difference between light and heavy barrel on AR15

tayaran

what is the functional difference? thanks ...

bpost

None

ern98

Only that the heavy barrel will soak up more heat then the lighter contour barrel. Meaning you will be able to shoot more shots before needing to let the barrel cool off. Varmint hunters who shoot alot can shoot out a barrel in only a season or two and over heating is usually a big factor. Some folks like heavy barrels because they can aid in holding steady on a target, especially when shooting off hand. But IMHO, short of a full on bull barrel this is not really much of a consideration. How heavy of a barrel are you asking about?

agostino

Also, if the gun is marked "H-BAR", it's not an assault weapon. The Colt H-BAR was excepted by name under the AWB. Here in MD any AR marked H-BAR or some variation of "Heavy Barrel" need not be sold as a regulated weapon.

Emmett Dunham

When you fire a bullet down a barrrel it flexes, using a heavy barrel reduces the amount of flex. Just about every high proformance match grade rifle will have a heavy barrel. I was around some sniper rifles when I was over seas and they had heavy barrels install. The experence I have with the idea of a heavy barrel is that the rifle will hold the targeting better than a standard barrel.


Emmett