I'm looking for a 18" HBAR, does any one make one?

My 20" HBAR is to heavy for IPSC 3 gun matches and my 16" wont make minnor with factory 55gr. ammo.

Instead of going for a shorter barrel I'd go for a lighter 20".  If you really want shorter you can just have your 20" cut back to 18".  I did it myself on an A2 and it works great.

[img]http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hoplophile/Decimator.JPG[/img]

[url]www.rockriverarms.com[/url]

sells stainless 18"     "varmint" uppers

I would think they could build you any kind of upper you want with one of the 18" barrels

[url]www.metalcraft-ar15.com[/url]
offers Krieger uppers in 18" with Armalite mid-length gas system

The trend in USPSA is to go lighter and shorter....The top shooters are pretty much shooting 18" barrels with fairly light contour.

Taran Butler is using a JP 18" light wt and medium wt barrel

Bennie Coolie is using a JP 18" with a contour some what between the LW and MW barrels

Tony Holmes is using an 18" medium contour

The Medium contour is .75 under the hand gaurd and .875 from the gas block forward. The light contour is .5 under the hand gaurd and .75 from the gas block forward.

I use an 18" lw contour, and the rifle with the sights weighs 6.75# this is a VERY stable shooting platform. Also, the rifle will shoot sub MOA 10 shot groups with iron sights......I suspect that with a scope, it will do much better.

By the way....I did make minor with factory ammo at the 3 gun nationals this year.

JP lists for their super match barrels
      18" ultra light
      18" intermediate
      20"   same
      20 or 24 heavy varmint
     
I ordered the 18" intermediate that they also described to me as being LW as compared to their ultra light.I am confused in that in front of the gas block my barrel is .87,not .75 or.92,so short of calling JP,does anyone one know what the hell i have?

I talked to the guys from JP at RM3G in Raton, and they said that the full-length gas system on the 18" barrels is key to reducing the recoil impulse.

Also, I chrono'd some ammo out of Rock River 16" (1-in-9") upper to see what would make Minor.

Black Hills 55gr would NOT,
Black Hills 68gr WOULD,
South African 55gr M193 surplus WOULD.

-z

Zak, I posted a thread a couple weeks ago stating that I wanted to shorten a 24" armalite to 18. This would have the 'rifle' gas system would it not?

Alan,

Yes, it would.  The only choices I know of for "gas system length" are short, mid, and full/regular.   As far as I know, all 20" and longer factory AR-15's come with the full length gas system.

I'm not an expert on the effects of different gas system lengths, I was just repeating what the JP guys said.

-z

I've heard that you have to have a certain length of barrel after the gasblock in order for the rifle to function reliably?  true or false?

Who's Beenie Cooley? [img]www.falfiles.com/forums/confused.gif[/img]

When somebody like Wes makes this kind of statement, I think I should just give up on 3 gun and go shoot bullseye.  
Scott

armax,

Sure you need the right "size" and "shape" gas impulse, but it's clear that 18"-bbl AR's with a full-length gas system can be made to operate - and run really well.

-z

I recently replaced my BM 16" with an 18"  EGW cut down a 20" Wilson barrel and added their "race" comp.  This combo shoots!!! I can't wait to shoot it in our local 3-Gun match in Limited Class.

what did you use to cut your 20" barrel?