Light vs. Heavy Barrel > AR Discussions

Posted: 10/22/2011 3:52:29 PM EDT

I will be getting a barrel soon but don't know if I should go with the light or heavy. Of course I know one advantage of the light is weight but is there any disadvantages to a light? Thanks

Posted: 10/22/2011 4:17:08 PM EDT

[#1]

Disadvantage would be they heat up faster (they cool down faster too though). Personally, unless its a scoped longer range (SPR type) rifle, I always would prefer a lightweight profile.

Posted: 10/22/2011 4:23:11 PM EDT

[#2]

By heavy, so you mean a govt or standard profile or do you mean like the SOCOM profile or similar?

Posted: 10/22/2011 4:56:28 PM EDT

[#3]

HBAR makes a better club....

Posted: 10/22/2011 4:58:51 PM EDT

[#4]

I like govt profile unless it is a specialty rig like a varmint hunter, etc. HBAR would be fine for that. I wouldn't want a bull for anything I have to tote.

Posted: 10/22/2011 5:04:35 PM EDT

[#5]

Medium contour (Noveske N4 series) or light weight. Spike's has their "Optimum" profile and it looks fairly interesting. I have a SOCOM 14.5" and it balances well, but I think that it would be too heavy in a 16".

Posted: 10/22/2011 5:27:54 PM EDT

[#6]

I've owned Pencil, Bulls, HBAR, Government profile, Medium and M4 profile barrels. I prefer the lightweight pencil profile for pretty much everything except for a dedicated bench/target rifles.

Posted: 10/22/2011 5:30:06 PM EDT

[#7]

Con:
You won't get as much of a workout with the light barrel.

Posted: 10/22/2011 5:31:54 PM EDT

[#8]

My personal favorite is an 18" SPR style barrel. Mid weight with a rifle gas system. Very light and even .223 seems to recoil too much for the quickest follow up shots. HBAR and heavier is best used for targets and competition.

Posted: 10/22/2011 5:33:49 PM EDT

[#9]

Lightweight.

Posted: 10/22/2011 5:43:25 PM EDT

[#10]

Do you foresee dumping ten mags as fast as possible while breaking contact with a superior force?

If not, get the lightweight.

Posted: 10/22/2011 6:26:20 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
Medium contour (Noveske N4 series) or light weight. Spike's has their "Optimum" profile and it looks fairly interesting. I have a SOCOM 14.5" and it balances well, but I think that it would be too heavy in a 16".

I have a Spike's 14.5 in the optimum profile, and I really like it. Balances really well, a happy medium between gov't and lightweight.

Posted: 10/22/2011 6:27:55 PM EDT

[#12]

A 16" H-Bar has been my choice for the past few years. For a KISS rifle it's fine and I like the balance. It's pretty nice being able to shoot consistent rapid fire 30 round groups.

It's all about the application, though. Choose the barrel that's best for the intended use.

Posted: 10/22/2011 7:13:34 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Medium contour (Noveske N4 series) or light weight. Spike's has their "Optimum" profile and it looks fairly interesting. I have a SOCOM 14.5" and it balances well, but I think that it would be too heavy in a 16".

I have a Spike's 14.5 in the optimum profile, and I really like it. Balances really well, a happy medium between gov't and lightweight.

+1 I've been eyeballing those since the barrels that I really want are so hard to find.

Posted: 10/22/2011 7:23:59 PM EDT

[#14]

I have personally never owned any lightweight barrelled rifle that impressed me, barrels heatup too fast and unless free floated, zero wanders. There are reasons they make different contours, I tend to prefer Noveske contours (or similar) for my rifles. The several ounces weight saved has never affected my choice. If others have their choices as different, that is fine. I have no desire for lightweight barrels anymore.

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