Enhanced Lightweight vs. Enhanced Lightweight Fluted vs. Lightweight?

[HGM22]

Can anyone share any insight on these barrels from BCM? Like, do the enhanced lightweight barrels start stringing rounds sooner than a lightweight barrel? Do the barrels see more wear (heating up faster so more likely to hit "steel wear" temp)? Are the fluted barrels better (more rigid, less weight)?

I want a lightweight upper, but I'm not sure how far to go before issues start to show up.

 

[strambo]

I wouldn't think they would string rounds sooner as they are a taper design. As far as heating up faster, yes, but they cool faster as well. The fluted one will not be more rigid, it will be slightly less rigid, but lighter by .5 oz.

Look at Faxon as well, their LW barrels are lighter than the BCM ELW fluted by at least an ounce.

If you aren't doing multiple mag dumps, I don't think LW barrels are an issue. I've banged steel at 500yds with my DD LW barrel and just built a LW AR with a Faxon.

 

[Art Eatman]

What is meant by "enhanced lightweight barrel"?

 

[Gordon]

Art ; it usually means a barrel using the .750" ID gas block instead of the earlier "pencil barrel " SP1 .625 " diameter . Some do this by fluting an M4 profile barrel , there are other ways tho.

 

[Art Eatman]

Thanks.

 

[Jackal]

There's almost zero tangible difference between them. We are talking about 1/2oz of weight here....

 

[9mmepiphany]

do the enhanced lightweight barrels start stringing rounds sooner than a lightweight barrel? Do the barrels see more wear (heating up faster so more likely to hit "steel wear" temp)? Are the fluted barrels better (more rigid, less weight)?

Your inquiries seem to imply that you're reading "enhanced" as "lighter"

The BCM Enhanced Lightweight (EL) barrel isn't actually thinner than the lightweight (LW) pencil thin one. It was designed to be light while increasing stiffness through different contouring for additional stiffness...so it's properties should be the inverse of your expectations.

My decision was between the EL or the fluted EL. When I saw how much of the barrel was fluted...or not fluted...I went with the less expensive option. I should reveal that one of my shooting buddies went with the fluted EL and I'm a bit envious...but it was a money, or lack of, decision at the time.

I wouldn't swear that you can tell the difference in weight, but the fluted EL did seem to cool faster during a carbine class we both attended