AR-15 16" Lightweight barrel accuracy?

[ArmedBear]

Okay, so I may be leaving California. That means an AR becomes a bit more useful, and I'm thinking of selling off a number of guns including a Mini-14.

I have a 20" HBAR already, if I want better velocity and accuracy in return for weight and size.

If I want a carbine for practical purposes (HD, maybe a tactical class, etc.), what can I expect from a lightweight 16" with a standard handguard?

Does it heat up in a few shots like the Mini? Is it good for 2 MOA? Will I have to let it cool after 10 shots?

I'm thinking about a practical and inexpensive upper for carbine applications, not a rifle replacement. I don't want to throw money at it, and I could just keep the Mini if it won't be an improvement.

Should I get a heavy 16" instead? Keep the Mini? Thoughts?

 

[rcmodel]

Heats up faster then a HB, but also cools down faster then a HB!

My old Colt SP1 pencil-barrel Carbine will shoot 1 MOA all day with Nosler Ballistic-Tip hand-loads.
Or at least until the hand-guards get too hot to hang onto after several 30 round mags on a real hot day.

rcmodel

 

[ArmedBear]

I'm tempted by a fluted HBAR, which seems to be the best of both worlds, but of course the price just keeps going up and up when I add options.

Maybe it comes in rich Corinthian leather...

 

[rcmodel]

I'm somewhat enamored with the light 18" fluted barrel on the new Remington AR. My hunting buddies son just bought one last weekend.

Not sure you can get exactly the same thing anywhere else.

The whole darn thing weighs 6 1/2 pounds and shoots like gang-busters.

rcmodel

 

[Z-Michigan]

I have a very inexpensive ameetec upper with a 16" M4 profile barrel. Based on how it shoots for me, I think 2 MOA is a realistic expectation with fairly mundane ammo like UMC. Also, I have shot >50rds in a minute without any heat issues. The barrel itself is hot, but those vented handguards with aluminum heatshields do their job nicely. Don't touch the barrel and you'll be fine. Remember, that design was made to run full auto.

 

[IndianaBoy]

I have a pencil barreled AR. It shoots great. I don't bench it because that isn't what a lightweight AR is for... However I did bench it some while doing load development.


Hovering around MOA is not a problem with quality bullets. Settled on Hornady 55gr FMJ, but the A-Max bullets grouped the best.




It's not a benchrest rifle. Lighter is better... in many cases.

 

[Chris Rhines]

Depends on the barrel. A friend once shot a three-shot group at 300 yards of just over an inch, through a JP 18" ultralight barrel, 0.625" diameter under the handguards. A three-shot group, however, was about all that barrel was good for. It would start stringing vertically when it got warm. Conversely, my old kit gun had a Bushmaster lightweight 16" barrel that could hold 3" at 100 yards, on a good day.

I'd say most pencil barrels should be able to shoot into 2" from a machine rest, and yes, they will start to wander some as they get hot.

Aside - fluting will do nothing whatsoever to improve the rate of cooling of your barrel. The increase in surface area is not enough to matter. It does look cool.

- Chris

 

[taliv]

AB, if you're leaving cali, you should probably start celebrating with an SBR! several folks make barrels in the 10-14" range that will hold 1 MOA (e.g. denny's guns, noveske) and you can blast away w/o worrying about heat.

 

[rbernie]

My CMMG lightweight barrels do far better even when smokin' hot than any Mini14. If the yardstick against which the AR's long-range accuracy when hot will be measured is the Mini14, fear not. You will be happy with any quality lightweight barrel.