Is This an Optimal Build for Close Quarters?

Close quarters battle (CQB) is one of the most difficult things to master. You have tight spaces, lots of corners, and a lot of room for error. One thing that you don't want to overlook is the length of your firearm. An overextended barrel can give away your position, give an enemy something to grab onto, make you bump into things and just leaves a lot of room for error. That being said, finding a short barreled rifle, or AR pistol for CQB is ideal.

With so many options in the market, BCM stands out as a popular choice, and our team at Defense Distributors tested that out.

I ran a BCM 14.5 setup through consistent team CQB training for months. Here’s why this build exists, what worked, where it’s compromised, and how I’d change it if I started over.

Quick Summary

Yes, a 14.5 for CQB sounds backwards at first glance. But this build was born from a need for a CQB rifle that could also serve as general purpose.

A 14.5 is doable for CQB, but it’s not optimal as it is still pretty close to the standard 16" barrel lengths of many service members. But if you’re trying to understand what matters on a CQB rifle (and what doesn’t), this is a good real-world case study.

Why This Exists

About a year ago, I was training CQB extremely consistently in a team shoot house environment. Weekly classes, often multiple times per week, plus my own training on top of that.

At the time, Defense Distributors was in growth mode and funds were tight. I already had a BCM 14.5 upper built out as a general-purpose media gun for testing attachments such as optics, lasers, and lights. Instead of buying a dedicated CQB rifle, I said:

“14 is better than 16. Maybe this will work.”

The Rifle (Root Configuration)

Upper

BCM 14.5 Upper

BCM is my default “buy it and don’t overthink it” choice. I like the rail size and overall feel. It’s one of those setups that just works without drama.

Muzzle Device

SureFire 3-Prong Flash Hider

I originally intended to run this suppressed. A full-size RC2 on a 14.5 gets long fast.

Light + Laser

Laser

GL4 Pro

I ran both the standard and IR configurations over time. For CQB specifically, the GL4 Pro worked well for me because it’s small, the buttons are in a convenient position, and I didn’t need a remote switch just to make it usable.

Why I Ran an ARD on an EOTech

I ran a Covert Arms HWS ARD (Anti-Reflection Device) because in force-on-force environments, optics and lights get hit.

The mesh style on this ARD has helped protect EOTech glass from SIM impacts enough times that it justified the setup for me.

The Takeaways

This build exists because:

• You train with what you have.
• You iterate as you learn.
• You upgrade toward what the mission actually demands.

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