ar15 question

[Huntbear]

ok, so on barrels...

IS there any set rules on what makes up a light weight vs. heavy vs. bull barrel?  also why does everyone have to have a different name for their barrel contours.. drives me insane.. since most do not give diameters on the barrels, other than right at the gas block..  I want a heavy fluted barrel... NOT a bull barrel.. trying to find one that matches what I am looking for, is absolutely driving me up the wall... Black Hole is about the easiest to figure out in my mind.. but damn.. can we not have some conformity in what contour is what?

Barrel contours are definitely not standardized, especially AR Barrels. And 'Heavy' is a relative term...

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Heavy as in:

NOT a lightweight, but not a .900 bull barrel either.. something that can be carried without killing you when moving from set up to set up ....  something you can flute so if you do shoot some rapid fire, it will cool quickly and easily.

[Heredoggydoggy]

Most "standard contour" barrels take a .750" diameter gas block.  Bull barrels take a .900" diameter gas block.  There is a .650" (?) diameter gas block for real pencil-thin barrels, but I've never seen one.  Most all "hunter" weight barrels will be what the military called H-Bar barrels, except you can get them fluted to reduce weight.  They will take the .750" gas block.  Some of the Varmint ARs have a 16" bull barrel, but I'm too old to want to carry one. 

[CAMPMEAT]

My old Oly Arms had a 24 inch SS bullbarrel. I used to have a crane with me to shoot it. I got rid of it.

[Huntbear]

Most "standard contour" barrels take a .750" diameter gas block.  Bull barrels take a .900" diameter gas block.  There is a .650" (?) diameter gas block for real pencil-thin barrels, but I've never seen one.  Most all "hunter" weight barrels will be what the military called H-Bar barrels, except you can get them fluted to reduce weight.  They will take the .750" gas block.  Some of the Varmint ARs have a 16" bull barrel, but I'm too old to want to carry one. 

I want something that is basically equivelant to a #5 or 6 contour on a bolt gun barrel...  A magnum contour so to speak?  Not so heavy it is not useable or carryable, but stiff enough and heavy enough to be a tack driver with handloads, but still able to use it as a defense weapon.  I want the perfect barrel that is the best of both worlds, hunting and tactical...

[Heredoggydoggy]

Most "standard contour" barrels take a .750" diameter gas block.  Bull barrels take a .900" diameter gas block.  There is a .650" (?) diameter gas block for real pencil-thin barrels, but I've never seen one.  Most all "hunter" weight barrels will be what the military called H-Bar barrels, except you can get them fluted to reduce weight.  They will take the .750" gas block.  Some of the Varmint ARs have a 16" bull barrel, but I'm too old to want to carry one. 

I want something that is basically equivelant to a #5 or 6 contour on a bolt gun barrel...  A magnum contour so to speak?  Not so heavy it is not useable or carryable, but stiff enough and heavy enough to be a tack driver with handloads, but still able to use it as a defense weapon.  I want the perfect barrel that is the best of both worlds, hunting and tactical...

I think what you want is what I have on all my ARs, and that is what the military called an H-Bar contour.  Not the standard military barrel with the groove for bayonet or other accessory attachments.  The whole length of the barrel is a bit smaller than the .750" gas block area.  I have both 16" and 20" barrels, fluted and unfluted.  Fluting only reduces weight, and claims that the barrel cools faster.  Increasing the surface area of the barrel might dissipate heat a bit faster, but not so much that I noticed it.  Looks cool, though!  I got 1/2" groups with my Rock River Coyote Rifle (20" barrel) with a 1-3x Leupold scope at 100 yds.  Not too bad for a shaky old guy like me.  That gun has since been fitted with a more powerful scope.  They all shoot good.  Just a matter of what you want to carry, but it sounds like a standard non-bull barrel would be the ticket for you.

