14.5 vs 16” rifle

[ColtSeavers]

16 + 1.75 + .145 - .625 = 17.27

16" barrel
A2 flash hider/comp
Crush washer
Threading

Lazy napkin math.

[Wake27]

I have both and prefer the 14.5". More personal preference than anything else.

In reality, they are far more alike than different.

Don’t think I could agree more. You’ll find intense debates over this but at the end of the day it comes down to which is less of an annoyance to you: pinned MD or longer barrel and possibly handguard?

I vote 14.5 pinned all day.


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[Caballo]

Thanks for the info. Since I am going with just an A2 flash hider for both, no suppressors (will get a shorty pistol for suppressor host down the road), I’m probably gonna go with 16”.

[MistWolf]

I've owned a few ARs in different lengths from 10.5 inches to 20 inches, including a 16 inch middy. I currently own two 14.5 inch SOCOM barreled ARs, a couple of 11.5 inch ARs and a 20 inch ARs. I traded off the 16 inch middy and have no desire for another.

The 14.5 inch ARs have pinned A2 birdcage style muzzle devices. I prefer how they shoot and their balance over 16 inch ARs. The difference is subtle but noticeable.

[Shiz]

I have both but my 14.5 mid has a sba3 so I can do my OSS can (3.5” over the barrel.)With the silencer, it is still shorter than my BCM with Gunfighter fh. I like the 14.5 more with the can.

[Colt Carson]

You lose so much velocity when you go shorter than 16”, and velocity is the 5.56 main strong point. Just for useless information... a friend and I were shooting mild steel plate with same FMJ ammo. He had 14.5” and mine was 16”. My rounds went through clean, but his couldn’t make it and just left a bubble on the backside of the plate. His twist was 1/7 and mine is 1/9, but I don’t know if that affects bullet velocity. I just thought that was curious given the small difference in barrel length.

[Wake27]

You lose so much velocity when you go shorter than 16”, and velocity is the 5.56 main strong point. Just for useless information... a friend and I were shooting mild steel plate with same FMJ ammo. He had 14.5” and mine was 16”. My rounds went through clean, but his couldn’t make it and just left a bubble on the backside of the plate. His twist was 1/7 and mine is 1/9, but I don’t know if that affects bullet velocity. I just thought that was curious given the small difference in barrel length.

It’s about 100-150 FPS per barre inch for standard range ammo IIRC.


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[grizzlyblake]

16" for me simply because it's completely modular and can be worked on by me. A pinned and welded muzzle device on a 14.5" means I have to get a gun smith for any work on the gas block, etc.

[markm]

You lose so much velocity when you go shorter than 16”, and velocity is the 5.56 main strong point. Just for useless information... a friend and I were shooting mild steel plate with same FMJ ammo. He had 14.5” and mine was 16”. My rounds went through clean, but his couldn’t make it and just left a bubble on the backside of the plate. His twist was 1/7 and mine is 1/9, but I don’t know if that affects bullet velocity. I just thought that was curious given the small difference in barrel length.

However an 11.5 with good ammo is WAY more effective defensively than a 16 with FMJ. If for whatever, insane reason someone chose FMJ for defensive ammo, YES, you want the longest barrel you can stand and a good luck charm to increase the odds of the crappy ammo fragging.

[Mercs]

I've owned a few ARs in different lengths from 10.5 inches to 20 inches, including a 16 inch middy. I currently own two 14.5 inch SOCOM barreled ARs, a couple of 11.5 inch ARs and a 20 inch ARs. I traded off the 16 inch middy and have no desire for another.

The 14.5 inch ARs have pinned A2 birdcage style muzzle devices. I prefer how they shoot and their balance over 16 inch ARs. The difference is subtle but noticeable.

Plus those 14.5” SOCOM barrel are D-LUXE! I wouldnt want anything else


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