AR15 Lightweight Barrel ?

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matai

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Can anybody recommend a very lightweight AR15 barrel?

I'd like it to be:

1. Lightweight! (don't plan on dumping mags through it)
2. 14.5" (will have muzzle device pinned and welded on)
3. Accurate (I think lightweight or pencil barrels can still be accurate can't they?
4. Chrome lined (thats a good thing right?)
5. Black or grayish black looking (just cause)
6. 1/7 twist (isn't that better for heavier rounds but still ok for lighter ones?)

My main concern is to have it as lightweight as possible for carrying.

Any ideas or am I asking for way to much?

Thanks!
 
I think Bushmaster has an upper with most of those features except the 1:7. And CMMG may have something close too. Del-Ton and others have 16" uppers with pencil barrels, though usually in 1:9 twist.

If you aren't certain that you need 1:7, you probably don't. Answer these questions:
-are you planning to use 77gr SMK frequently?
-are you planning to use M856 tracer in cold weather?
-are you planning to use 80gr and heavier bullets? (Which must be single loaded anyway, they won't fit in a standard magazine.)

If not, 1:9 is likely to work for you.

You can save about half a pound by using a Cavalry Arms MKII polymer lower receiver in place of a standard aluminum lower + buttstock. They are nice, the warranty is great, and they are light. You might consider that plus a slightly heavier upper (either 16" or M4 barrel profile) compared to your proposed setup.
 
A thin barrel can have the groups open up when the string is more than three to five shots, but that's of no consequence when hunting or plinking.

I like long barrels, so my CMMG flat-top upper has a 20" lightweight barrel. No front sight; I scoped it as a truck gun. So far, it easily shoots around one MOA from the bench. I guess I'd call the weight "reasonable"; it doesn't seem heavy...
 
Colt makes (or made) a "Lightweight target" model. My girlfriend shoots one - I'm constantly amazed at how small and light it is.
 
CMMG has some nice barrels. They used to make pencil barrels and unfortunately don't anymore (they said lack of demand), but their Gov't profile barrels are still very light (I have a 14.5 midlength pencil, a 20" pencil and a 16" Gov't profile from them, all 1/7 twist). You can get a Phantom or Vortex permanently attached to the 14.5".


http://cmmginc.secure-mall.com/shop/?cart=2142505&cat=67&
 
Any good leads please post. I am looking also for a light weight upper, chrome lined 16 inch.
Del-ton is back ordered for a while... nearly a year. They haven't delivered any chrome lined yet.

BCM bravo company is supposed to have a chrome lined 16 inch mid length light weight upper in the Spring of this year. This is probably the best deal since CMMG stopped making light weight uppers and their SOCOM uppers.

Other than that it's Bushmaster or Colt 6520 models in the spot market.
 
14.5" (will have muzzle device pinned and welded on)
Click to expand...
It's gotta be 16" to be legal anyway, so why go any shorter and give up velocity & performance??

A fake muzzle addition to gain length is just adding Show & no Go.

rc
 
Try Model 1 Sales - I have a lightweight 16" barrel from them, with chrome lined barrel (extremely easy to clean). What was mentioned earlier, I believe about the polymer lower, that's good advice. I've held a number of those and they're really light guns. Frontsight uses ARs with those lowers, and they typically have 600-800 rounds put through them over a long weekend. Seem sturdy as well.
 
My superlight barrel is pretty accurate. I'd have to dump a mag through it before I start to lose much accuracy. It's not made for dumping ammo down the barrel though.

Superlight chrome lined 1/7 twist 14.5" barrels don't exist that I know of though. Maybe you could get one from Bushmaster? Somehow I doubt it. Probably would have to go 16" unless you cut it down or have it cut down for you and re threaded.
 
My wife's little lightweight Bushmaster with it's thin 16 inch barrel is very handy and it still shoots 1.5 inch groups at 100 yards using crappy ammo.
Plus it is much more handy to carry and delivers more velocity than the old 11.5 inch heavy barrel.
see photos
 

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A fake muzzle addition to gain length is just adding Show & no Go.
Click to expand...
I disagree. Look how short and handy this sucker is. Perfect for carrying in the truck. Granted you are giving up velocity, but with a 1/7 twist you can use 75gr or 77gr OTMs to make up for that. For home and self defense, I doubt I'll ever need to make a shot past 50 yds, much less 100y.

Keep in mind too that the military M4 has a 14.5" barrel and those guys make some mid to long range shots with them.

carbines.jpg

AR15 carbine with 14.5" CMMG lightweight barrel and permanently attached Phantom flash suppressor
 
Maybe you could get one from Bushmaster? Somehow I doubt it. Probably would have to go 16" unless you cut it down or have it cut down for you and re threaded.
Click to expand...
Bushmaster has a lightweight 16", but it's a 1/9 twist. Good barrel though. Nice steel and chrome lined.
 
I'll take a 17.5” barrel over a pinned and welded 16.1” so I can change muzzle devices without ruining a barrel or dropping $200 on another tax stamp.

Both my ARs have1/7 lightweight barrels. Both are ~1.5MOA rifles with 75gr ammo. Haven't noticed group sizes opening up much either but then again I don't shoot for groups while doing mag dumps.

BSW
 
I got lucky once with an M4 at around 400m, the effects were far from amazing with M855 ball ammo.
Click to expand...

By lucky, you mean you got a well placed shot on someone from 400 yards (center of mass)? By far from amazing, what do you mean? He laughed at you?

I am not trying to be critical, but could you expound a little?

That said, the M16 was not made to be a long range rifle. It was made to be most effective at ranges under 300 yards. The M4... of course would have even less range, naturally.

As a civilian, I cannot imagine even thinking about taking a shot past 100 yards...
 
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