[thinkingman]

I want it in .223....i will use it for coyotes mostly....but if shtf i want one that i could rely on for that...or if they start screwin with a assult weapon ban again like im hearing rumblings about i want to get one before it happens.....how hard are they to put together if i built one....ive never built a gun before be have seen alot of guys onbhere talk about it.....i work on my own vehicles....i may not know alot about mechanical work but im not afraid to tear crap apart and figure it out as i go 

I have and you describe a Rock River Predator Pursuit.
HBar match grade 1/8...shoots HSM factory 77gr MatchKings into tiny little groups.
Guarantees (and delivers!)3/4MOA accuracy.
All the goodies except the boy-racer picatinny festival and collapsible buttstock.
I wouldn't have the last two.
And can be had for under your $1200, except for sights/optics.
I have a 5.5-20 Nikon Monarch that's nearly as big as the rifle.
Makes it easy on yourself.
And the resale is better than a Frankengun if I want to sell.

[Tom Tamer]

Iwas debating the same route of building, but once the election took a turn for the worse, I went and researched and purchased a Windham M4. They are built by the former Bushmaster guys that didn't follow the Bushy name over to Remington. Everything I read and everyone I know on the AR world all said the Best $1000 dollar gun for $850. Wife was/is only a little steamed over it...but it'll pass. My next one I will probably build now that I've torn mine down and see how they work.

[Huntbear]

So what determines if you get a carbine vs. mid length vs. rifle length barrel and gas system?  If I want an 18 in. barrel, is that mid length?  rifle?   

[xd2005]

Does barrel length dictate desired twist?

[JimmyHoffa]

Does barrel length dictate desired twist?

It can, but not necessarily.  Usually the longer barrels with faster twist would be for the heavier bullets.  If you use the shorter gas system with a long barrel and a heavy round, the gun may begin to cycle before the bullet exits the muzzle.  Just barely cycling--but it breaks the seal formed from the expanded case--pressure/velocity might not be as consistent as it could be.

[xd2005]

So if someone was looking 20in, they would want to go with rifle-length gas system and maybe 1/7 twist (with heavier bullet) or mid-length and 1/9 twist (for lighter bullet)?

What is considered light vs heavy bullet?

Thanks!

[Heredoggydoggy]

So if someone was looking 20in, they would want to go with rifle-length gas system and maybe 1/7 twist (with heavier bullet) or mid-length and 1/9 twist (for lighter bullet)?

What is considered light vs heavy bullet?

Thanks!

I'm not sure where the breaking point is, but I consider 50 grain and under "light",  55 grain as "standard" and 60 grain and higher as "heavy".  I load mostly 55 grainers for the .223.  Tried some 60 grain bullets, and accuracy was excellent.  The 55s are accurate enough for hunting, and they seem to be the easiest to come by at a decent price.

[JimmyHoffa]

I can't remember the exact weight I was reading about, but seem to think 75 grains.  The article I was reading was about trying to move out the effective range of M4s in trashcanistan where the standard setup wasn't as effective due to the number of engagements beyond 300 yds.  I think they were trying to make M4s with the similar length barrel as the M16 (20 in vs 14 in) and up the bullet weight...but at the same time have the M4 ready to be converted back to carbine.  When they did that is when they found erratic grouping.

[jrebel]

So I am nearing the edge and almost ready to jump, buying my first AR!!  I am buying a full gun and will build my next.  A question I have is;  What is the difference between a california legal AR and all others.  I keep seeing this and cannot figure out the difference.  I will probably be buying one off the internet and don't want to by a california legal gun if it significantly different.

Thanks

Johnny

[MichaelJ]

So I am nearing the edge and almost ready to jump, buying my first AR!!  I am buying a full gun and will build my next.  A question I have is;  What is the difference between a california legal AR and all others.  I keep seeing this and cannot figure out the difference.  I will probably be buying one off the internet and don't want to by a california legal gun if it significantly different.

Thanks

Johnny

Pretty sure the California models come with a ten round mag.... can't say for sure if that is the only difference though!

Mike

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