[FAS1]

My preferences would be:

No excessive length since that would defeat the point of using a sub-16" barrel. Of course, the optimal device length would depend upon the exact length of the barrel.
Good flash suppression (which rules out most muzzle brakes)
Moderate blast/concussion (another strike against most muzzle brakes)
Some compensation to reduce muzzle rise would be nice.
Having the ability to mount a suppressor would also be good although I don't see myself doing that anytime soon.
Cheaper is better but I would consider a "buy once, cry once" type of option if it seemed clearly superior

Maybe this.

 

[CBTENGR]

Standard A2 is 1.75" and extended A2(X) is 2.25"
There are several muzzle devices on the market that are of the "extended" variety and will get a 14.5" to 16+"
Some are pre-drilled and come with a pin.
The road is well-traveled.

Yes it is and I don't know why you keep quoting my posts either.

 

[Uncle Mark]

If I were concerned about making my pistol length barrel into 16 inches I would just get a 16 inch upper instead of screwing up my pistol barrel.

 

[FireMedic-50]

I recently had a 4 prong flash hider pinned to a Colt 6921 upper.

I am very pleased. Very little 'ping' from it.

Strike Industries Venom Flash Hider 5.56mm 1/2-28 Thread Steel Matte

Own one of the world's most effective flash hiders! The Strike Industries Venom Flash Hider nearly eliminates 100% of your muzzle flash and quickly...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[Overkill777]

I have a 14.7" with an A2 pinned and welded. It's my favorite upper. I've thought about replacing it with a suppressor mount but I just leave the suppressor on my SBR.

 

[Quijibo]

I use standard A2 hiders on 14.7 barrels. I've also removed PW devices. Before 14.7" barrels came out, I used Phantoms on 14.5".

 

[Jim Watson]

I think the AFT will not allow an aluminum muzzle to be used to extend a short barrel to make it 16+ inches.

This would be news to Taccom. They offer a PCC barrel that is 5.25" real barrel, 11" aluminum shroud, p&w.

Super Feed 16″ ULW Barrel AR15-9mm | Taccom3g

Our new ramped barrel is just the thing for competitors who utilize glock and colt style PCCs.

taccom3g.com

Why?
It keeps the weight low.
It lets you use the same ammo as for a pistol for the same velocity instead of having to provide a lighter load to just make power factor in a 16" barrel.

 

[Z71bill]

This would be news to Taccom. They offer a PCC barrel that is 5.25" real barrel, 11" aluminum shroud, p&w.

Super Feed 16″ ULW Barrel AR15-9mm | Taccom3g

Our new ramped barrel is just the thing for competitors who utilize glock and colt style PCCs.

taccom3g.com

Why?
It keeps the weight low.
It lets you use the same ammo as for a pistol for the same velocity instead of having to provide a lighter load to just make power factor in a 16" barrel.

Well let me try and take a stab at it from my memory, I stumbled across it while trying to decide if I wanted to pin and weld a brake on my AR pistol, not to get to a 16" barrel but to make the overall gun over 26". I abandon the idea but had spent some time researching the rules.

Let's assume you had a 14.5" barrel and you wanted to pin and weld a muzzle brake on the end to get you over 16". You select a 1.75" aluminum brake and have it pinned and welded onto the barrel.

If the AFT wants to they can "test" how strong of a weld is on your muzzle device - they put a wrench on it and try and remove it - IIRC there is an actual foot pound standard they use - if it comes right off or breaks the brake - then it doesn't count as being properly "pinned and welded" because that is suppose be permanently attached. If your muzzle device comes off and you have a 14.5" barrel left and you have a stock on it and don't have a tax stamp for a SBR then you get arrested.

My guess is the 5.5 inch steel with the aluminum shroud on it would pass the AFT test as being permanently attached, but that is just a guess.

I can't recall if the AFT actually has a regulation that says you can't use aluminum for a brake to extend the barrel - but they don't need one because if your barrel fails the AFT twist off test you are screwed.

I am far from an expert of this stuff - but like I said before - if I was going to have a brake or anything pinned and welded onto a short barrel to make it a "legal" 16" I would do a little research before I selected one made out of aluminum.

Maybe there is some aluminum that is really hard and solid - but plenty of aluminum parts are soft and easy to bend.

 

[Jim Watson]

Well, if the feds have wrench tested the Tacccom or Odin aluminum extension sleeve attachment, they must have passed because they are in the current catalogs as finished barrels or as just the tube.

 

[Da Rocket]

Well, if the feds have wrench tested the Tacccom or Odin aluminum extension sleeve attachment, they must have passed because they are in the current catalogs as finished barrels or as just the tube.

They are today, anyway. Bump fire stocks were for sale too not so very long ago.

 

[Jim Watson]

A discouraging thought. But then everything they can swing will be off the market eventually.

 

[cowboy1964]

If the AFT wants to they can "test" how strong of a weld is on your muzzle device - they put a wrench on it and try and remove it - IIRC there is an actual foot pound standard they use - if it comes right off or breaks the brake - then it doesn't count as being properly "pinned and welded" because that is suppose be permanently attached. If your muzzle device comes off and you have a 14.5" barrel left and you have a stock on it and don't have a tax stamp for a SBR then you get arrested.

There is no ft lb. standard.

 

[Z71bill]

There is no ft lb. standard.

Do they just put as much force on the pinned and welded muzzle device as they feel like?

I have read they expect the barrel to be destroyed before the device comes off - but that seems so wrong. Your rifle gets destroyed and you are paid nothing.

So will an aluminum muzzle devise cut the mustard and pass the test?

I don’t see how it could.

 

[BamaTrooper]

That's what I said. I would not use a muzzle break. I would use an XM-177 style flash suppressor, if I wanted one longer than normal.

I think it was levity via a break vs brake post

 

[breacher1]

Retro AR15 Extended Flash Hider 5/8-24 - 6 Inch

Retro AR15 Extended Flash Hider - 6 Inch - 5/8-24 Design inspired by the XM-177 Moderator, this extended flash hider will extend a 10.5" barrel to legal non-NFA length when pin and welded. CNC machined from bar steel Heat treated for strength Phosphate coated to protect from corrosion Threaded...

www.kakindustry.com

KAK makes these retro steel XM177 moderators in 4 & 6 inch drilled for pin hole. I stuck one on my 10.5 in. 7.62x39 but couldn't bring myself to weld it. It made length at about 16.2 inches. I took it off and just bought a real 16 in. barrel. Makes more sense to me.

 

[BamaTrooper]

I recently had a 4 prong flash hider pinned to a Colt 6921 upper.

I am very pleased. Very little 'ping' from it.

Strike Industries Venom Flash Hider 5.56mm 1/2-28 Thread Steel Matte

Own one of the world's most effective flash hiders! The Strike Industries Venom Flash Hider nearly eliminates 100% of your muzzle flash and quickly...

www.midwayusa.com

I use the same one in spite of the tuning fork performance “tingggggggg” after the last round of a string is fired.