AR15 Short Barrel/Long Flash Hider

rep1954 · January 11, 2013, 10:22 PM

What are the advantages and or disadvantages of a 11.5" barrel with a welded 5.5" flash hider over a 16" barrel without any flash hider on a 5.56 x 45 chambered AR15?

DubC-Hicks · January 12, 2013, 12:34 AM

No advantages. Reduced velocity and some are finicky because the barrel length doesn't work well with the gas system. And that would mean the flash hider is also permanently attached, so you couldn't change them.

plouffedaddy · January 12, 2013, 01:14 AM

Agreed. 0 advantages. If you want the shortest length AR without going NFA get a 14.5'' or 14.7'' pinned upper; more velocity and (usually) a more reliable gas system.

Hairbag · January 12, 2013, 03:51 AM

the advantage is if you can't find a rifle upper but can find a pistol upper adding the long muzzle break will bring the barrel to 16" now it counts as a rifle upper and you can put a stock on it. It is a option that some people are using during this shortage. Not many AR rifle uppers to be found.

DnPRK · January 12, 2013, 12:24 PM

11.5" barrel with 5.5" flash hider was the standard setup in the late 1970s and '80s for people who wanted a carbine length XM177 style barrel.

Bartholomew Roberts · January 12, 2013, 06:13 PM

I actually owned one of these as my first AR. There are no advantages. It is as long as a 16" but has the blast of an 11.5". It looks cool if you like the XM177 look; but that is about it - and you can get that look with a 16" barrel and a flash hider that goes back over the barrel.

Alabama Shooter · January 12, 2013, 10:12 PM

Now an 11.5" with a 5" suppressor, that is whole other story.

LRChops · January 13, 2013, 02:56 AM

That 11.5 with 6" is OLD SCHOOL!!!! Havent seen one of those dinasaurs around in a long time! I don't know why anyone ever thought that to be a good idea!

Mobuck · January 13, 2013, 10:56 AM

Two tour Iraq vet was not impressed with the short barreled carbine.
I have an 11.5" AR pistol that's accurate as heck but can't say it's going to be my choice of a hunting gun.

plouffedaddy · January 13, 2013, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Two tour Iraq vet was not impressed with the short barreled carbine.
I have an 11.5" AR pistol that's accurate as heck but can't say it's going to be my choice of a hunting gun.

Were ya'll using MK318 Mod 0? It's seems to be light years ahead of M855/193 out of the shorter barreled M4s.

Mobuck · January 13, 2013, 12:03 PM

855 issued ammo

rep1954 · January 13, 2013, 09:28 PM

Hairbag you hit it on the head. I'm trying to build a rifle as light and short as I can but still with a 16" barrel and a OAL of over 30". I live in Michigan where a SBR is a no no unless it is fully automatic and a rifle over 26" and under 30" must be registered like a handgun but still have a minimum of a 16" barrel. I guess I should just hold out for a 16" pencil barrel with a thread protector on it.

Alabama Shooter · January 14, 2013, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Two tour Iraq vet was not impressed with the short barreled carbine.

Are you saying it did not perform properly in the field? Observations like that are in the extreme minority but do exist.

January 11, 2013, 10:22 PM	#1
rep1954 Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2009 Location: Mid Western Michigan Posts: 683	AR15 Short Barrel/Long Flash Hider What are the advantages and or disadvantages of a 11.5" barrel with a welded 5.5" flash hider over a 16" barrel without any flash hider on a 5.56 x 45 chambered AR15?

January 12, 2013, 12:34 AM	#2
DubC-Hicks Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2009 Location: Backwoods, Northern MI Posts: 213	No advantages. Reduced velocity and some are finicky because the barrel length doesn't work well with the gas system. And that would mean the flash hider is also permanently attached, so you couldn't change them. __________________ ”Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars.” ~Unknown

January 12, 2013, 01:14 AM	#3
plouffedaddy Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2011 Location: Carolina Posts: 2,960	Agreed. 0 advantages. If you want the shortest length AR without going NFA get a 14.5'' or 14.7'' pinned upper; more velocity and (usually) a more reliable gas system. __________________ Mrgunsngear's Youtube Channel Certified Glock Armorer

January 12, 2013, 03:51 AM	#4
Hairbag Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2010 Posts: 427	the advantage is if you can't find a rifle upper but can find a pistol upper adding the long muzzle break will bring the barrel to 16" now it counts as a rifle upper and you can put a stock on it. It is a option that some people are using during this shortage. Not many AR rifle uppers to be found. __________________ I'm hairbag and I approve this message.

January 12, 2013, 10:12 PM	#7
Alabama Shooter Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2012 Location: Sweet Home Posts: 851	Now an 11.5" with a 5" suppressor, that is whole other story. __________________ Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday.

January 12, 2013, 12:24 PM	#5
DnPRK Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2001 Location: LC, Ca Posts: 1,723	11.5" barrel with 5.5" flash hider was the standard setup in the late 1970s and '80s for people who wanted a carbine length XM177 style barrel.

January 12, 2013, 06:13 PM	#6
Bartholomew Roberts Senior Member Join Date: June 13, 2000 Location: Texas and Oklahoma area Posts: 5,386	I actually owned one of these as my first AR. There are no advantages. It is as long as a 16" but has the blast of an 11.5". It looks cool if you like the XM177 look; but that is about it - and you can get that look with a 16" barrel and a flash hider that goes back over the barrel.

January 13, 2013, 02:56 AM	#8
LRChops Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2013 Location: Placer County Posts: 101	That 11.5 with 6" is OLD SCHOOL!!!! Havent seen one of those dinasaurs around in a long time! I don't know why anyone ever thought that to be a good idea! __________________ May God make smooth the path you follow!

January 13, 2013, 10:56 AM	#9
Mobuck Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 1,469	Two tour Iraq vet was not impressed with the short barreled carbine. I have an 11.5" AR pistol that's accurate as heck but can't say it's going to be my choice of a hunting gun.

January 13, 2013, 12:03 PM	#11
Mobuck Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 1,469	855 issued ammo

January 13, 2013, 09:28 PM	#12
rep1954 Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2009 Location: Mid Western Michigan Posts: 683	Hairbag you hit it on the head. I'm trying to build a rifle as light and short as I can but still with a 16" barrel and a OAL of over 30". I live in Michigan where a SBR is a no no unless it is fully automatic and a rifle over 26" and under 30" must be registered like a handgun but still have a minimum of a 16" barrel. I guess I should just hold out for a 16" pencil barrel with a thread protector on it.