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OH, USA
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Posted: 1/20/2021 9:49:40 AM EST
I’m not 100% sure why, but finding a 16” pencil barrel in a stainless finish with a carbine length gas system has proved quite difficult. The only one I can locate is from Moriarti and the reviews on that company are not great. Finding one in a black finish is easy, but stainless is nearly impossible.
Anyone know of anyone else that makes one? |
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Posted: 1/20/2021 9:52:03 AM EST
Buy a standard stainless barrel and have it reprofiled?
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Posted: 1/20/2021 10:05:41 AM EST
I would say it is not that great of a seller. If you open it to mid length gas systems you would find more options.
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Posted: 1/20/2021 10:10:35 AM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By DonofKalifornia: I would say it is not that great of a seller. If you open it to mid length gas systems you would find more options. this lots of people have moved away from carbine to mid. apparently it increases reliability with broader selection of ammo too. |
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Posted: 1/20/2021 10:22:10 AM EST
Because there’s no reason to have a carbine length gas system on a 16” barrel.
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TX, USA
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Posted: 1/20/2021 10:43:13 AM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By 45-Seventy: Because there’s no reason to have a carbine length gas system on a 16” barrel. Yep. That's not a good spec OP. Faxon makes their skinny Gunner Profile 16" in SS (malonited to black), but middy gas. I can't imagine a manufactuer today selling very many skinny SS 16" carbine barrels. |
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Posted: 1/20/2021 10:48:28 AM EST
Why do you want that is the question.
Stainless is a poor choice for a pencil profile barrel, stainless has poor resistance to heat and pencil barrels heat up very rapidly. |
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OH, USA
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Posted: 1/20/2021 10:53:34 AM EST
I am trying to keep from running mid-length as I am looking to run a 9-10” hand guard and don’t want to see my gas block sticking out.
Any one have any barrels they’ve seen rather than telling me why they think I shouldn’t do it? |
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Posted: 1/20/2021 11:16:35 AM EST
I'm looking for a 16" carbine pencil barrel to have chopped to 12.5". Not looking for stainless but I can't find the black ones either.
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OH, USA
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Posted: 1/20/2021 11:29:37 AM EST
Ballistic Advantage definitely makes one in black. Retro Rifles sells one. Colt uses them as well. I know I’ve seen others as well.
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Posted: 1/20/2021 11:40:12 AM EST
A 10” handguard will hide a mid length low profile gas block.
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Posted: 1/20/2021 12:34:22 PM EST
[Last Edit: 1/20/2021 12:40:23 PM EST by funnelcake]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Ryan_Scott: A 10” handguard will hide a mid length low profile gas block. It won’t - 10.5” is at the very edge, but 11” is real minimum. I have a 10” ALG v3 on a middy and GB protrudes about 1/2”. It’s pinned, so NBD but it definitely sticks out. ETA - One option: get a nitrided stainless barrel & bead blast it. |
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Posted: 1/20/2021 3:30:36 PM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By Edens101: Ballistic Advantage definitely makes one in black. Retro Rifles sells one. Colt uses them as well. I know I've seen others as well. It's hard to find anything right now. |
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Posted: 1/20/2021 3:39:50 PM EST
[Last Edit: 1/20/2021 3:40:35 PM EST by Gamma762]
Do you already have the handguard, or why not just go with an 11 or 12" handguard?
If you want a pencil profile I'll repeat my suggestion that 4140/4150/CMV type steels are a better choice. |
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OH, USA
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Posted: 1/20/2021 6:08:17 PM EST
It’s really a personal preference I guess, but I can’t stand clunky looking hand guards and heavy barrels. I am wanting to build something similar to the image of the rifle at the link below, but prefer the look of the stainless barrel and a thin profile. Not looking to buy that exact hand guard, just the best reference I could find.
Rifle Example Just seems odd I can find 16” pencil carbine barrel in black, or 16” carbine stainless in M4 profile, heavy profile, etc... just not exactly what I want. |
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MS, USA
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Posted: 1/20/2021 6:28:09 PM EST
[Last Edit: 1/20/2021 6:31:43 PM EST by MS556]
FWIW, I agree that there is wisdom in bucking the current fad of long handguards. A 12" is as long as I have or ever want, and on a carbine, no real reason to go beyond the gas block if all you ever run is a simple weapon light or such.
But, thin stainless barrels are not going to hold up well. Heat will soon do them in. That's probably why few are in production. If you want a pencil barrel, go 4150 CMV steel, preferably chrome lined. I like nitride for government profile or any non-match grade barrel, but chrome lining will provide better heat protection on a thin barrel. And, know that thin barrels tend to walk their groups as they heat up, even if free floated. |
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Posted: 1/20/2021 7:45:33 PM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By Daggertt: I'm looking for a 16" carbine pencil barrel to have chopped to 12.5". Not looking for stainless but I can't find the black ones either. Have you thought of buying a LW 12.5” barrel instead of whatever this is? |
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Posted: 1/20/2021 8:17:41 PM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By MS556: And, know that thin barrels tend to walk their groups as they heat up, even if free floated. Is this really true for modern stress-relieved pencil barrels? Faxon says their pencil barrels won't change POI. 21:00 in.  Faxon Q&A #3: Twist rates, stress, break-in, gas ports & more! |
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Posted: 1/20/2021 8:25:14 PM EST
The reason nobody builds any of that is because that’s like a culmination of a bunch of disadvantages and no advantages.
