Anderson barrel for AR

[USAF_Vet]

I've been wanting to swap out the 16" bull barrel on my AR with a standard profile or pencil barrel to reduce weight.

A guy locally is selling an M-4 profile 16" Anderson barrel for $85.

It's a 5.56 chamber, 1:7 twist, mid length gas port.

Seller claims less than 100 rounds through it.

I've seen no name barrels that sell for slightly cheaper, my AR pistol sports a 10.5" barrel .223 Wylde chamber, sold as "Government Contract" (don't exactly recall where I got it from), for $75ish.

For a stripped, lightly used barrel, is this worth it?

Are there any benefits from going to a mid length versus carbine length other than being able to use the same hand guards currently on it?

I will need a new gas block and gas tube, but that's no big deal.

I have a free float barrel nut, but no mid length free float hand guard. I do have a stubby pistol length free float guard, but that's of no use to me.

 

[MachIVshooter]

A guy locally is selling an M-4 profile 16" Anderson barrel for $85.

It's a 5.56 chamber, 1:7 twist, mid length gas port.

Is it this one?

http://www.andersonrifles.com/product/16-m4-contour-mid-length-gas-system-compatible-barrel/

If so, you obviously don't want a used barrel for $1.62 less than a new one.

You should also check out JSE. I think this barrel would suit you:

http://www.jsesurplus.com/16LWMID1X9NITRIDESTRIPPED.aspx

I've used JSE's house barrels, perfectly serviceable, and nitrided > phosphated. There's also a DTI chrome line LW for another $25, if that feature matters to you.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Yep, same one. However, this only shows how my memory sucks. His is new, never fired, never installed, only taken out of the box for the photo.

Gotta keep my bookmarks better organized, lol.

So with that in mind, $85 for a NEW barrel, is retail without the wait and hassle of shipping.

 

[MachIVshooter]

It won't cut as much weight as a LW profile, but certainly less than your bull.

On handguards, you might give the UTG Pro super slim a look. US made, good quality, don't break the bank. I have one on a 16" middy:



http://www.ebay.com/itm/UTG-PRO-Mod...t-Handguard-/271966904198?hash=item3f527d9f86

That's the 15"; there are also 13", 9" and 7"

 

[taliv]

just my opinion, but for rifles, the barrel is the last place you want to skimp. it's the key component and determines much of the reliability and longevity of the rifle, not to mention accuracy and handling

for $225 or so, getting a lightweight .625 diameter bravo company barrel would give you the weight savings you want, plus chrome lining, and reasonable assurance that your chamber was cut properly

 

[USAF_Vet]

This has been a budget rifle from the start.

$90 for ATI Omni complete lower
$399 for DPMS slick side complete upper (included CH and BCG)
$25 for used UTG sights.
$20 Magpul stock (recent acquisition and installation)
$8 Pic rail
$0 Streamlight vertical grip.

I'm hoping I can recoup some of the money by selling or reusing the barrel and components.

$225 is two and a half times what I'm actually going to spend, and for what? Chrome lining? I'm not shooting corrosive ammo. Properly cut chamber? I've shot dirt cheap ARs, Colt and FN M-16's and M-4's, middle of the road S&W and Sig ARs and higher end Daniel Defense and Bravo Company ARs. I personally am not good enough of a shooter to tell you the difference in accuracy between any of them. I might be able to show an accuracy difference between a full length M16A2 barrel and a 14.5" M-4 barrel. Maybe.

I have yet to come across a single chamber cut wrong in any rifle, carbine or pistol AR I've gotten my hands on.

I understand you're trying to be helpful, but I'm not building a high end, milspec, go to battle rifle. I tuning my weekend range plinker and HD rifle to be better balanced without breaking the bank.


Yes, I'd prefer an ultralight .625" OD pencil barrel. I'm just trying to get my poly lower carbine under 12 lbs. and better balanced.

Budget builds are fun, light weight builds are fun, ultra accurate builds are fun.

At this point, the purpose of this rifle falls into none of those categories. It needs to handle well, balance well, and shoot accurately enough for social distances.

Eventually, I'll end up replacing the lower receiver entirely with another Aero lower.

 

[taliv]

your OP didn't mention anything about budget or say the difference in $85 and $225 would break the bank. it said you wanted to reduce weight. the m4 profile barrel isn't a bull barrel, but it's still very heavy compared to the .625 diameter barrels.