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Posted: 7/11/2026 1:13:00 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Bebop_941][Edited]
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What's a good alternative with a .625 gas block journal? Looking at a 11.5" Spikes CHF LW. Anything else I should be looking at? I'm also considering a Geiselle 11.5 Super Duty barrel but it's .750". Trying to stay .650" and I already have a SA gas block that diameter. Willing to get a new one if the Geissele is worth it over the Sprikes. |
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The Spike's FN CHF LW is an awesome barrel. I had mine cut from 11.5 to 10.3 since nobody makes one. I've been wanting to do another but they are OOS everywhere and have been for a while. Another .625 option: https://bravocompanyusa.com/bcm-standard-11-5-carbine-enhanced-light-weight-stripped-nfa/ ETA: I will also say that my Spike's shoots a hair tighter than my Geissele 10.3" barrel with my 77gr match burner load |
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Originally Posted By spyderboy03: The Spike's FN CHF LW is an awesome barrel. I had mine cut from 11.5 to 10.3 since nobody makes one. I've been wanting to do another but they are OOS everywhere and have been for a while. Another .625 option: https://bravocompanyusa.com/bcm-standard-11-5-carbine-enhanced-light-weight-stripped-nfa/ ETA: I will also say that my Spike's shoots a hair tighter than my Geissele 10.3" barrel with my 77gr match burner load Thank you for you reply. I've been hesitant to by a BCM barrel since some people report good accuracy and other not so much. They just seem inconsistent based on shooter feedback. I believe their gas ports are on the larger size as well. I also appreciate the feedback on the spikes vs. geissele. |
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Originally Posted By Bebop_941:Thank you for you reply. I've been hesitant to by a BCM barrel since some people report good accuracy and other not so much. They just seem inconsistent based on shooter feedback. I believe their gas ports are on the larger size as well. I also appreciate the feedback on the spikes vs. geissele. The Spike's has a huge gas port. I think I measured mine at .076" with my drill bits. I'm using an adjustable gas block. |
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Originally Posted By Raoul_Duke70: As someone who already has a core barrel and is waiting for the 12.5 to be available again, if waiting is an option, it’s the answer. Any time I’ve ever settled for something close to what I wanted I always regretted it anyway. I've had to send back two different core barrels for issues. I'm waiting on the a third now but want a back up plan. |
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Originally Posted By spyderboy03: Yeah, BCM's seem to be hit or miss. What is the intent of the build? Even 2" groups with match ammo is still plenty capable to a couple/few hundred yards. The Spike's has a huge gas port. I think I measured mine at .076" with my drill bits. I'm using an adjustable gas block. 11.5" dedicated suppressor gun. I know all of them have practical accuracy but if I'm finding a sub for a core, I want it to be as accurate as possible. As stated above, I'd prefer a core but I'm loosing patience with QC issues. I do recall now that the spikes barrels have large gas ports too. |
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Originally Posted By Bebop_941: 11.5" dedicated suppressor gun. I know all of them have practical accuracy but if I'm finding a sub for a core, I want it to be as accurate as possible. As stated above, I'd prefer a core but I'm loosing patience with QC issues. I do recall now that the spikes barrels have large gas ports too. May I ask what the issues were? Not doubting you, just curious. |
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Originally Posted By Raoul_Duke70: May I ask what the issues were? Not doubting you, just curious. Originally Posted By Raoul_Duke70: Originally Posted By Bebop_941: 11.5" dedicated suppressor gun. I know all of them have practical accuracy but if I'm finding a sub for a core, I want it to be as accurate as possible. As stated above, I'd prefer a core but I'm loosing patience with QC issues. I do recall now that the spikes barrels have large gas ports too. May I ask what the issues were? Not doubting you, just curious. Gas block dimple on one was drilled off center to the point the gas tube was binding on the gas key. The replacement barrel had two bad dings in the crown. They've been helpful the whole time and I get shit happens. Hope the next replacement works out as I'd still prefer a Core. |
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Originally Posted By Raoul_Duke70: Just bought a Sionics 11.5 to hold me over. So thanks, there goes $200. Can you update here your experience after you take it to the range? I too have been on the hunt for a solid 11.5 and narrowed it down to criterion and possibly scionics, with centurion having some bad press lately even though ive had good success with them previously. |
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Originally Posted By HunterKiller86: Can you update here your experience after you take it to the range? I too have been on the hunt for a solid 11.5 and narrowed it down to criterion and possibly scionics, with centurion having some bad press lately even though ive had good success with them previously. I’m unfortunately probably not gonna build it out for awhile so I don’t think I’ll be of much help. Just based on appearances the barrel looks solid and the profile is nice. Gas port is sized correctly for an 11.5. Sorry I can’t be much more help at the moment. |
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Originally Posted By Bebop_941: 11.5" dedicated suppressor gun. I know all of them have practical accuracy but if I'm finding a sub for a core, I want it to be as accurate as possible. As stated above, I'd prefer a core but I'm loosing patience with QC issues. I do recall now that the spikes barrels have large gas ports too. Why so skinny for a dedicated supp gun? I’m actually moving away from .625 taper lw barrels because I’m pretty much all 100% supp now. |
