14.5 vs 11.5 ? - Page 1

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Posted: 3/5/2019 6:44:30 PM EDT

Waiting on my efile form 1 to process and undecided on the upper. I really like the looks and extra velocity a 14.5 gives but, I keep thinking it’s a waste of $200.00 for just 1.5” and that 11.5 makes more sense. Heck most people couldn’t even tell a 14.5 was any shorter than a 16” carbine if they weren’t side by side .

What says the crowd ?

Posted: 3/5/2019 7:15:29 PM EDT

[#1]

Pin and weld, fuck the NFA

Posted: 3/5/2019 7:17:36 PM EDT

[#2]

Well 12.5” also exists, with m193 ball you could expect a muzzle velocity of 2850 to 2900 fps.

With an 11.5” a muzzle velocity of 2750 or greater

My 10.5” psa nitride gets about 2700 fps.

In reality, you don’t lose much.

Posted: 3/5/2019 9:31:49 PM EDT

[#3]

I just did an efile for a Noveske Afghan 14.5" because A) I didn't want to pin that nice barrel and B) It's a super nice NIW Gen 2 Noveske lower that I planned on SBRing anyway. If it was just any old lower I would have pinned and welded.

Posted: 3/5/2019 9:54:00 PM EDT

[#4]

I have both 14.5” and 11.5” stamps. Wanted both Block I and Block II 14.5” clones, so I did the correct stamps on that length.

I actually did three 14.5” barrels, but decided I wanted a shorter barrel so had ADCO cut the barrel down to 10.5”. I then sent a letter to ATF letting them know that the new barrel length for that particular SBR was 14.5”.

Posted: 3/6/2019 10:09:48 AM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
Waiting on my efile form 1 to process and undecided on the upper. I really like the looks and extra velocity a 14.5 gives but, I keep thinking it’s a waste of $200.00 for just 1.5” and that 11.5 makes more sense. Heck most people couldn’t even tell a 14.5 was any shorter than a 16” carbine if they weren’t side by side .

What says the crowd ?

View Quote

Pin and Weld, if not 11.5 that mofo!

Come on, do you even SBR bro?

Posted: 3/6/2019 11:34:00 AM EDT

[#6]

14.5" are nice with a mini-can. You don't lose too much velocity or gain too much muzzle blast over a 16" when running without the can. I haven't gone below 11.5" in 556 and without the can it is very concussive. When I want compact I go to 300BO or 9mm with a mag well adapter. Once you get your stamp approved you might find you gain a collection of uppers for specific tasks.

Posted: 3/8/2019 2:33:40 PM EDT

[#7]

I have SBRs with 10.3, 11.5, and 14.5 barrels. I really like my 14.5. When I was building the gun I already had a muzzle device that I could not pin and weld. Once I factored in the cost of a new muzzle device, shipping the barrel to ADCO, and the price of the pin and weld job I was right around $200, so I just SBRed it.

Posted: 3/8/2019 6:41:24 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
I have SBRs with 10.3, 11.5, and 14.5 barrels. I really like my 14.5. When I was building the gun I already had a muzzle device that I could not pin and weld. Once I factored in the cost of a new muzzle device, shipping the barrel to ADCO, and the price of the pin and weld job I was right around $200, so I just SBRed it.

View Quote

Pretty much my situation. I was an SOT for years and have had a bunch of configurations on a post sample M16 I had back in the day. I really like the look of the 11.5 but, the 14.5 just makes for a better all arounder. I Uess I can always get an 11.5 to throw on there for shits and giggles from time to time.

Posted: 3/9/2019 2:42:27 PM EDT

[#9]

10.3, 12.5 or 16 is what I run.

Posted: 3/10/2019 2:49:55 AM EDT

[#10]

Build what you actually want to shoot and don't worry about length vs. cost of stamp.

Posted: 3/12/2019 11:05:13 PM EDT

[#11]

10.3" pistol/sbr and 16"-18" rifle/80%

Posted: 3/15/2019 6:41:48 AM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
Waiting on my efile form 1 to process and undecided on the upper. I really like the looks and extra velocity a 14.5 gives but, I keep thinking it’s a waste of $200.00 for just 1.5” and that 11.5 makes more sense. Heck most people couldn’t even tell a 14.5 was any shorter than a 16” carbine if they weren’t side by side .

What says the crowd ?

View Quote

honestly, anymore you really dont "need" the tax stamp to do SBR length barrels. From a function stand point, braces today are 100 percent stocks. aesthetically speaking, they look fine. way better than the bag of dicks that they used to look like 5 years ago.

I will continue to do SBR's, especially since efile is pretty quick, but stuff like the CZ Bren/scorpion, MP5 clone, Pistol all day.

in regards to 11.5 or 14.5. it all depends on use, I like both my 14.5 and 10.5's, a 14.5 midlentgh is a pretty nice shoot and with stuff like the law folder, can be a nice compact package

Posted: 3/15/2019 8:57:21 AM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:

honestly, anymore you really dont "need" the tax stamp to do SBR length barrels. From a function stand point, braces today are 100 percent stocks. aesthetically speaking, they look fine. way better than the bag of dicks that they used to look like 5 years ago.

