[Topgunben]

Originally Posted by PieOats [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Oh okay, good deal. I just saw the web address had 80lower in it and didn’t follow the link.

As far as the 16” barrel goes, it all depends on what you plan to do with it. If you want the best accuracy to range ratio, you can go with an 18”. Anymore than that and you will end up with more whip. The only reasons to go shorter than 16” are if you plan to keep it for self-defense and would like something suited to CQB, or if you would like to suppress it, or if you want something easier to transport or have a CPL and would like to carry concealed. The one other consideration on barrel length is that if you build a pistol first, then you can convert it to a rifle whenever you like, but if your build starts as a rifle, then you cannot convert to a pistol. The likelihood of anybody ever actually knowing is small, but it is the law.

As for the 14.5” barrel, that would mean that you are either building an SBR or a pistol, unless you permanently affix the muzzle device by weld, solder or pin. The muzzle device cannot be removable, otherwise once you attach a stock to the weapon, you suddenly have an SBR, which requires the aforementioned tax stamp prior to assembly. The alternative of course is to build it as a pistol. If you do not want a pistol or an SBR and you want to be able to swap out muzzle devices, then go with an actual barrel length of 16” or more. Often they come in 16.1”

Good advice. This just convinced me to build a short barreled AR.