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Posted: 1/20/2021 8:35:09 PM EST
If it doesn’t have to be stainless, here ya go:
https://retrorifles.com/14-5-inch-pencil-profile-carbine-barrel-625/ That link is to 14.5 but they have the same thing in 16”; although if you’re gonna chop it that’s kinda moot. |
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OR, USA
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Posted: 1/21/2021 6:23:37 PM EST
Not stainless but cheap and in stock
16", LW, Carbine gas RTB is great. I've done business with them several times https://www.righttobear.com/DPMS-5-56-Lightweight-Carbine-Barrel-p/axrtb-bl-sportical.htm |
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Posted: 1/21/2021 7:06:43 PM EST
I bought one of these pencil barrels in stainless a long time ago. ER Shaw barrels are good to go
Stainless Pencil Barrel |
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MN, USA
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Posted: 1/21/2021 9:43:28 PM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By johnnieblue: Is this really true for modern stress-relieved pencil barrels? Faxon says their pencil barrels won't change POI. 21:00 in.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3FDLiWMUTcHeat changes everything. The thinner the barrel, the more it is affected and the more quickly, and the more quickly it will recover after shooting halts. I recall in Infantry training over 40 years ago they had Ma Deuce locked in on a sandy hillside about 2k away and let her rip. You could see the impacts moving down the face of that hillside as she heated up. The exercise was to illustrate the importance of changing barrels. |
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Posted: 1/22/2021 12:32:32 AM EST
[Last Edit: 1/22/2021 12:38:21 AM EST by bigstick61]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Edens101: I am trying to keep from running mid-length as I am looking to run a 9-10” hand guard and don’t want to see my gas block sticking out. Any one have any barrels they’ve seen rather than telling me why they think I shouldn’t do it? I have a 16" mid-length pencil barrel on my rifle with a 10.5" handguard, and it completely covers the gas block with about 5/16" to spare. Gas block is a BAD Ti low-profile type, which IIRC is a bit under 1" long. A 1" long gas block should still be covered completely with a tiny bit of room to spare. |
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MN, USA
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Posted: 1/22/2021 10:36:30 AM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By bigstick61: I have a 16" mid-length pencil barrel on my rifle with a 10.5" handguard, and it completely covers the gas block with about 5/16" to spare. Gas block is a BAD Ti low-profile type, which IIRC is a bit under 1" long. A 1" long gas block should still be covered completely with a tiny bit of room to spare. In a related story, I have a 10" rail on a middy 16 with a micro GB and it peeks out just a bit, you don't see the tube. Doesn't bother me at all and I like the overall look and handling. |
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Posted: 1/23/2021 10:12:30 AM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By Gamma762: Why do you want that is the question. Stainless is a poor choice for a pencil profile barrel, stainless has poor resistance to heat and pencil barrels heat up very rapidly. |
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Posted: 1/23/2021 10:14:33 AM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By johnnieblue: Is this really true for modern stress-relieved pencil barrels? Faxon says their pencil barrels won't change POI. 21:00 in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3FDLiWMUTc |
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Posted: 1/23/2021 1:46:54 PM EST
I posted a couple of CL’d pencils above for the OP. I built the wife’s rifle with a stainless .625 BA Hanson. If I had it to do over I would go CL’d.
10” HG on mid-length for reference. HG’s vary so 10 might mean 10.xx. The ALG in this pic is exactly 10”. 
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Posted: 1/23/2021 1:54:03 PM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By funnelcake: It won’t - 10.5” is at the very edge, but 11” is real minimum. I have a 10” ALG v3 on a middy and GB protrudes about 1/2”. It’s pinned, so NBD but it definitely sticks out. ETA - One option: get a nitrided stainless barrel & bead blast it. Here is a picture. I would expect that some handguards and gas blocks are longer than others even if nominally similar. https://bravocompanyusa.com/bcm-standard-14-5-mid-length-upper-receiver-group-w-mcmr-10-handguard/ |
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Posted: 1/24/2021 2:25:24 AM EST
This is my 16" mid-length with 10.5" handguard.
 
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Posted: 1/24/2021 5:09:38 PM EST
I'm a firm believer in mid-length gas systems on 14.5 to 16" barrels. It's easier on the bolt and they shoot smoother than the carbine gassed rifles. Just as important (to me) is the mid-gassed barrels allow for more reach with the support arm. WIN/WIN.
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Posted: 1/24/2021 8:38:57 PM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By 45-Seventy: Because there’s no reason to have a carbine length gas system on a 16” barrel. Boom |
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Posted: 1/25/2021 1:09:13 PM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By bigstick61: This is my 16" mid-length with 10.5" handguard. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49763360632_524cba1cbc_b.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50869233671_1cbf9ff2f4_b.jpg What gas block is that? |
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Posted: 1/25/2021 1:38:05 PM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By maxicon: What gas block is that? Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By maxicon: Originally Posted By bigstick61: This is my 16" mid-length with 10.5" handguard. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49763360632_524cba1cbc_b.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50869233671_1cbf9ff2f4_b.jpg What gas block is that? Battle Arms Development 0.625" Titanium Low-Profile Gas Block Light, short, and slim. |
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Posted: 1/25/2021 2:32:14 PM EST
Although this is a large frame .358 Win, the dimensions are essentially the same as an AR15. 16" .750" SS mid-gas, 10" handguard, Aero AGB. I was at first hesitant, but I don't mind the gas block sticking out.
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