I will continue to do SBR's, especially since efile is pretty quick, but stuff like the CZ Bren/scorpion, MP5 clone, Pistol all day.

in regards to 11.5 or 14.5. it all depends on use, I like both my 14.5 and 10.5's, a 14.5 midlentgh is a pretty nice shoot and with stuff like the law folder, can be a nice compact package

View Quote

True but, the BATFE can reverse their standing on braces at the drop of a hat. Not so much with NFA items.

Posted: 3/18/2019 9:48:10 PM EDT

[#14]

14.5 = pin and weld! 14.5 with 10" hangiard is great as your light will extend past the rail and towards the barrel anyhow. Very handy and increased velocity over 11.5

Devalue the upper, it's not like it's going to be for serious use anyhow

Posted: 3/31/2019 10:47:21 PM EDT

[#15]

Get both.

14.5"

10.5" (Close enough)

Posted: 4/14/2019 8:33:13 PM EDT

[#16]

I have 10.5”, 11.5”, 14.5” and 16” ARs.

Sweet spot is 11.5”, IMO. (Maybe because with a DT suppressor it’s about the same length as my 10.5” with QD mounted suppressor, and lighter too. Both are shorter than a 16” with an A2.)

Posted: 6/7/2019 8:53:13 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
Get both.

14.5"
http://i68.tinypic.com/aa9im9.jpg

10.5" (Close enough)
http://i66.tinypic.com/25rl0y1.jpg

View Quote

No offense meant but the ARX has to be the ugliest modern day rifle I’ve ever seen. How does it handle? It looks awkwardly bulky.

Posted: 6/11/2019 3:18:31 AM EDT

[#18]

12.5 is your best bet if you are worried about velocity vs. not short enough to be worth a stamp.

Posted: 6/22/2019 4:11:44 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:
Pin and weld, fuck the NFA

View Quote

You're in a NFA forum.

Posted: 6/26/2019 7:19:42 PM EDT

[#20]

Why not get a 11.5 and a 14.5 upper?

Posted: 6/28/2019 3:50:38 PM EDT

[#21]

I have all of the above but I think 12.5" is my favorite.

Posted: 6/28/2019 5:01:41 PM EDT

[#22]

BOTH!

Posted: 6/29/2019 1:46:29 PM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:
14.5" are nice with a mini-can. You don't lose too much velocity or gain too much muzzle blast over a 16" when running without the can. I haven't gone below 11.5" in 556 and without the can it is very concussive. When I want compact I go to 300BO or 9mm with a mag well adapter. Once you get your stamp approved you might find you gain a collection of uppers for specific tasks.

View Quote

Spot on

Posted: 7/1/2019 5:10:42 PM EDT

[#24]

When I run a can on a 14.5 it feels like a musket.

11.5 is the longest I run now, 10.3/10.5 is my fav

Posted: 7/5/2019 3:54:01 AM EDT

[#25]

I sort of share the opinion that there's not much point in going through the NFA process just to shave 1.5" off the barrel. Of course, you register the lower not the upper, so you can always just SBR one lower and have many SBR uppers that you swap between pistol lowers and your SBR lower.

I think it was Bravo Company Manufacturing that did a study where they determined that 11.5" with carbine gas is the sweet spot for reliably SBR cycling. I'd go with 11.5" first, then maybe buy another 14.5" upper at a later date.

Posted: 7/9/2019 4:09:16 PM EDT

[#26]

youre going to need both uppers. 11.5 with RDS and 14.5 with LVPO.

id sbr the 14.5 just to have the option of changing the muzzle device/suppressor in the future. if that didnt matter id have it welded. id sbr the 11.5 but one of the nice things about length is that you can mount a VFG on it as a pistol. find out the total length and make sure im correct about that if you like VFGs.

Posted: 7/9/2019 10:38:17 PM EDT

[#27]

I have 10.3 and a pinned 14.5. I built a 11.5 a couple of years ago. The 11.5 is my favorite.

Posted: 7/11/2019 4:24:26 PM EDT

[#28]

Quote History

Quoted:
You're in a NFA forum.

https://i.imgur.com/bQiGPim.gif

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Pin and weld, fuck the NFA

You're in a NFA forum.

https://i.imgur.com/bQiGPim.gif

came to post this .... the GIF was a nice surprise though !!!

Posted: 7/11/2019 7:28:32 PM EDT

[#29]

After running 10.3 an 11.5 feels like a musket to me

I’ve sold all my 16 and 14.5s guns

I run cans so maybe this is how I feel the way I do

Posted: 7/12/2019 12:53:45 PM EDT

[#30]

I am finding the 12.5 inch barrels are hard to find.
Plenty of 11.5 and 14.

Posted: 7/21/2019 1:01:38 PM EDT

[#31]

Just to update I chose to go with the 11.5” very happy with my decision. Thanks to everyone that replied.

Posted: 7/22/2019 11:32:26 AM EDT

[#32]

The LaRue 12" stealth barrel is an option. With the law folder, it is a nice compact setup. Shoots very well.

Posted: 7/22/2019 11:52:00 AM EDT

[#33]

Get both, duh...

11.5" pistol, 14.5" P&W carbine.

Posted: 9/1/2019 9:29:15 PM EDT

[#34]

Barrel length isn’t nearly as relevant when shooting non-military ammo.

Lots of great 556 self defense rounds loaded for short barrels

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 14.5 vs 11.5 ?

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