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Posted: 12/28/2005 3:43:18 PM EDT
Okay, I am ready to give my Colt Match Target Lightweight a makeover.
Weight is a PRIMARY concern with this rifle. Long-range accuracy is a second. This is for a SHTF (and fun) weapon only. I do not believe I will EVER have the need or inclination to fire on a target more than 100 meters away. I am thinking of cutting the 16" post-ban barrel down to 10.5" and adding a permanent 5.5" Bushmaster flash suppressor. According to the chart, I will remove about 10oz of barrel, then, add the FH weight. I can't find any weight stats on the FH. Given the intended use of this rifle, are there any inherent problems with this idea? Please forgive my newbness. I haven't fired my AR in about 10 years.  Thanks Roy |
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Posted: 12/28/2005 3:45:16 PM EDT
[#1]
Why not leave the barrel a little longer and use a shorter flash suppressor?
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Posted: 12/28/2005 3:50:24 PM EDT
[#2]
I was trying to get any weight savings I could. I'm old and feeble.
Roy |
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Posted: 12/28/2005 3:52:13 PM EDT
[#3]
I honestly don't think you will find weight savings with the 5.5"FS, its pretty hefty, and is going to be PDC to your regular barrel when everything is said and done.
Why not look at getting a LW barrel? |
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Posted: 12/28/2005 3:52:26 PM EDT
[#4]
You're giving up muzzle velocity and therefore, theoretically, shortening the range at which the 5.56 round will fragment. A superlight Bushmaster (or Colt etc) is a pretty light barrel.
I guess some of the contractors have had good luck with shorty barrels with some of the heavier AR rounds, but just to lose weight and have the same length barrel? I don't know if that is worth it. Now a 10 or 11.5, or whatever they are if you were some high speed guy going in and out of vehicles and inside structures a lot, I'm sure they know what they are doing. For me I'd just as soon have as much rifled barrel as possible since I am stuck with a 16" anyways. Edit-I handled a cavarms lower with a pencil barrel this summer, it felt like a toy. Someone here posted that hte difference btw a cavarms and a regular lower was not as much as I thought, but they sure feel light. |
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Posted: 12/28/2005 3:52:52 PM EDT
[#5]
Maybe sell your barrel and buy a Bushmaster Super-lite 16"? It'd be a lot less trouble, and probably not much more money than cutting your barrel.
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Posted: 12/28/2005 3:53:54 PM EDT
[#6]
10.5" would be too short.
The 5.5" FS is meant for an 11.5" bbl. Personally, I'd go with a LW bbl and call it a day. |
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Posted: 12/28/2005 4:00:27 PM EDT
[#7]
You'd be giving up 220 fps or more in velocity. In other words, your 5.56 XM193PD just became Wolf .223. Not good, you still need the speed out at the end of that 100 meters you mention.
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Posted: 12/28/2005 4:15:17 PM EDT
[#8]
If you load your own rounds just pump up the FPS to around 3400FPS and it will shoot just like a 16" and a little more.
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Posted: 12/28/2005 4:33:29 PM EDT
[#9]
But wouldn't the pressure be too great? |
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Posted: 12/28/2005 4:35:48 PM EDT
[#10]
The only reason to own an 11.5"/5.5" is if you plan on making it a class 3 SBR in the future, but want a legal firearm in the meantime.
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Posted: 12/28/2005 5:16:18 PM EDT
[#11]
I've got a Bushy Ultralight with the stubby stock and it is listed at 5.8 lbs w/16" barrel. Doesn't feel lke much of anything to hold or carry.
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Posted: 12/28/2005 5:20:50 PM EDT
[#12]
If you are that desperate to lose weight on a rifle, go with a Bushmaster superlight 16" barrel and put a thread protector on in place of the flash hider.
Most 10.25" and 11.5" barrels are heavyweight under the handguards, so you will actually have a heavier rifle in that config! |
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Posted: 12/28/2005 5:23:44 PM EDT
[#13]
Thanks for all the responses.
Roy |
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Posted: 12/28/2005 6:11:03 PM EDT
[#14]
Is it an HBAR? Don't take any length off the Barrel, send it to Adco and have them reprofile or flute the barrel.
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Posted: 12/28/2005 6:27:17 PM EDT
[#15]
I don't see "HBAR" anywhere on the rifle. Roy |
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Posted: 12/28/2005 6:42:08 PM EDT
[#16]
If looks is all you care about, not performance, go for it.
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Posted: 12/28/2005 6:57:09 PM EDT
[#17]
I never mentioned looks in my post. I don't care what it looks like. |
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Posted: 12/28/2005 7:35:32 PM EDT
[#18]
A 5.5 BM extension on a 11.5 BBL makes for a pretty hefty unit, trust me I have one.
you can go to AR15barrels.com and have them turn it down under the HG's and it will be even lighter. |
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Posted: 12/28/2005 7:44:02 PM EDT
[#19]
I just figured that was it - there is NO other reason to buy them. I'd send it off to Adco, get it profiled lighter (IF it's an Hbar), shorted to 14.5" and have them permanently affix a Vortex or Phantom to it. |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 12:48:17 AM EDT
[#20]
Normal powders would be high but within operating range, you can use faster powders and reduce excessive port pressures. |
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