Is the barrel 14, 15 or 16.5 inchs?

[748]

I have been shopping around for barrels.
These are all the same part number barrel.
The first time I found/saw the barrel it was listed as 16.5 inches. Then a few weeks later I go back to the same website to buy it and now that barrel is listed as 15 inches, then on gun broker dot com the same barrel, just being sold by a different gun shop is listed as being 14 inches.
I am pretty sure bolt face to muzzle crown is right about 15 to 15.5 inches, but it has a flash hider that is between one inch and 1.5 inches long.
If the flash hider is non removable does that not count as part of the barrel length?

Just incase the flash hider is removable I have a tig welder that will make it non removable.
I ask because of the obvious legal implications. I have no problem registering another short barrel weapon, I would just like to save $200.
:banghead:

 

[KCJ]

You are correct. Keep it over 16".

 

[Sam1911]

Not sure exactly how to answer because I don't know the part number of the product you're looking at.

A permanently attached flash hider is considered part of the barrel, and thus contributes to the total length. But it has to be an approved way of "permanently" attaching. A blind pin, welded over is considered permanent. So is high temp silver soldering, or fully welding, the circumference.

 

[Onmilo]

The are 14.5" barrels and 16" barrels and 18" and 20" and 22" and 24" for M16 type rifles.
There may be somebody making a 15 or 15.5" barrel but I have never seen one.

A 14.5" barrel MUST have a flash hider or muzzle brake device permanently attached that allows for an overall length of the barrel assembly to exceed 16" with 16.25" being accepted as a normal industry standard.

The muzzle threaded area of of an M16 type barrel is standardized a 1/2".
As such, the installed muzzle device must have an over-all length of 2.25" to meet the minimum over-all length of 16.25" for the assembled barrel assembly.

The standard A1/A2 birdcage type flash hiders are too short.
Flash hider muzzle brake assemblies from Smith Enterprise, Phantom, and Surefire among a host of others will meet the minimum 2.25" overall length to make the barrel assemble meet the minimum legal length standard for a non NFA barrel as long as the muzzle device is permanently attached.
This is most commonly achieved by drill and precision reaming a 1/8" blind hole through the muzzle device and into the bottom the bottom of the barrel 1/4" up from the thread wall and 3/32" deep into the barrel threaded area and force driving in a HARDENED steel pin to a depth of at least 3/32" below the external wall of the muzzle device which is then welded over with nickle silver rod and flush form filed/ground to match the muzzle device contours.
The filled blind hole may be color finished to match the finish of the muzzle device and need not be kept bright as proof.

BATFE tests of legality involve dropping a 16.25" precision bar gage down the barrel to affirm legal length and testing the permanency of the muzzle device by attempting to remove the device from the vice held barrel using a wrench on a 36" breaker bar wielded by Hercules the Agent.

Do not weld round the muzzle device as this can distort the barrel at the muzzle.
Do not Tack weld the barrel device to the barrel.
Do not superglue, Loctite, silver solder or copper braze the muzzle device to the threaded area of the barrel.
These have all been shown to fail under Hercules powerful determination.

If you DO find a 15" or 15.5" barrel a standard A1/A2 muzzle device can be utilized as the overall length will make the barrel meet the 16.25" standard but it must still be permanently attached in the manner described above. HTH

 

[MachIVshooter]

But it has to be an approved way of "permanently" attaching.

It has to be an acceptable method; the three methods ATF mentions are guidlines, but not the only ways. Swedged or shrink fit are very permanent methods, too; moreso than pin & weld. They're just far more difficult to do right without damaging a barrel, and not possible with ordinary threaded muzzles. P&W is quick, easy and not difficult to undo.

If it can be removed with "ordinary tools" and doesn't leave the muzzle damaged when doing so, it wasn't permanent. But if it requires heating to 1,100°+, drilling or cutting to remove without destroying the barrel, you're GTG.

 

[viking499]

What barrel are you talking about?