[starfuryzeta]

I've decided to take the plunge and get an AR15. This will be a plinking rifle. I've decided on the Bushmaster brand, A3 removable handle. However, I can't decide on whether or not to get the 16" w/ dissipator, or without.

I've read that with, you get a proper front site distance for ease of viewing, and an extended gripping surface. However, I've also read that this adds unneeded weight to the front end.

Any suggestions and pros/cons would be greatly appreciated.

[Badger Arms]

I would go with the Dissipator. It adds no extra weight to speak of. If you are worried about the weight, order the fluted barrel. The advantages of the greater sight radius and better heat insulation more than make up for the bit of extra weight needed to have a separate gas block under the handguards. The only advantage I can think of with the short handguards is looks. Even then the short handguards look funny. The barrel sticks out too far in front of the handguards. To me, this looks stranger than the short barrel on the long handguards.
http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/uppers/Images/pura2b16d.jpg
http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/uppers/Images/pura2b16.jpg

[MolonLabe416]

I also prefer the Dissi model for the extended sight radius.

You can order the fluted bbl, or send the upper to KKF and have Kurt flute and turn down the bbl for you. I would recommend this regardless of the ype you get to reduce the weight.

[Badger Arms]

Well, I looked at the weight of the rifles Bushmaster quotes and they say that the dissipator is 1 pound heavier! Wow. I guess you can go with the dissipator with an M-4 barrel profile instead. They also have a superlight barrel available if weight is an important factor to you. In this case, you might want to opt for the fake collabsable style stocks which are lighter than the standard buttstock.
http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/barrel-assemblies/Images/abbl-16sla.jpg
http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/barrel-assemblies/Images/abbl-16dm4a.jpg
http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/barrel-assemblies/Images/abbl-16da.jpg

[bad_dad_brad]

I remember that the Dissipator felt nose heavy when I handled it. I went with the Bushy shorty and have been very happy.

[David Park]

starfuryzeta, I've been looking for pretty much the same rifle as you. I heard (or I think I heard) that Bushmaster will be announcing some new lightweight models at SHOT, which would basically be pre-assembled models with the lighter barrels shown above. I've never cared for the bull barrels, which are heavy even with fluting, so this would be good news.

[Nero Steptoe]

"I've never cared for the bull barrels, which are heavy even with fluting, so this would be good news"

HBAR's are hardly "bull barels". I wouldn't think Uncle Sam would issue "bull barrel" rifles for or servicement to lug around.

[Midnight]

Uncle Sam doesn't issue HBARs, he issues standard "government profile" barrels that you can get from Bushmaster. They are much skinnier than the ones above.

The dissipator is a great choice. For a range gun, you can't beat the combo of shorter OAL with a full sight radius.

[MitchSchaft]

The disapator is about as heavy as a piece of paper from what I remember :).

[Skunkabilly]

Any advantages other than sight radius?

Does Colt do 'em or is it a Bushmaster thang?

[David Park]

The other advantage would be no exposed barrel to accidentally burn yourself on. The downside is that the Dissipator isn't as "tactical" as an M4gery. ;)

I already own a full-size FAL, so one of the main reasons for wanting a AR-15 is lighter weight. If I wanted a 8+ lb. carbine, I'd get one of the new SA58s, which even has tactical (http://www.dsarms.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=SA58MWSGS&storeid=1&image=sa58mwtact.gif) in the name! :p

Here's the post over at AR15.com where I read about the upcoming lightweight Bushys. No word if a lighter Dissipator will be included.
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=12&t=149050

[Redlg155]

If you aren't too firmly decided on getting a Bushy, you can get also throw a midlength upper into the choices. They are a fair compromise between the ultra long looking barrel of a standard 16" CAR and a Dissy.

This one is a post ban mid 14.5in with a 1.5" Tac Brake.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid49/pcfc0416b7c0a9ae4644833bd6e2a31a9/fcb288b8.jpg

Otherwise I'd go with the Dissipator for a general purpose AR15. You can also get a full size railed free floated handguard if you wanted to go with a tactical look. A dissy is definitely in the list of my next upper choices.

Good Shooting
RED

[Skunkabilly]

What's the lightweight model?

[Badger Arms]

This is Olympic Arms' version. It's 4.92 pounds according to their web site.

http://www.olyarms.com/images/far15.jpg

[Nero Steptoe]

"Uncle Sam doesn't issue HBARs,..."

What barrel, exactly, do you think the current-issue A-2 is??

[Badger Arms]

The Gov'mnt uses these, light taper barrels with a heavy front profile. They don't use H-Bar's.

http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/barrel-assemblies/Images/abbl-20a2a.jpg

[Bottom Gun]

I have two 16" uppers, an A2 Dissipator and an A3 with short handguards/sight radius.
The Dissipator is slightly more nose heavy then the regular shorty but it's also more accurate due the the longer sight radius.
I prefer the Dissipator for shooting iron sights.
If you plan to scope your A3 or put some kind of relex sight on it, that may balance it out a bit more.
I'd suggest going with the Dissipator.

My two cents.

[Handy]

Bushmaster doesn't make them, but I've seen a mid length handguard on 16" barrels. The idea is that the muzzle to front sight distance is the same as the M16 and M4, and the extra 1.5" of barrel lenght over the M4 is made up in the handguard. So you get an extra 1.5" of sight radius, a 16" barrel and no extra parts, just a little extra plastic and sheet metal.

Sherluk.com had them, but I don't see much info on their site. I built my rifle from one of their kits and am VERY satisfied. This just seems like a saner approach to carbine barrels and short sight radius.

[geekWithA.45]

The Dissy is sweet.

I had a chance to shoot it side by side with an A4.

The A4 "handles" a little more nimbly, because the balance point is closer to the mag well, but it's noticeably more "flippy" when fired.

The Dissy balance more nose forward, and I don't mind the extra weight.

Plus all the benefits of the sight radius, yadda yadda.