BushMaster Superlight Carbine Question

[TacticalM4]

Hi Guys!

I'm new here and have a question. I own a BM Superlight and am thinking about getting a Military spec barrel. Should I? or Shouldn't I?

I shoot under 100 yards only.

Opinions?

My Carbine

 

[1911user]

The superlight barrel is the same diameter as the original and A1 M16s so it is sort of mil-spec. What are you wanting to do that it doesn't do well?

The downside to the thin barrels is the POI tends to wander more as the barrel heats up. It doesn't happen as fast with heavier barrels. Why change?

 

[TacticalM4]

The superlight barrel is the same diameter as the original and A1 M16s so it is sort of mil-spec. What are you wanting to do that it doesn't do well?

The downside to the thin barrels is the POI tends to wander more as the barrel heats up. It doesn't happen as fast with heavier barrels. Why change?

Well, I'm thinking that a little heavier barrel would be more rugged. I could be mistaken though. I have heard quite a few good things about the benefits of the Superlight, but I'm just afraid that it isn't going to hold up over a long period of time. I put about 150ish rounds through it at the range every other week

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

What exactly do you gain by switching your barrel now even if the Superlight is less durable? You have already paid for the barrel. You might as well use it. I imagine you will find that the barrel is plenty suitable for your needs using this method.

If nothing else, you will have a pretty good idea of whether or not a Superlight is too light for your particular uses at the end of the day. You can always add a new barrel when this one is no longer of use and at the rate new technology is being introduced into barrels, you might be able to upgrade for the same cost.

 

[TexasRifleman]

I have that Superlight barrel on my "beater" AR. It's been used and abused, heavily. I have seen no significant difference in performance of the thing in well over 5000 rounds, a lot of which was with use of a RLL which certainly heated the thing up nicely.

You have it, it's paid for, enjoy it. Unless you're doing something where you need crazy accuracy, I doubt you'd notice any difference between that and a "military profile" barrel.

 

[444]

If you decide to change, I will take it off your hands. Or, we can trade. I have a Bushmaster heavy 16", or a Bushmaster M4 if you want to trade. Either barrels or complete uppers. Mine are guaranteed to run flawlessly. Both uppers are Bushmaster factory complete uppers and I have never had them apart.

 

[TacticalM4]

If you decide to change, I will take it off your hands. Or, we can trade. I have a Bushmaster heavy 16", or a Bushmaster M4 if you want to trade. Either barrels or complete uppers. Mine are guaranteed to run flawlessly. Both uppers are Bushmaster factory complete uppers and I have never had them apart.

Please take a pic of your M4 upper. What condition is it in cosmetically? How many rounds have you fired through it? My Superlight only has about 300 rounds through it and is in new condition. I may trade you if yours is in great shape. If you want to contact me just PM me and I will give you my info.

 

[444]

Cosmetically, it is great. I would guess that I have fired maybe 2000 rounds through it: that may be a little on the high side. Definitely 1500.
If you are interested, no need to worry. I will send it to you and you can decide if you want it after you get a look at it. We can discuss terms since yours has less use than mine, although mine is fine as is.

I have sent at least two guys on this board complete guns for their inspection: neither one paid me.

 

[TacticalM4]

Cosmetically, it is great. I would guess that I have fired maybe 2000 rounds through it: that may be a little on the high side. Definitely 1500.
If you are interested, no need to worry. I will send it to you and you can decide if you want it after you get a look at it.

I have sent at least two guys on this board complete guns for their inspection: neither one paid me.

That is very cool of you to offer. If you would do that I would appreciate it greatly! Is it Pre or Post ban? and is it 16" or 14.5"? Do I have to get it specially registered?

Would you send me the upper without the bolt and bolt carrier assembly, handgrip, and charging handle, I could just use mine.

PM me for my contact info

 

[444]

It is a post ban, 14.5"

No, AR15 uppers are not registered and can be freely bought and sold through the mail. The lower is the serial numbered part that needs to go through a dealer if bought new.

 

[TacticalM4]

It is a post ban, 14.5"

No, AR15 uppers are not registered and can be freely bought and sold through the mail. The lower is the serial numbered part that needs to go through a dealer if bought new.

I just sent you a PM

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

Wow! Nice rifle. I would have bought the Superlight Bushmaster upper (less BCG) had I not wanted a 1/7 twist.


I have a superlight Colt barrel. They are both made of the same steel, and have 5.56 chambers. While it's not a Bushmaster, I can say that there's really no reason to want to get rid of it other than some very specific accuracy needs. Accuracy has nothing to do with barrel thickness, although very thick barrels can minimize vibration etc...the key here is that most bull-barrels are also made with accuracy in mind in a number of other MORE important areas, such as chamber, rifling, crown.


ALL barrels, regardless of thickness will wander the point of impact as they heat up. The question here is how much? Thicker usually wanders less. Also remember, the thicker the barrel, the longer it takes to heat up, the longer it also takes to cool down too!!


