the-complete-guide-to-ar15-barrels/

    Hope this helps

    https://t.me/Guerrillaclub

  15. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Any barrel length over 11.5" is unnecessary and cringe.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      what belt is that

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        AWS, friend.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      Honestly, as a civvie in an urban or suburban environment, probably. My 11.5" is my favorite.

      https://i.imgur.com/axF9yab.jpg

      Any recommendations for 20" 5.56 SPR barrels? I am currently looking at a Criterion CORE.

      Criterion makes some great barrels. I don't have any experience with their 20" Core, but I like the 13.9" I have from them. The chrome lining is super smooth.

  16. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    For the majority of 556 owners I'd say 20 would suit them better. They won't benefit from a shorter barrel since the only time they'll use it is while they sit their ass at the range and not hit shit. The only benefit they can claim from a shorter barrel is blaming their own inaccuracies on it.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      >he thinks bbl length affects accuracy at 100m, not MV
      Doth willst not persevere through to conclusion.

  17. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Any recommendations for 20" 5.56 SPR barrels? I am currently looking at a Criterion CORE.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      ballistic advantage has a good price/quality ratio, they are very good and don't break the bank, however you can definitely do better with a DD or similar

  18. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Got a spinta 16 rifle gas dissipator barrel gonna be lit fr fr no cap

  19. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    No, 18" is. There's a big jump in FPS from 16 to 18, but not that big of a jump from 18 to 20. If anything 20" barrels don't make that much sense, especially considering you still get a rifle length gas system with an 18" barrel.

    Velocity is a huge consideration when shooting a round that depends on fragmentation to frick its target up. The AR receiver is already so much shorter than say an AK or other comparable rifles, that the extra 2" of barrel doesn't even make it longer than a standard 16" barrel AK. You might as well get the extra inches and have all that extra velocity to frick shit up downrange with, while not trying to squeeze more than it's worth like the 20" and above guys.

  20. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    >all this cope
    most girls don't care about dick size and that is a fact, you don't need to justify anything guys

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      YES I DO RAHRHARAHRHARHARARARARARA

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        >YES I DO RAHRHARAHRHARHARARARARARA
        You only care about dick size because you're mad you can still see yours after you tuck it.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      That's because girls don't actually get any satisfaction from penetrative sex. It doesn't feel like much either way to them. Pussys are designed to stretch and have very few never endings since they are used for something as traumatic as childbirth.
      All women basically feign satisfaction for the benefit of their partners.

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        what is the point of the pistol brace if the grip makes it an AOW anyway?

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          >What's the point of the pistol brace
          Could have stopped right there.
          The point is to adhere to arbitrary rules imposed by the ATF because there's no meaningful difference between an SBR and a 16" rifle but the fed needs to collect checks and have a background registry.

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          >if the grip makes it an AOW anyway?
          It doesn't. That's only for vertical grips i.e. perpendicular to the bore. You can even put a BCM gunfighter grip on a pistol

  21. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    18" is my favorite because you get that sweet rifle length gas. if you want to go shorter because muh CQB go straight to 12.5"

  22. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    7" sbr with no suppressor is the new /arg/ meta. Who needs flashbangs when your gun shoots them?

  23. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    56780511
    Saw your name, didn’t read what you wrote.
    Please strongly consider killing yourself, just not with a gun though.

  24. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    >I dont see much point in having a 5.56 gun shorter than 14.5" or longer than 18"
    You've come to a pretty reasonable conclusion.
    Now the next question is: why is 5.56 considered an appropriate cartridge for hunting coyotes when they weigh like, 20 pounds.

  25. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    No. Look at velocity and energy curves for barrel lengths on your favorite flavor of ammo and build your rifle around your use case with those metrics in mind.

  26. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    16" was the first AR I ever assembled and it's easily my best shooter.

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