Help me buy/build a 14 1/2" AR.

[SunsetMan]

I'm looking to buy a short AR for home defence, SHTF, and general fun.

Here is what I think I want: 14 1/2 heavy barrel, flip down front and rear sight, Magpul or shorty stock, free floating handguard with rails (for versatility, I really don't want to hang a buch of stuff off of it). I'd like for the rifle to shoot 1 MOA at 100 yards. I was thinking of having it chambered for 5.56 for reliability and versatility if that doesn't hurt accuracy too much. I already have an Eotech 552 sight.

Do any of the better AR manufacturers make a heavy 14 1/2 inch barrel? Most list a 16" heavy and are kind of vague of that includes a flash hider or not. Or, do I want a heavy barrel? I'm thinking it would help with accuracy and be worth the extra weight.

I don't want this to be a debate on using an AR for home defence. I have read hundreds of posts on that subject. I just want to know if anyone makes what I described above or advice on the components of such a rifle.

Thanks!

[MrMurphy]

Unless you're running 14-20 mags on full auto through the rifle inside half an hour the heavy barrel won't help much.

It's a carbine, get the original M-4 profile barrel or a lightweight.

A 16" with flash suppressor makes more ballistic sense as the 14.5 will have to have a long muzzle brake or flash suppressor permanently attached to get to 16" legally anyways.

Unless you plan on putting a scope out on the front of the handguards, freefloating just makes things more expensive. My gov't issue M4 has a KAC rail system (non-freefloat) and does just fine.


If you want to go freefloat, the LMT MRP platform is probably the best out there.

I'd be looking at Rock River and Bushmaster. Magpul stock and Troy flip down sights.

[AR15Armory Neil]

First of all you cannot have a 14.5" barrel or a 14.5" barrel with removable suppressor unless you register it as a SBR through the BATFE's NFA division, that will cost you $200.00 for that.
AR Manufacturers: LMT, DPMS, RRA
Stock: Vltor, LMT SOPMOD, or if no optics to need batteries then I would just stick with the standard M-4 collapsible or A-2 butt stock.
Flip up or down rear sight: A.R.M.S or Midwest Industries makes a great rear sight.

[SunsetMan]

Thanks guys. By 14 1/2 I mean 14 1/2 plus the flash hider to give a 16 inch legal length. How long is your average flash hider? 1 1/2 inches doesn't sound that long. I want the rifle as short as possible without having to SBR it.

I'll have to read up on free float versus non free float handguards.

[RMTactical]

This one was done with a 14.5" barrel. To get the legal length, you have to perm. attach one of the longer flash hiders, like the extended A2, the phantom, or a vortex. I used a phantom, which I prefer.

You cannot get away with using a regular A2 flash hider or a mini vortex or anything, unless you go with a 14.7" barrel and have it perm. attached, which a few folks make.

It comes up to 16" for legal purposes.

It is an M4 profile that is light under the handguards as well. I do believe that Bushmaster makes a 14.5" HBAR. Why would you want an HBAR though? They are just too damn heavy and offer very little benefit for the AR platform in general.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/mwirig79/M4perfection.jpg

[SunsetMan]

Great looking gun GoreLicks.

I had a Mini-14 a few years back. I was really disappointed in it's accuracy. The best I could do off the bench was 2 1/2 inches at 100 yards with a 3x9 Leupold scope. I guess this was pretty good for a stock Mini.

I don't want to make this mistake with an AR. I want to make sure it is inherently accurate before I buy it. If a standard barreled AR will give 1 MOA then that works for me.

Such accuracy might be overkill for the 1X Eotech, but I want to be able to use a 4X ACOG or Elcan too.

[RainierArms]

14.5" & 1" Groups = Match grade barrel. Jason at Jtac supply has what you are looking for. It's not cheap but it fits what you are looking for.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v378/jtacsupply/14.jpg

http://www.ar15armory.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3849

Once you figure out exactly what you need, it's easy enought to build out.