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Posted: 8/18/2026 9:38:11 PM EDT
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My wife is humoring me and shooting CMP Vintage Sniper competitions. She's recoil adverse for medical reasons, so we'll shoot the class B Vietnam era, and she'll shoot a M16A1 clone with 3x scope. I have a M16A1 clone built before these CMP matches were a thing, and it has a 1/9 barrel. So it won't handle my 80gr Service Rifle load. Looking at options, it seems the Sierra 69gr TMK is my best option w/existing barrel. Here's the question. Who makes a match grade 1/7 A1 profile barrel? I've searched without any luck, and I hesitate to turn down a heavy match barrel *that* far. Anyone make such a beast? |
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Nope. You can have a machinist profile a Criterion or Satern and you are in business. I loaded lots of 69 TMKs for my ROTC Cadets to practice with M4s/ACOGs for the Army Championships. They hold well for the 300 line but her 600 yard shots will be affected more by wind than if she was to use 80s or 75 VLD/ELDs. Your 1-9 will shoot Berger 73s and Hornady 75 VLDs (I saw a few new shooters do it that way at Perry before replacing with faster twist barrels). |
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Originally Posted By glenn_r: My wife is humoring me and shooting CMP Vintage Sniper competitions. She's recoil adverse for medical reasons, so we'll shoot the class B Vietnam era, and she'll shoot a M16A1 clone with 3x scope. I have a M16A1 clone built before these CMP matches were a thing, and it has a 1/9 barrel. So it won't handle my 80gr Service Rifle load. Looking at options, it seems the Sierra 69gr TMK is my best option w/existing barrel. Here's the question. Who makes a match grade 1/7 A1 profile barrel? I've searched without any luck, and I hesitate to turn down a heavy match barrel *that* far. Anyone make such a beast? I am of the opinion that the M16a1 is not an option, first the published maximum effective range for the M16a1 was 450m. Second, the rulebook defines for the Veitnam era three rifles, two bolts and one semi auto, M-21, M-40, and a scoped M-14. The optics must be period equivalent. 1/7 twist, 80grs defeat the idea of Vietnam vintage. But what do I know, ask this guy before you build a gun. (Brian Williams, [email protected]). If he says its cool there were many versions of the early rifle that had a heavy barrel, 611 comes to mind. |
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Originally Posted By Carbinekid: I am of the opinion that the M16a1 is not an option, But what do I know, ask this guy before you build a gun. (Brian Williams, [email protected]). See page 66 here: https://thecmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2024-CMP-Games-Rules.pdf. The 2026 rulebook provides additional guidance for the rifles you mention but doesn't prohibit AFAIK, other models from 2024 like M16A1. Interestingly, the M14 variants can use all sorts of heavy barrel profiles and glassed stocks and match triggers, while M16A1 cannot. And "any safe ammunition" is permitted. (I'm sure none of the M14 shooters are using 175SMK, and the WWII categories are shooting M2 ball.)  But it's academic anyway, because this is something my wife is willing to do on the range. She won't have any fun shooting 55gr ball at 600 yards. Label us out-of-category and prohibit us from winning an award, and I'll still be there with a huge smile. Because we are there having fun.  Still, worth dropping a line to CMP and getting the official answer. I'll build it anyway. None of the local shoots will turn us away, and we are in no danger of placing at Perry. |
Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.
W. Churchill
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Originally Posted By Sinister: Nope. You can have a machinist profile a Criterion or Satern and you are in business. I loaded lots of 69 TMKs for my ROTC Cadets to practice with M4s/ACOGs for the Army Championships. They hold well for the 300 line but her 600 yard shots will be affected more by wind than if she was to use 80s or 75 VLD/ELDs. Your 1-9 will shoot Berger 73s and Hornady 75 VLDs (I saw a few new shooters do it that way at Perry before replacing with faster twist barrels). I checked into the Hornady 73gr but it needs a 1/8 twist per Hornady. I didn't look at the Berger, I'll check that out, thanks! |
Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.
W. Churchill
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| Put her on the scope, teach her how to read wind, if they run two relays switch it up. You can sand bag a .308 rifle a bunch and take a lot of the kick out. I find 125gr bullets push on the shoulder a lot less too, but the do require you to know your dope. BTW a Colt Sporter Hbar is moa out to 500m with mk262 type ammo in my experience. To get a 77or 80 out 600yrds its going to push you pretty good. |
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When I built my Model 711, I purchased a Match Grade Black Nitride Finish 1/7 twist M16 pencil profile barrel from DEZ Tactical in Wisconsin. That was 10yrs ago or more. I had John Thomas refinish barrel & fit M16A1 Front Sight Post. I'm no competition shooter but rifle is fairly accurate if I do my part. Good luck. https://deztacticalarms.com/ Attached File |
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Originally Posted By wagsfn: ... Model 711, I purchased a Match Grade Black Nitride Finish 1/7 twist M16 pencil profile barrel from DEZ Tactical in Wisconsin. That was 10yrs ago or more. I had John Thomas refinish barrel & fit M16A1 Front Sight Post. I'm no competition shooter but rifle is fairly accurate if I do my part. Good luck. https://deztacticalarms.com/ Attached File Whoop, there it is. |
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Originally Posted By wagsfn: When I built my Model 711, I purchased a Match Grade Black Nitride Finish 1/7 twist M16 pencil profile barrel from DEZ Tactical in Wisconsin. That was 10yrs ago or more. I had John Thomas refinish barrel & fit M16A1 Front Sight Post. I'm no competition shooter but rifle is fairly accurate if I do my part. Good luck. https://deztacticalarms.com/ https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/90173/20260202_133641_jpg-3813693.JPG Thanks for the pointer! |
Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.
