Skinny barrels on AR

CSI21

Has anyone had any problems with skinny barrels on thier ARs. Looking to build another rifle, but want it lighter. My Mini 14 strings shots with its skinny barrel, havent put an accu-bar on it yet. Was wondering if anyone else has any input, good or bad. Not looking for opinion if its not based on experience.
Thanks
Robert

mateomasfeo

I bent the barrel on my green label AR the other day while bayonetting my neighbor. I would say get the heavier one...

In reality, for the urban soldier, the light barrel is fine.

IMHO I mean...

1911a1-fan

quote:Not looking for opinion if its not based on experience


with this added criteria, your response may be limited {not only is it unfavorable with the forums typical agenda of opinions[:D]}, but those who choose to educate themselves often find the pro's and cons before their purchase, and have a preference before they need to experience the issues with a light/thin profile/contour barrel

so in layman's terms, experience will be limited, knowledge will not be, i dont need to buy a ar15 with 1/14 inch twist rate to know i do not want one

CSI21

Wow, glad you could pontificate on the subject.

m88.358win

[:D]
quote:Originally posted by mateomasfeo


I bent the barrel on my green label AR the other day while bayonetting my neighbor. I would say get the heavier one...

In reality, for the urban soldier, the light barrel is fine.

IMHO I mean...

CSI21

I have shot the old Car-16 in the service, they heated up too, not going into any battles I hope, but want a lighter rifle for carrying about and what not. I just didnt know if the contempary barrels were good. I have only shot normal barrels since the military, and I dont need a 9 pound tactical commando zombie killer, more a rifle that can do what I need, if it needs doing.

1911a1-fan

quote:Originally posted by CSI21
Wow, glad you could pontificate on the subject.




was that really necessary ?

your asking for actual experience vs knowledge, i expressed in way like a person would who just received a college degree of some type, while they may have little experience in their field, you may not want to dismiss their knowledge

i have many ar15's built from scratch, the lightest barrel i have is medium, i chose not to use skinny barrels for a reason, as most do, sorry i couldnt help you

Boomerang

quote:Originally posted by CSI21
I have shot the old Car-16 in the service, they heated up too, not going into any battles I hope, but want a lighter rifle for carrying about and what not. I just didnt know if the contempary barrels were good. I have only shot normal barrels since the military, and I dont need a 9 pound tactical commando zombie killer, more a rifle that can do what I need, if it needs doing.
I mostly have government weight barrels on my ARs. I agree the H-Bar are heavy and are not needed for most civilian use.

CSI21

No offense 1911a1,
Poor attempt at humor I reckon on my part.

Boomerang

I forgot to add I like the 20" Government barrels over the shorter carbine 16" length barrels.

bhale187

First AR I bought was a heavy S/S barrel, next was a heavey chrome lined, then I started building them using medium weight barrels.

The pencil barrel uppers sure are light, but the ones I've seen in action apparently would quickly heat up and bullets started to wander. I've got no experience with them personally so I can't say for certain if it was the shooter, the barrel, or something else that caused them to wander mid way into qualification/training shoots.

guntech59

If this equals experience......I shot exactly the same with the M16A1 as I did the M16A2. No change in the qualification score.

Sorry, that's all I have.

1911a1-fan

quote:Originally posted by CSI21
No offense 1911a1,
Poor attempt at humor I reckon on my part.



none taken, thank you



if your looking for a light barrel, one that would maintain sub moa accuracy, and heat build up would not be an issue, look into the jp enterprises barrel, pricey but worth every dime, the designed them for this purpose, with added heat sink fins, you get the best of all words that is ar, you get the accuracy of a .223 chamber with their .223wylde chamber, but has the capability to hold 5.56 pressure if the need arises


http://www.jprifles.com/1.4.1_barrel.php

just the barrel is 459.00

http://www.jprifles.com/buy.php?item=JPSM223-16L8

i have one on my bench that will be swapped out from a heavy barrel to one of their 20" its around a 3 pound difference, plus accuracy gained

Txs

Unless you're pouring out lots of high volume fire the extra metal on heavier barrels is pointless. Other than a floated barrel, precision tack driver rifle intended for extreme 5.56 ranges that extra mass is really only there for heat absorption.

Accuracy out of the original 'pencil barrel' is just fine, no stringing, etc. as with the Mini-14.

IMO the best balanced, fastest on target setup for an AR is the old CAR-16. - a 16in. pencil barrel coupled with a collapsible stocked lower. It makes for a good, practical carry rifle.

guntech59

In addition to my earlier post....IMO the A1 had better balance than either the A2 or my 20" HB AR.

armilite

My original Colt SP-1 had the pencil barrel. the first 2 shots I ever fired at it were at a soda can lying on its side at 100 yards. But both shots into the bottom of the can. That was with open sights A1 as well. I could never duplicate those shots again today ever. At least without a scope anyway.

CSI21

Thats the way I am leaning guys, thanks for the help. Any news about del-ton arms. They are only 70 miles away from my home, figured I might give them the business if they dont make crap guns.

tsavo303

i have shot most configurations, and love the pencil bbls
they get hotter with sustained fire , but lose nothing in term of accuracy on a cold or warm bbl in my experience with the sp-1 vs car-15, m-4, hbar
my sp-1 will do bout .75 moa with 50gr ballisitc tips
not a super match gun, but that is awesome for a quick pointing rifle

n/a

have an AR with the M16A1 upper and a couple of AR's w/the A2 upper, one has the HBAR, the other 2 have the Goverment profile (heavy from the front psot to the flash hider, pencil under the handguards).

I don't notice much of a balance difference between the A1 and the A2's w/the Goverment profile barrel.

I certainly notice it with the HBAR.

I don't see any difference in accuracy form any of them. But I fire open sights, and not rapid fire.

JnRockwall

nope, love mine. Last two DPMS rifles purchased with the lite barrels on purpose.

NeoBlackdog

I've got the 16" 1/9 twist pencil barrel on two DPMS AR's. One that I carry varmint hunting and one for my wife. Both will easily shoot 1.5 MOA if I do my part. We've never dumped a ton of ammo downrange to see the effects of heating the barrel.

MVP

If your goal is a lightweight duty rifle you will not have a problem with the skinny barrel. But if you plan on extended shootng sessions where the barrel will see several rounds a day, you will do better with the Hbar.

Nothing wrong at all with the goal of a lightweight AR and the skinny bbl A1 is my preference.
I have a 16"lightweight collapsable stocked AR that would be grabed before all the others if I ever needed to.

MVP

I know you didn't want any fluff in your skinny barrel specific thread but another option for the lightweight AR is to get one of the many fluted Hbar being offered now.

bhale187

quote:Originally posted by CSI21
Thats the way I am leaning guys, thanks for the help. Any news about del-ton arms. They are only 70 miles away from my home, figured I might give them the business if they dont make crap guns.

I would not hesitate to give Del-ton your business. I've built several ARs, and used parts from Del-ton many, many times. They've always sent me good quality parts, and I can't recall ever having a problem with the customer service.