how big is flame on short barrel

[22lr]

thinking about cutting my M14 to 18.5" and need your opinion on a flash hider. Do I really need one? How about if I just cut the barrel and crown it nicely and leave it at that? Or will I have my eyebrows burned with muzzle flash or something?

 

[powmia56]

Seventeen feet.

Just kidding, of course. The flash hider also helps reduce felt recoil and muzzle jump. You won't have problems with burning your eyebrows unless you have a very weird shooting stance but you will find that the rifle jumps around quite a bit.

 

[Stevo]

Plus it just won't look right with a bare barrel.

 

[Juster]

Fairly flashy, remember to fire from alternate positions on the range:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRMFbDvUVIU

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

How big do you want it to be? Some reloading powders are more firey than others.