Fellow retro heads,

I am building as close to original clones as I can but the one place I want to consider a departure is the barrel/buffer combo for best shooting performance.

Any recommendations on bullet weight, barrel twist, gas port size, buffer configuration or other things that keeps these 10" barrel guns working as reliable as possible.

I know colt has the new 10.3" barrel and I am assuming they have worked the kinks out. How much would .2 inches change the physical look of these guns?

What say ye?

Thanks

I believe the 10.3 inch barrel would be heavy profile from the sight base out. Not sure he much of this would be seen after a brake, suppressor, moderator is installed.

Ths barrel functions well. I think they finally worked the kinks out on this length. I think these would make a fine xm177e1 gun.

For barrel i would first figure out what twist rate you are wanting and then go from there.  Then i would buy any Carbine length Pencil barrel in that twist rate and send it to John Thomas as Retro Arm Works to do the rest.  I personally wanted my 177e1 to be as true to the original as possible, so i went with one of the brownells 1/12 12.7 barrels, and then had JT do the barrel work.  The results were far better than i expected.