The point of impact does wander on the superlight, but not as much as people make it out to be. I have an Aimpoint on mine with a 4moa dot. That's 2moa at 50 yards, or 2". I shoot group after group that measures .50-.75" at 50 yards with this rifle (using TAP ammo). As it heats up, the group might shift slightly around, but always stays underneath the dot. I have no doubt that the Bushmaster would be any different at all.


People bad mouth superlights until they hold one for a while - then they want to sell their heavy HBar's. The superlight isn't going to melt, nor is it going to shoot 2ft groups when hot, nor is it going to do anything significantly different than any other AR barrel. It will save your arms and shoulders a little bit of energy at the end of the day though. It's light and fast - exactly what you want a 16" AR with reddot to be.

 

[TacticalM4]

Thanks! Great info.

 

[TacticalM4]

It is a post ban, 14.5"

No, AR15 uppers are not registered and can be freely bought and sold through the mail. The lower is the serial numbered part that needs to go through a dealer if bought new.

oh yeah, I'm assuming it has a chrome lined barrell right?

 

[NMshooter]

I wonder if 444s offer is related to the fact that I have had such a barrel on order since late last year, with no word from Bushmaster...

Things that make you go hmmmm.

 

[TacticalM4]

I wonder if 444s offer is related to the fact that I have had such a barrel on order since late last year, with no word from Bushmaster...

Things that make you go hmmmm.

The Superlight?

 

[444]

No, it has nothing to do with you ordering a barrel.
I don't even know you, how could it have anything to do with it ?

If you would have asked me however, I could have easily told you why I have two uppers that I am going to switch barrels on.
The two uppers in question are post ban uppers. The flash suppressor is permenently attached.
I own an AAC M4-2000 suppressor which uses a proprietary flash suppressor which allows you to quickly attach/detach the suppressor. I can't put these flash suppressors on those two uppers since the ones on there are "permenently attached". Thus, I can't use my suppressor on them. So, I am changing out my post ban barrels. While I am at it, I would also like to go to 1:7 barrels, but if I can get another barrel that I want in trade for one I already have, then I can overlook that aspect of it.

Simple answer to a question never asked.

 

[middy]

HBARs aren't useful unless you're looking for pinpoint accuracy at a wide range of temperatures. There isn't much change in POI even for a superlight barrel; shooting silhouettes, you'll never notice a difference.

Mostly, HBARs are just pimped by mfgs because they are cheaper to make.

 

[TacticalM4]

HBARs aren't useful unless you're looking for pinpoint accuracy at a wide range of temperatures. There isn't much change in POI even for a superlight barrel; shooting silhouettes, you'll never notice a difference.

Mostly, HBARs are just pimped by mfgs because they are cheaper to make.

You'd figure that they would be more expensive due to more metal being used to produce.

 

[middy]

The metal is a small part of the cost. A light barrel requires more machining.

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

Nope. The metal is less expensive than the time used to have that barrel sit on a computer controlled lathe being turned down, the time paid to machinists, and the cost of cutters and other tooling that wears down.

 

[TacticalM4]

No, it has nothing to do with you ordering a barrel.
I don't even know you, how could it have anything to do with it ?

If you would have asked me however, I could have easily told you why I have two uppers that I am going to switch barrels on.
The two uppers in question are post ban uppers. The flash suppressor is permenently attached.
I own an AAC M4-2000 suppressor which uses a proprietary flash suppressor which allows you to quickly attach/detach the suppressor. I can't put these flash suppressors on those two uppers since the ones on there are "permenently attached". Thus, I can't use my suppressor on them. So, I am changing out my post ban barrels. While I am at it, I would also like to go to 1:7 barrels, but if I can get another barrel that I want in trade for one I already have, then I can overlook that aspect of it.

Simple answer to a question never asked.

It would seem that NMshooter's comment was made because he thought that you were probably trying to get a Barrel from Bushmaster (like he is) and haven't heard anything back from them either...

I don't think he was attacking you... I could be wrong though.

 

[Dienekes]

Can't imagine what you would accomplish thereby. If you are shooting at <100 yds with a shorty where do you want to go that you aren't already?

Years ago I had a Colt CAR-15 with the same weight, slim barrel. It was a very handy carbine and I miss it enough to where I will probably duplicate it in the near future. Between military and LEO experience with ARs I have had ample time to reflect on what works and what doesn't. If after fifteen years I come up with the same answer it probably works pretty well.

It seemed durable enough. After the rifle and I fell about fifteen feet down a set of slippery stone steps the CAR had a couple of minor scratches and was otherwise fine. It held up better than I did.

 

[NMshooter]

Not attacking anybody here...

Might be a bit peeved with Bushmaster due to a lack of inventory, but I figure things are a bit scarce right now with the demand for AR type rifles.

Anyone have problems with any other parts?

Could just be this particular type of barrel.

 

[c_yeager]

At its thinnest point an M-4 profile barrel is no thicker than the A1 profile you have there, so as far as durability, you arent going to look at much improvement on that score. If you want a heavy target barrel, im thinking that you might be better off getting a 20" rifle in the first place.