Colt 6720 vs 6920 as only AR

[Gun Wielding Maniac]

Detachable carrying handle.

 

[Balrog]

Detachable carrying handle.

Neither model I was looking at has a carry handle.

 

[Ibmikey]

Yo Roger, Put the drink aside, get out your credit card and go back to PSA for their killer deals on 5.56 ammo. Put 5,000 on the shelf for the next " ammo insanity" and then order some for your current shooting needs. So many people never plan for times like taking the kids out with the .22 until at the last moment they go out to buy the ammo and disappointment sets in. We now have had several shortage times so folks should learn to plan ahead. I am currently shooting .22 whenever I choose because I am shooting thirty year old ammo and am not crying big tears because Wallymart had only three expensive boxes to put on their shelves and that lasted mega seconds. Enjoy your Colt I certainly have fun with mine and donate generously to places like PSA, Brownells and others (not CTD). Remember however, your lightweight can easily become a "fatty" if you start hanging lots of heavy stuff on it.

 

[Davek1977]

I'd stay away from a pencil barrel,mostly because.the barrel will bend if you get it hot. Enough,& theirs a possibility of the barrel bending if dropped or stepped on.

Seriously? If you are going to post such "information", how about some links backing up this assertion of bent barrels?

 

[TennJed]

I'd stay away from a pencil barrel,mostly because.the barrel will bend if you get it hot. Enough,& theirs a possibility of the barrel bending if dropped or stepped on. I own a 6920 $ a 6721 no problems at all. Also own a Daniel defense m4 which. Is my favorite...

What? That is nonsense

 

[sirgilligan]

Just when you think you have seen everything,
one mag of incendiary rounds through a pencil barrel
kaused it to bend so
extremely that I was afraid to fire it anymore.





Please note the first letter in each line.

 

[C-grunt]

I would just like to point out that a 16" M4 style barrel weighs 2.2 lbs, vs 1.9 lbs for a "superlight" pencil barrel.

To keep that in perspective, a 14.5" M4 barrel with a permanently attached FH weighs 2 lbs

Also, you will notice greater group dispersion in moderately higher rate of fire shooting with the lighter barrel.

The BCM ELW barrel is 1 pound 6 oz and the ELW fluted is 1 pound 5 oz.

 

[C-grunt]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_cIuMw0_R0&list=UUTB3veG7IrNTO4LrIo_l-Dw

here is a great video by a member on another forum who does a lot of long range AR shooting. Shows that light weight barrels are still good at range too.

 

[ThirdWatcher]

I bought a 6720 for (LE) work and it sure seems handier... maybe it's how the weight is distributed? Anyway, I figure the heavier barrel is designed for FA fire and all my carbines are SA so I really don't see a downside to the pencil barrel (other than the CDI Factor of the M4 barrel).

 

[agtman]

I know the 6920 is a popular choice for many reasons and there are some attractive prices on these now. I've read a lot of guys who enjoy the lightweight setups and pencil barrels and the 6720 fits that setup. I was just wondering if any of you have personal experience or opinions about having a lightweight pencil barrel as my only AR? * * *

I have both, as well as other makes of ARs, e.g., LMT. Both Colt models are high quality builds.

That said, the government-profile tube is overrated, IMO. It's heavier than needed for most civy applications, including personal or home defense. Arguably, the 6920 barrel might be the more *robust* of the two for any drawn-out, worst-case scenario that involved high-round count firing, like if you were Brad Pitt running around in WWZ.

On the other hand, if you do, or plan to do, any regular training with your AR, such as at tac rifle courses where you'll be doing a lot of run-n-gun drills, the benefit of a lighter (though still accurate) 16" barrel is obvious.

 

[C-grunt]

Also worth noting is that all of the "next gen carbines" have been using light weight barrels. The SCAR has the most trigger time, at least for the US, and while it has some shortcomings I have never heard a complaint about the thin barrel.

 

[agtman]

Also worth noting is that all of the "next gen carbines" have been using light weight barrels. * * *

Agree. That's what I'm seeing increasingly now, both on the range and in tac rifle courses. Guys are showing up with 16" ARs wearing lighter profile barrels that are free-floated inside one of the latest generation of super-light tubes or foreends. These are devoid of rails (i.e., kept "slick"), except where needed for, say, a light, a foregrip, or a bipod.

 

[DPris]

My most recent AR (couple years back) is the 6720, deliberately selected for its light weight.

For 99% of us, any heat issues will tend to be insignificant.

I wanted a very light carbine & the difference between it & other 16-inchers here is noticeable.
Denis