What's the point? 11.5'' barrel +5.5'' flash suppressor

[craze]

I'm getting close to buying my first AR. Probably a Bushmaster M4 A3. Anyway I noticed they offer variations with a 11.5'' barrel with a 5.5'' flash suppressor to make it leagal for sale with out a stamp.
I'm just curious as to what the practical purpose of this would be over just getting a full 16'' barrel.

It just seems to me that you get the worst of both worlds. You get the handling drawbacks of the longer barrel with all the velocity loss of the shorter one. You don't even get the cool looks of a short stubby barrel because you got that ugly extra long flash suppressor hanging out there.

Anyone have any ideas as to what the practical purpose of this setup might be?

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[crazyassazian]

You've stated it's only purpose, which is to be at the legal length.

[blueyedevil]

I'd go for a 15" barrel and a good 1" suppressor myself. Think you're right on with the B.S. value of a 5.5" suppressor.

[QKShooter]

What you get with a good (properly designed) flash suppressor is some decent flash suppression.
A good solid 2" suppressor should do it.

[tanksoldier]

A more cynical man might suppose that the purpose is to allow you to remove the suppressor, or replace it with a shorter version, and have an illegal SBR off the books.

[rocky]

A more cynical man might suppose that the purpose is to allow you to remove the suppressor, or replace it with a shorter version, and have an illegal SBR off the books.

I believe all shorter than 16" barrels are required to be permenantly attached. Its all about looksw/ the 5.5 flash hider. early CAR 15's did have a long flash hider attached.

[cmidkiff]

It's just looks... some people like that kind of thing. Hey, to each their own.

I'll stay with a 16" barrel until such a time as the government ceases to infringe on my rights by regulating barrel length.

[JT]

It serves no puropse, other than some think it is "tacti-cool". Same length but you loose actual barrel length, and thereby performance.

[aus71383]

I'd go with the take it off and have an illegally short barrel idea.

Or else maybe you don't want your rounds to have so much velocity...there are positive benefits to reduced velocity you know.

owning something other than a .223 would make sense for those purposes though

[Rob72]

I'm getting close to buying my first AR. Probably a Bushmaster M4 A3. Anyway I noticed they offer variations with a 11.5'' barrel with a 5.5'' flash suppressor to make it leagal for sale with out a stamp.
I'm just curious as to what the practical purpose of this would be over just getting a full 16'' barrel.

It just seems to me that you get the worst of both worlds. You get the handling drawbacks of the longer barrel with all the velocity loss of the shorter one. You don't even get the cool looks of a short stubby barrel because you got that ugly extra long flash suppressor hanging out there.

Anyone have any ideas as to what the practical purpose of this setup might be?

Zilch. Under 14",you lose an awful lot, in .223.

[JT]

Or else maybe you don't want your rounds to have so much velocity...there are positive benefits to reduced velocity you know.

If you want reduced velocity, use lower powered ammo. That way you have the option of having higher velocity with standard ammo when you want it.

[Blackeagle]

Anyone have any ideas as to what the practical purpose of this setup might be?

Well, if you got an SBR stamp for it sometime in the future you could get rid of the 5.5" flash supressor and put something more reasonable on there. That's about the only 'advantage' I can see.

[SIXTO]

Well, if you got an SBR stamp for it sometime in the future you could get rid of the 5.5" flash supressor and put something more reasonable on there. That's about the only 'advantage' I can see.

It will cost you more to have it removed/refinished than it would be to buy a new barrel. Other than "looking cool" what need does the average Joe have for a 11" AR anyway?

[rachilders]

Why not get a Kel-Tec PLR-16. You get a modified AR style platfom but with a short (9") barrel because it's listed as a pistol, and it cost a lot less than any of the AR's you'll find (unless you get a GOOD deal on a used one). They run about $500 new and another $100 will trick it out. I have one and it's a "blast".

[mcp1810]

I bought one as an investment way back on the day they were voting on the ban. It's my "Charles Schumer Special" Short barrel, long flash hider, bayonette lug, collapsible stock. As politically incorrect as you can get! I paid $750 for it. When I came back a week later ( stupid MD law!) to pick it up, they had another one just like it for $2300! I made the mistake of shooting it one day and fell in love with it. It's fun to play with but for any serious target work I reconfigure with a full length H-Bar match upper and a fixed stock.