Which barrel?

[witchking777]

Building a new ar15 upper, trying to decide between a BCM BFH Gov profile Midlength or an ar15performance socom fluted barrel,both 16". Any input is appreciated.

[LittleLebowski]

I'm a fan of lightweight barrels (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-16-Mid-Barrel-ENHANCED-LIGHT-WEIGHT-FLUTED-p/bcm-brl-mid-16-elw-f-std.htm).

[rob_s]

Not so sound like a broken record, but do you have a specific goal or task in mind for the rifle?

If not, and even if so under certain circumstances, I'll second LL's recommendation for lightweight barrels. I've been using them since before it was cool, and have never found a reason to stop.

This, to me, is the de-facto barrel to buy if you don't know what else to buy or don't have some special-snowflake application
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-BFH-16-Mid-Length-LW-Barrel-Stripped-p/bcm-brl-s-mid-16lw%20bfh.htm

If you're not sold on hammer-forging, or want a barrel that's even lighter, this would be my default suggestion. It's also $40 less expensive. If/when they release this in the BFH version it would become my default suggestion, and I'm likely to buy 2-3 of them myself.
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-16-Mid-Barrel-ENHANCED-LIGHT-WEIGHT-FLUTED-p/bcm-brl-mid-16-elw-f-std.htm

Regardless of profile, the only people I can think of right off that I'd buy barrels from are:
-Bravo Company (BCM)
-Daniel Defense
-Centurion Arms
-Noveske Rifleworks
-Colt (usually take-offs from other people)

All others are, to me, suspect, and I can think of no use or application that the above cannot fit any need, up to and including weirdo calibers like 6.8 and 300 WTF.

KAC makes good barrels too but their are a proprietary barrel extension (and therefore bolt), proprietary gas tube length, and not sold individually.

[LittleLebowski]

You'd be surprised at how much of a difference the LW barrel makes in handling characteristics.

[Chuck Haggard]

I am also a light barrel guy. I note that people who have had to carry their rifles long distances tend to be.

Outside of full auto applications I see almost zero call for a heavier barrel, unless one is doing something special as Rob noted.

[witchking777]

Hmmm not familiar with 300 WTF lol,it will be used for home defense,vehicular carry,for mass shootings of varmints,and the occasional benchrest plinking.

[LittleLebowski]

Hmmm not familiar with 300 WTF

Rob is referring to .300 Blackout.

[witchking777]

Rob is referring to .300 Blackout.

I caught that :) I forgot to add,I will be adding a Silencerco Omega in the future,is gov profile better than lw for this?

[ASH556]

I caught that :) I forgot to add,I will be adding a Silencerco Omega in the future,is gov profile better than lw for this?

Having shot suppressors on both LW and .gov profile barrels, I prefer a .gov; especially if it's going to be 16" or longer. The primary reason is for less flex/POI shift with the stiffer (at least at the end) barrel. There might also be something to the thought about the heat the suppressor adds and a thicker barrel being able to handle that.

[LittleLebowski]

I do know of people that have experienced barrel droop due to suppressor usage.

[rob_s]

With 16" barrels you're going to get some amount of POI shift either way. Whether the pencil barrel also will then "droop" more as heat builds up is something I've not seen documented well but many people claim to have experienced.

If I was intent on shooting a 16" barrel both suppressed and non (something I'm not in favor of, FWIW), this is the only way I'd fly. Provide, of course, that the mounting-device/muzzle-device was long enough to turn a 14.5" to a 16".

http://www.rainierarms.com/noveske-n4-light-5-56mm-barrel-14-5-switchblock

[witchking777]

Thanks guys,I went with a BCM hammer forged govt profile midlength.

[DocGKR]

Our 16" carbines don't get suppressed, so LW barrels are on them.

The short guns have dedicated suppressors, so they have heavier barrels.

[LittleLebowski]

With 16" barrels you're going to get some amount of POI shift either way. Whether the pencil barrel also will then "droop" more as heat builds up is something I've not seen documented well but many people claim to have experienced.


My brother saw this firsthand at a long range class in Texas that he taught.

[rob_s]

My brother saw this firsthand at a long range class in Texas that he taught.

Not to discount his experience or your relating of same, this is exactly what I'm talking about.

I'm looking for documentation of POI shit, how much, measurement of the deflection of the barrel, etc.

Until then, I think it's mostly theory based on the results seen and in the absence of quantification or relevant experience or education (i.e. metallurgy and engineering).