Here's another Noveske 8.5" bbl. No problem cycling supers or subs, they got their shit together on these barrels. ~1MOA depending, but that's the norm with their SBR barrels. The other thing is it'll ring a 12" plate at 200 as fast as I can pull the trigger, supers or subs. It's a bad bitch.
This one is a 10.5 that I've honestly never fired but it's the lightest and most svelte rifle I have. It was the ex's rifle and a factory Noveske build. I bet it's damn nice, maybe one day I'll shoot it. #75 Johnny Rifle:
TBAC 30CB9 works great, but I really like the Ultra 5 with these. It takes enough bite out of the bark to make it manageable and it keeps it short. However, the SDN6 was designed for this round and despite having a shitty mount it's actually a good can (well, it is if you have a good method of unfucking the mount situation, mine is to buy ten, fine the best one and send the rest back --much easier than polishing or refacing the bevel surface). Saker is a better 7.62 QD can though and since prices came down it's hard to beat. Omega 9k is another good buy, it works on 9mm too and is short like the Ultra 5 but steel so it can handle more abuse. The KAC can is the titties but it's too damn costly unless you already have an SR25, then it's not a bad deal.
I have a 16" rifle too but it's no more or less accurate than these and it only has slightly more velocity with the supers and I've clocked 'em myself. It makes a nice addition to the M4 family though and the ACOG is mapped to that barrel so that's a plus.
Another reason I'd go 8.5 minimum or longer is that the bullet barely stabilizes out of that as is and any shorter it's prone to wobble and fuckup the can. 5.5" would scare the shit out of me, cans are too much trouble to be farting around with like that.
A 10.5" w/5" can would be ideal, either an Ultra5 or an Omega9k, but there's nothing wrong with the 8.5"s either. I'd get a good barrel though because how they drill that gas port is everything with these barrels.
Good luck, it's one of those top 3 best rounds for an AR along with Grendel and 5.56 and everyone with a can should have an SBR'd Blackout (or a pistol if no SBR state).