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Originally Posted By j3_: I think Fulton Armory had or has a 1 in 8 20" pencil barrel. Thanks! https://www.fulton-armory.com/product/barrel-assembly-20-ar-pencil-contour-1x8-chrome-lined-threaded-match-quality-fa-by-criterion/ |
Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.
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Originally Posted By RareBear: https://www.whiteoakarmament.com/shop/barrels/high-power-match-competition-rifle-barrels.html https://www.kriegerbarrels.com/products#ar15 https://www.gmriflebarrel.com/military-barrels/ar-15-/-m16-/-m4-rifle-barrels https://www.roscomanufacturing.com/product-category/barrels/page/2/ Thanks. None of them list 20" A1 contour barrels. I'd already contacted WOA and they don't do one-offs. Rainier Arms was close at 18" lightweight match barrel, but don't offer a 20" and won't do a special order. Admittedly I haven't asked Krieger, I have their barrel on my service rifle, but unsurprisingly they only list heavy contours. |
Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.
W. Churchill
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Go with the heavy profile, if you've shot highpower you know a heavier rifle kicks less. Although it might be hard to find a barrel maker that puts a post on barrels these days since the adoption of optics ten or twelve years ago. WOA and Kreiger charge for adjustable front sight flats these days. It is dark times in highpower barrel land with the closing of CLE and the selling off of WOA to rookies. I bought barrels from CLE for 25yrs, and the new lady at WOA doesn't know what short chambering means. Dark times indeed. Ya'll shooting at Eau Claire? . |
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Unfortunately heavy barrels are prohibited in the Vintage Sniper competitions (unless you shoot a M1A, then somehow they're ok). M16A1 must use GI barrel contour, no float tubes (even if concealed by regular handguards), no 2-stage triggers, etc. So I need the A1 profile. If i wasnt trying to stay within the rules I'd just install a concealed float tube and heavy-under-handguards barrel and call it good. I found an old Wilson lightweight contour 1/7 in stainless steel. It has an M4 barrel extension and F front sight base, but I'm going to test its accuracy. No one will notice the F height, the M4 ramps will work ok with the rifle receiver, and any barrel finish is permitted. Though I'm certain I'll get naysayers. If I go that route, I'll combine the stainless barrel with chrome bolt carrier and nickel ALG single stage trigger for maximum bling. 
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Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.
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Originally Posted By Carbinekid: Go with the heavy profile, if you've shot highpower you know a heavier rifle kicks less. Ya'll shooting at Eau Claire? And Lodi, Wisconsin Rapids, Racine, etc. Good times & good people. |
Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.
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the most accurate known m16a1 production barrels ever made in the military surplus catagory were govt spares contract marked sak. going off memory the actual company was saco-lowell. at least 2 barrel marking variations exist. some were marked ''sak-mp-chrome bore'' the exact equivilent of colts chrome lined c-mp-chrome bore and others had the earlier less common marking sak-mp-b which was identical bore just late vietnam era marking copy of colts finalized barrel c-mp-b thats was simply remarked post vietnam era as c-mp-chrome bore. as to why they were printing on paper better and known to collectors as definitely being more accurate some have speculated it was either the bore plating method or the front sight post tight fitment or both. if you want to try something amazing back bore the muzzle by 2 full inches with a center drill carefully in lathe with .25 inch center drill once your 20 inch barrel is fully supported front and rear it makes the bullets stabilize better at distance. a gunsmith will laugh at you and say thats not how center drills work they have no chip debris clearance and will heat up but trust me i did this carefully and slowly with determination and amazing results. its basically cheating and not fair at all to guys that have regular m16a1 barrels. |
| OP, if you end up w/ a heavy 1:7" twist barrel, you could send it to Paladin Machine in South Carolina and they'll turn it down to A1 specs. If you do that, might consider cryo treating the barrel, my late FIL was a Garand & M1917 gunsmith and believed in such voodoo. |
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Thanks for the above info, I hadn't heard about the most accurate service barrels. The twist would be too slow, but that's really interesting information. And I'm happy to hear of a source for turning down a heavy barrel. I may yet go that option. Accuracy testing the Wilson barrel tonight. Here's the reply from CMP regarding M16A1 eligibility: Good Morning Glen Thank you for reaching out with your questions. This rifle/scope combination has been very popular for the last couple of weeks. We are just about to start the rules meetings for 2027 and we will be talking about these rifles. And yes the rifle is still fully legal, and has not been removed. I hope that helps. Brian Williams Civilian Marksmanship Program Chief Competitions Officer, National Disciplines Civilian Marksmanship Program From: Glenn R Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2026 2:41 PM To: Brian Williams Subject: question on M16A1 for Vintage Sniper competitions Hi Mr. Williams, I'm writing to inquire as to the legality of M16A1 clones with 3x scopes for Vintage Sniper matches. I see they were specifically allowed in the 2024 rules, but the 2026 clarification only addresses the M14 and US bolt rifles. Are M16A1 clones, and the other clones listed in the 2024 rules, still permitted? Full background for my request, and the reason I write, is all visible here: https://www.ar15.com/forums/ar-15/M16A1-match-barrel/123-794539/ Thanks for all of your help! |
Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.
W. Churchill
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W. Churchill
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