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Originally Posted By Brahmzy: Why so skinny for a dedicated supp gun? I’m actually moving away from .625 taper lw barrels because I’m pretty much all 100% supp now. Originally Posted By Brahmzy: Originally Posted By Bebop_941: 11.5" dedicated suppressor gun. I know all of them have practical accuracy but if I'm finding a sub for a core, I want it to be as accurate as possible. As stated above, I'd prefer a core but I'm loosing patience with QC issues. I do recall now that the spikes barrels have large gas ports too. Why so skinny for a dedicated supp gun? I’m actually moving away from .625 taper lw barrels because I’m pretty much all 100% supp now. It's a collection of reasons. Weight savings is one, force of habit is another. I dislike gov. Profile barrels so that limits option quite a bit. I considered an 11.5 Rosco Husky for a while but decided against it due to the proprietary gas length system and the weight. What reasons have you found for moving away from .625 barrels? |
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Originally Posted By Bebop_941: It's a collection of reasons. Weight savings is one, force of habit is another. I dislike gov. Profile barrels so that limits option quite a bit. I considered an 11.5 Rosco Husky for a while but decided against it due to the proprietary gas length system and the weight. What reasons have you found for moving away from .625 barrels? I have a 14.5 husky barrel that surprisingly enough damn near keeps pace with a 16” criterion I have using SMKs. Sample of one and all that, but for what I paid that barrel has impressed me. Weight isn’t that bad either. More of a medium profile so it’s not pig heavy. |
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I had two Cores with chamber issues, a 12.5 from 2023-24ish and a 13.9 from 2024 I think. The CS was helpful but did not restore my confidence in them. I replaced both with early versions of the SOLGW L89 uppers with V2 barrels and have been very happy. I also prefer LW barrels but many argue that a more stout barrel is better for hanging a can off of. I’ve been pretty happy with my Geisseles but wish they kept the smaller gas ports across all barrels instead of selling the stand alone barrels with a larger port. What bad press has Centurion gotten? |
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Originally Posted By Bebop_941: It's a collection of reasons. Weight savings is one, force of habit is another. I dislike gov. Profile barrels so that limits option quite a bit. I considered an 11.5 Rosco Husky for a while but decided against it due to the proprietary gas length system and the weight. What reasons have you found for moving away from .625 barrels? Way more options out there than gov profile (which I’ll never own). BA has excellent .750 Hanson profile barrels in a medium contour. Griffin Armament has solid barrels in a medium contour, but they’re VERY suppressor focused so their mediums are on the slightly heavier side. Definite POI shift when hot, lw barrels get hot super fast during strings of rapid fire (yes they cool fast too) but they just stay hotter, for longer during fire - especially with supp usage. Many argue they’re fine with the POI shifts at close range, which is valid. But when there’s a POi shift just attaching your suppressor, I just don’t like it. I could literally easily squeeze my barrels and hanguards together and flex those lw .625 tapered barrels - not so with the medium profiles. If I wasn’t shooting suppressed 100% of the time, I’d keep the lw tapered barrels, but I just never shoot without a suppressor anymore, and when I shoot, it’s usually rapid-fire tactical crap, dumping multiple consecutive mags before any cooling time. I think there’s a reason KAC and most modern military barrel profiles are on the medium side, and not just because of F/A. But, we have choices and choices are good. I’d prefer my rifle to be as accurate as realistically possible with good heat characteristics and leave me as the only weak link, which is already a pretty big weak link. 
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Originally Posted By Bebop_941: It's a collection of reasons. Weight savings is one, force of habit is another. I dislike gov. Profile barrels so that limits option quite a bit. I considered an 11.5 Rosco Husky for a while but decided against it due to the proprietary gas length system and the weight. What reasons have you found for moving away from .625 barrels? The Rosco 11.5 Husky is standard carbine length. It's the 12.5 that uses thier patrol length. Still not .625 though. . |
I am not an operator nor am I very smart.
Keep that in mind when reading my comments:-)
Keep that in mind when reading my comments:-)
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Originally Posted By Brahmzy: Way more options out there than gov profile (which I’ll never own). BA has excellent .750 Hanson profile barrels in a medium contour. Griffin Armament has solid barrels in a medium contour, but they’re VERY suppressor focused so their mediums are on the slightly heavier side. Definite POI shift when hot, lw barrels get hot super fast during strings of rapid fire (yes they cool fast too) but they just stay hotter, for longer during fire - especially with supp usage. Many argue they’re fine with the POI shifts at close range, which is valid. But when there’s a POi shift just attaching your suppressor, I just don’t like it. I could literally easily squeeze my barrels and hanguards together and flex those lw .625 tapered barrels - not so with the medium profiles. If I wasn’t shooting suppressed 100% of the time, I’d keep the lw tapered barrels, but I just never shoot without a suppressor anymore, and when I shoot, it’s usually rapid-fire tactical crap, dumping multiple consecutive mags before any cooling time. I think there’s a reason KAC and most modern military barrel profiles are on the medium side, and not just because of F/A. But, we have choices and choices are good. I’d prefer my rifle to be as accurate as realistically possible with good heat characteristics and leave me as the only weak link, which is already a pretty big weak link. I don't disagree with your approach. It's one of the reason I want to go with the Core since it seems to be the sweet spot between lightweight and medium profile. Everyone seems to report that it suppresses really well. |
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