A 11.75” barrel with a standard length receiver extension lets you keep the unpinned muzzle device and still allows the use of a hider and adjustable brace.
If you want the shortest package possible, you can go 10.5”-10.75” and pin the muzzle device of your choosing (final barrel length depends on overall length of the muzzle device to make the minimum length to remain an Other and not an AOW)
An 11.75” barrel is suitable for work 200 yards and in. Plenty of accuracy, but you lose a little in terminal effects past 100 yards.
My MM Wartime SBF Other has a 11.75” barrel and an unpinned SF Warcomp.
Excellent point(s).
So many people ask about 10" bbls. because Troy originally offered them so they could use up some of their pistol bbls. and not have to run a new batch of longer ones.
My personal opinion is the 10" is deceptive to the customer because so many “think” they are getting a shorter weapon, they are not! A 10" Bbl. with a welded extension comes out to the same length as a 11.75" bbl but losses the threaded bbl option and has less rifling so where is the benefit?
I don’t disagree that a too short barrel with too long muzzle device is foolish. (However - on a Pistol Caliber blowback gun, the shorter the barrel the better for a whole host of reasons - but that’s a whole other conversation.)
Ultimately -
Mission drives the gear train
There is no free lunch
If you are buying an SBF/Other - by definition, an SBF/SBR gives up terminal ballistics for a “handier” package with a short barrel. There’s no way around it.
If you want the best ballistics in the shortest possible package in a 5.56 NJ legal firearm - an 11.75” crowned barrel shooting 75gr pills is the answer. But…. If terminal ballistics is that important for that firearm - you’re probably more in the market for a 18”-20” barreled rifle over an “other” or a standard 14.5”-16” barreled carbine for a compromise.
Regardless of overall length - the ATF requires barrels under 12.5" to be welded
Also - the Brace does not need to be made “permenate” because the OA length is measured from end of the muzzle (w/o any attachments) to the end of the buffer tube…
Its not a removable accessory when permanent, its part of the reciver extension. Just like pinning a muzzle device becomes the barrel.
The end of the “buffer tube” becomes the end of brace, as there is no longer a part thats removable.
I dont like it, but it makes general sense that a rifle with adjustable and removable parts be measured at its smallest configuration.
It makes zero sense the ATF would cut up a rifle with fixed length, shorten it, and show up to court arguing they didnt substantially alter the firearm.
Those rules also generally applied to the national AWB when fixing a stock to a rifle.
Call it a legal grey area, but if someone cant meaure OAL on the spot shorter than the minimum. I dont see the issue.
The ATF ruling that is on Stay is the ban on the brace itself, so Braces are legal and will remain legal (at least through Trump’s administration).
There is no change in Federal laws on Barrel length requirements…
At the end of the day it shouldn’t be about the shortest barrel length. You want the shortest package with the best ballistics. The ballistics come from the barrel, not the receiver extension.
Irrefutable fact - as barrel length diminishes. projectiles become less capable at stopping a threat - shorter barrel equals less velocity which translates to quickly diminishing terminal effects and arguably inferior accuracy (I say arguably because many factors contribute to accuracy - from the projectile itself to the manufacturing process of the barrel).
Making the receiver extension longer so the barrel can be shorter is like cutting a foot off the top of a blanket to add to the bottom and thinking it’s going to keep your feet warmer.
IMO - You have an overall length requirement. In order to meet it, stack the deck in your favor with components that will give you the best performing version of the platform.
Federal law doesn’t outline the “other” barrel length - it outlines the the overall length requirement (26”)
Federal law dose outline when using a barrel in a build that is under 12” that is must be welded.
Hence ALL mags that use a 10” barrel weld the extension on to it.
Hence my previous remarks about why use it in the first place?
It’s a marketing ploy to make a buyer THINK he has a shorter weapon……
Interesting. I’ve never heard of the requirement to pin a barrel under 12”.
If your component selection gives you an Other/SBF with an overall length of 26” on the nose, than you do have a shorter gun than someone whose overall length is 26.5” as 26” is shorter than 26.5”
If you want a total overall length of 26” and you want a muzzle device, it makes sense to me to have a barrel cut to the appropriate length to make that particular muzzle device end at exactly 26” overall when timed and pinned.
I agree, the idea was an 11.5inch barrel with a flash hider, using the A5 extension. Keeping the front end shorter, and i never go fully closed on the brace anyway.
Purpose built for close contact, under 50 yard engagment.
I have never seen an under 12.5in welded muzzle rule and did a lot of research posted on the old website prior to bulding anything.
I will try to dig it up for you, but in the mean time - just inquire with Troy, Modern material, ect. on any models with the 10" bbl - you will see they weld them. I know Troy has (Had) a 10" version, not positive on the MM…???
I’d appreciate it. I did a quick search on ATF website but didn’t turn up anything about it.
I have a MM Wartime SBF. 11.75” barrel, standard receiver extension, makes it 26.125” OAL without the muzzle device. Has a SF Warcomp that brings it to about 28.125” OAL. I always assumed it was unpinned, but I never asked.
