14.5 Barrels - if desparate and have access to a lathe..

[lazyengineer]

Pretty much unobtainium; yet a lot of people got hooked on those handy 12's. Going forward, shortest you can do to keep everything .... uncomplicated; yet still keep it small as you can without legal questions, is going to be to pin and weld a 14.5. Which you can't get.

So, if you are handy with laith.... $45:

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/1664620

(you'll still need the barrel extension and a reamer though).

[grayfox]

Not watching the video, but....
what's wrong with a 16-er? Nobody is going door to door fighting (as in bidin's vax cops or disarmamenters, lol)
or climbing out of a humvee in urban warfare...

I have seen a few 12's from time to time - me, not interested but understand others might be.
My comment is directed pretty much at the 14.5...
just an opinion, though.

[lazyengineer]

Unlike 5.56, Grendel retains considerable power at shorter barrels, and can deliver serious power at practical hunting ranges (100+ yards) at even 12". The Grendel round represents an engineering optimization of the most serious downrange performance capable of fitting in a small frame AR15. It's entire reason for existence, was to fit in an AR15. The point is the most power for the size of firearm possible. In keeping with that, the shortest barrel possible to get that good performance has appeal for those seeking the most knockdown power you can get in the smallest sized package you can get. Much of that market would rather not deal with NFA. A 12" BBL with muzzle device is closer to 13.5" real. So a 14.5 with pinned muzzle device is 16" legal. Or you get a bare 16", if you dont want a muzzle device. For some, an AR-15 is a lightweight performance device, and the muzzle device is a component of that performance. For that market share, a 14.5 with a pin and weld muzzle device represents the most optimal legal power that retains the inherent appeal of the AR15 system and aesthetics/performance of muzzle device, while being the smallest package capable of doing that.

Not everyone shares that focus, but for a segment of the market - it's appealing.

[StoneHendge]

Nobody is going door to door fighting (as in bidin's vax cops or disarmamenters, lol)
or climbing out of a humvee in urban warfare...

Yet.