BCM 14.5" M4 upper (NFA) question

[firehawk1]

I was looking at BCM's website and see they offer 2 different 14.5" M4 uppers. One has a permenently attached flashhider, and the other has (NFA) after the description. What is the difference? Pardon my ignorance.

 

[shooter521]

The first one has a barrel that measures 16" or more including the permanent FH. The second one has a 14.5" barrel, and as such can only be used with a registered SBR (short-barreled rifle) or an AR pistol.

 

[firehawk1]

So... am I correct in saying even though it is a 14.5" barrel, the permenetly attached flashhider makes it a 16" barrel so it is really no different than the 16" barrel I have now length wise. The NFA barrel requires a special permit.

 

[Anelson]

Length wise you are correct, you can take a look at the class 3 sub forum on here and it will explain the sbr route

 

[shooter521]

So... am I correct in saying even though it is a 14.5" barrel, the permenetly attached flashhider makes it a 16" barrel so it is really no different than the 16" barrel I have now length wise.

Ed Zachary.

The NFA barrel requires a special permit.

Not by itself, no. And it would be totally fine for use on an AR pistol. But if you want to use it on a rifle, said rifle must be registered under the NFA as a short-barreled rifle (i.e. a "Class 3" weapon).

 

[firehawk1]

Ed Zachary.

Is that the same as posilutely, and absotivley?

 

[shooter521]

Is that the same as posilutely, and absotivley?

Urban Dictionary: Ed Zachary Disease

 

[esrice]

Ed Zachary.

Kinda, but not exactly.

If the OP currently has a 16" barrel with a screw-on flash hider then total length is actually longer than 16". A 14.5" w/perm is still about 1.5" shorter than a regular 16" barrel with flash hider.

 

[CountryBoy19]

Kinda, but not exactly.

If the OP currently has a 16" barrel with a screw-on flash hider then total length is actually longer than 16". A 14.5" w/perm is still about 1.5" shorter than a regular 16" barrel with flash hider.

This is the most correct answer.

A 16" barrel is 16" without the flash-hider attached. So with it attached it is 16" + the length of the flash-hider, typically around 17.5" for a standard flash-hider.

A 14.5" barrel with permanent flash-hider is (typically) 16" with the flash-hider.