Heavy fluted barrel for carbine

[zhix]

I am wanting a heavy, mid-length gas system 16" barrel with fluting under the handguard area, m4 cut extension, and hard chrome-lined per mil. spec. in 1/7.

Is anyone making these or is this an unusual configuration?; is it a bad idea to have grooves milled into an existing heavy barrel?

[MrMurphy]

I'm still figuring out why the hell you want it that way. Carbine+heavy barrel=dumb.

[zhix]

I'm still figuring out why the hell you want it that way. Carbine+heavy barrel=dumb.

I respect your opinion; Here's why...

- I don't much care for the M4 barrel, and don't want the same thing everyone else has, or else I would just buy a complete gun

- I already have a colt 6920

- I don't need the M4 contour barrel since I don't have a grenade launcher

- I can handle the extra weight of a heavier barrel and I don't plan on carrying the gun around

- I like carbine length ARs

- It's my gun so I'll have it whichever I like

[Spiffums]

You might be able to send off a HBAR and have it have fixed into a middy.

[vafish]

I think the easiest option would be to get a 16" heavy barrel with the mid length gas port and have someone like ADCO cut the flutes in it and re-parkerize it.

http://www.adcofirearms.com/

They have a medium weight barrel that almost meets your specs except for the fluting.

http://www.adcofirearms.com/itemdetails_.cfm?inventorynumber=3622

[Chuck TX]

What vafish said. Only other way you're going to find that is someone else selling a used custom job, and that's a long shot.

[Kentak]

It might be easier than you think. At one time, Bushmaster offered fluting as an extra cost option on their barrels. They offer 16 in barrels in both carbine and mid length gas systems. Give them a call to see if they still offer this service. Their barrels are good, and are chrome lined. If the 1:9 twist is a deal breaker, well, so be it, but unless you have a need to shoot the really heavy (long) bullets, 1:9 is as about as close to an all purpose twist as you can get.

[Titurel]

I have just such a rifle: Bushmaster 16" fluted 1:9 chrome lined HBAR

http://i46.tinypic.com/25h1v2x.jpg

There are a lot of things I would do differently on my next rifle build, but I would get the exact same barrel if I could. It is a very accurate rifle for an off-the-shelf, run-of-the mill AR15, particularly at 200 yards. The weight feels fine to me, though obviously the rifle is not set up for clearing houses and shooting at 25 yard targets. Plus I must say, I think it looks hella cool.

I also am not a fan of the M4 barrel profile, not feeling the need for a grenade launcher or bayonet on my rifle. Well, actually I do feel the need but I just can't have a grenade launcher and a bayonet won't fit on a 16" barrel. I also have no desire for a 1:7 barrel given that my considerable supply of ammo is all either 55, 62 or 69 gr.

Getting a barrel fluted could be problematic. Hogging out that much material can release a lot of tension in the steel and it needs to be stress-relieved after the machining process. Its pretty technical stuff and I don't know that much about it, just that its probably a better idea to have it done by the barrel manufacturer rather than sending it off to a machine shop.

Krieger does fluting on their barrels. That would be the makings of an awesome rifle, and not even all that $$$ relative to what's on the market these days. You could build your own lower then send them an upper, handguard, gas tube etc. and have them chamber and install a barrel.

[crazymoose]

Sabre makes a barrel to that spec except that it's 18". I have one and am fond of it. Sabre makes damn fine barrels.
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[internal]

If anything take that Hbar and turn it down under the handguards (A2 style) or turn it down under both the handguards and from the gas block to the muzzle(A1 style).

You'll have a light barrel and it "won't be like everyone else's M4 cuts".

[Kentak]

If anything take that Hbar and turn it down under the handguards (A2 style) or turn it down under both the handguards and from the gas block to the muzzle(A1 style).

You'll have a light barrel and it "won't be like everyone else's M4 cuts".

Except, the barrel won't be as stiff as a fluted one of the same weight. Also, not only do you have to pay for the turning, it has to be refinished. The fluted barrels from Bushmaster offer some weight reduction, less loss of stiffness, and come properly finished. And, since everyone's grandma has an M4 profile AR, it will be unique enough.

[Kentak]

Tituel--

That's a damn handsome rifle.

[durabo]

What Vafish said.

Call up ADCO, ask them the question... They will help you out.

[internal]

Except, the barrel won't be as stiff as a fluted one of the same weight. Also, not only do you have to pay for the turning, it has to be refinished. The fluted barrels from Bushmaster offer some weight reduction, less loss of stiffness, and come properly finished. And, since everyone's grandma has an M4 profile AR, it will be unique enough.

I've owned a fluted Hbar before, it offered hardly at weight reduction.

If the M4 profile is to be avoided then an A1 or A2 profile will be the only thing to offer any weight reduction.

So to the OP, IMO either stick with a standard Hbar and go for stiffness for benchwork or go with an A1 or A2 profile for a faster to point rifle.

[Titurel]

Tituel--

That's a damn handsome rifle.

Thanks a lot! It is definitely......unusual. :wiggle:

[Alaskapopo]

I'm still figuring out why the hell you want it that way. Carbine+heavy barrel=dumb.

I agree. I don't need the M4 countour either. I prefer Noveske's barrel countour on their N4 series. Same weight as a M4 but no cut and same diameter the whole way.
Pat

[mwatson]

I have a 16 inch fluted barrel upper from Wilson, 1 in 9, A-3 carry handle.
Nice shooter and also comes with flip up front sight.
Mike