Opinions wanted please. Would you pin and weld it for use as a rifle or keep as-is for a pistol?

I'd go pinned/welded.

I've got uppers in 14.5" and 14.7". Both are pinned/welded to 16". I've also got pistol uppers and a braced pistol lower.

Kind of nice to put a real buttstock on the 14.X" uppers.

You might want to consider the regulations in your state.

Some states allow registration as a pistol, & thus un-pinned, but impose a contradictory overall length restriction (like less than 26") for transportation purposes even with a CPL.

That might be a consideration in your decision.

MM

MM,fortunately I am in TN.

Quoting Bob Lee Swagger - "patron state of shootin' stuff"

In that case, I'd go the pistol route, as long as you can transport as a pistol on your car seat.

MM

I received this upper earlier this week. Very nice to come home and its waiting for me vs. having to go to some FFL to pick up. Snapped it on a lower I had, really liking it. Built like a solid STHF piece, thinking I need to make the lower as durable. I am thinking a TN build using CMT ambi billet lower UHP-15A which I have on another build. Made in Lexington, TN. My concern is compatibility with a Maxim Defense pistol brace (will the rails hit the lower or the ambi controls on the right side).

Speaking of whom, the latest Stephen Hunter book sucked. I think he finally reached the point, like all successful authors do, of just going through the motions. The same thing has happened to Clancy, Baldacci and the rest.

Agree. I have 2 14.5 barrels with a pinned flash hider. I want to build a 12.5" with some kind of extended flash hider for my next one. I think 12.5 is short enough. I see no value in 5.56 pistols and I don't want to mess around getting the short barreled rifle federal permit.

kwg