About contoured barrels

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - About contoured barrels

Posted: 8/30/2004 2:39:22 AM EDT

Could someone please explain about contoured barrels? What are the common ways that barrels are usually contoured? Advantages/ Disadvantages? Cost? Thanks.

Posted: 8/30/2004 6:15:09 AM EDT

[#1]

HBAR - usually cheapest
Gov't - lighter (thin under handguards)
Superthin/pencil- very light
M4 - similar to what most army/af are using (notch is useless unless you can hang a gl off it)
straight fluting - takes away some weight while keepins some rigidity and increases surface area somewhat
spiral fluting - same as straight
bull - heavy

Those are just what I can think of off the top of my head as standard.

You can also get pretty much whatever you want from a custom barrel turner.

Posted: 8/30/2004 6:38:52 AM EDT

[#2]

I've always wondered about the gov't A2 and m4 profile barrel, why are they only thin under the handguards? What's the point of making only the section forward of the FSB heavy?

Posted: 8/30/2004 7:31:41 AM EDT

[#3]

The 20" 2nd generation XM-8 that I played with has a fluted barrel. I think it is going to become much more popular with the military in the future, but that is simply a SWAG on my part. If you have ever felt a fluted and a non-fluted, it is noticeable

Posted: 8/30/2004 5:05:34 PM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
I've always wondered about the gov't A2 and m4 profile barrel, why are they only thin under the handguards? What's the point of making only the section forward of the FSB heavy?

The extra weight out on the end helps make the rifle more steady when aiming and offers a little help in controlling recoil.

Posted: 8/30/2004 5:12:15 PM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
I've always wondered about the gov't A2 and m4 profile barrel, why are they only thin under the handguards? What's the point of making only the section forward of the FSB heavy?

Also, I believe that hanging the M203 GL off the end puts alot of stress on the forward part of the barrel, so they made them heavy forward of the FSB to add a little rigidity to the barrel.

Posted: 8/31/2004 6:15:36 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
I've always wondered about the gov't A2 and m4 profile barrel, why are they only thin under the handguards? What's the point of making only the section forward of the FSB heavy?

So it won't bend as easy when using a bayonette...or so I've heard.

Posted: 8/31/2004 9:52:56 PM EDT

[#7]

This thread has some related information that you might find helpful.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - About contoured barrels

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