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Posted: 7/13/2010 8:28:54 PM EDT
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I'm looking for a good SHTF 16" middy upper. I'd like a complete upper suggestion or at least a reliable BCG to go with your suggestion. I prefer reliability and ruggedness over accuracy. I would REALLY like a bull barrel, chrome lined upper with a A3 flattop and A2 front sight. Also a 1:9 twist would be nice being I have a nice stockpile of 55gr UNLESS you don't think 55gr. out of a 1:7 wouldn't be a problem. I already have hand guards and a flash hider, along with complete lower. I just need a good upper to complete my SHTF rifle! Does such an upper exist?
BTW: cost is a factor but not an ultimate deal breaker. |
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Please read:
What Parts Break in a Carbine Course? AR15 Discussion FAQ Links to important information and picture threads Why a Bull Barrel??? BCM or Spikes (great sale on Spikes uppers at AIM Surplus) would be very SHTF-worthy, and good value options right now. ETA: just saw your 1/9 requirement. Ignoring the fact that 75gr 5.56 TAP is highly recommended as more effective self defense ammo and you may want to start looking at 1/7 options, a Bushmaster upper from PKFirearms would be a good choice. Aww.... just check the threads linked-to above. 
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Heat dissipation is over-rated.
Who's really gonna be doing tons of mag dumps on full auto? Not me. Too poor. Lightweight is where it's at. Quicker pointing, lighter (obviously), better balance once you hand a light, etc off the end. The Bull barrel will be a PITA at any carbine course (or patrolling your neighborhood in a post-Katrina like fantasy event  ) and get really annoying for most anything except benched shooting at the range, but YMMV.
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My requirements for my general purpose carbine upper (similar to your SHTF upper):
Barrel: 16" midlength gas system, B-11595E CMV mil-spec steel (or Cold Hammer Forged barrel), medium contour, 1/7 twist, chrome lined, 5.56mm NATO chamber, M4 enhanced feedramps, and standard F type FSB Upper receiver: Mil-spec forged M4 type with M4 feedramps cuts, white T numbers on upper rail BCG: Colt M16 auto or equivalent mil-spec with proper gas key stake, HPT and MPI tested bolt, chrome lined carrier Rear BUIS: Troy folding, KAC micro 600m elevation adjustment folding, LaRue fixed, LMT fixed with elevation adjustment Medium contour barrels are a good compromise between the standard government profile and heavy barrels, they're not too heavy but will take some heat similar to the army's M4A1 SOCOM barrel. I settled on Denny's Guns-GTS Operator midlength barrel which have the features that I wanted, there are also other brands like Centurion Arms, ADCO Custom MID barrel, etc. For my upper receiver since I already have a Colt 6721 carbine, I just removed my heavy barrel and installed the midlength medium contour barrel myself (using proper required tools), I also installed a LaRue 9" free floating rail at the same time. Other upper receivers that are good, BCM, CMT, Daniel Defense, Mega, Noveske, Sabre Defence, etc, (any major good manufacturer). If you can't find a complete upper that you like maybe consider ADCO to assemble your upper for you with the components of your choice. http://www.adcofirearms.com/ |
this maybe what you are looking for...
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=BCM-URG-M4-16SOCOM |
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Quoted:
What about the BCM BCG? any good? Absolutely good to go. BCM makes some of the finest BCGs available. Another excellent BCG is this one, and it's CHEAP: Rainier Arms' version of Denny's Thunder Bolt |
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Congrats.
Quoted:
Well, its official. I just ordered a chrome lined BCM middy in 1:7 with the BCG. Any clue what the barrel profile is like on that? Think it will handle 55gr well? Government profile (light under handguards, and .750 FSB to muzzle, see picture below). Should do fine with 55gr, but may want to try some 69gr, 75gr, 77gr to see what the barrel likes best. It's going to be a RELIABLE, combat-accurate, chrome-lined barrel. Enjoy! 
ETA: 
(Plenty more pics and details/info at the site you ordered it from, right?  )
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Quoted:
Well, its official. I just ordered a chrome lined BCM middy in 1:7 with the BCG. Any clue what the barrel profile is like on that? Think it will handle 55gr well? Awesome choice! That's what I was going to recommend as I was reading through your thread. I have one- you'll be impressed at how well they're put together and shoot. They're having a great sale right now- really great deals. It should shoot 55gr fine- the problems with 1 in 7 twist TEND to be with bullets that are less than ~50gr- like the 40gr varmint bullets. |
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Quoted:
My requirements for my general purpose carbine upper (similar to your SHTF upper): Barrel: 16" midlength gas system, B-11595E CMV mil-spec steel (or Cold Hammer Forged barrel), medium contour, 1/7 twist, chrome lined, 5.56mm NATO chamber, M4 enhanced feedramps, and standard F type FSB Upper receiver: Mil-spec forged M4 type with M4 feedramps cuts, white T numbers on upper rail BCG: Colt M16 auto or equivalent mil-spec with proper gas key stake, HPT and MPI tested bolt, chrome lined carrier Rear BUIS: Troy folding, KAC micro 600m elevation adjustment folding, LaRue fixed, LMT fixed with elevation adjustment Medium contour barrels are a good compromise between the standard government profile and heavy barrels, they're not too heavy but will take some heat similar to the army's M4A1 SOCOM barrel. I settled on Denny's Guns-GTS Operator midlength barrel which have the features that I wanted, there are also other brands like Centurion Arms, ADCO Custom MID barrel, etc. For my upper receiver since I already have a Colt 6721 carbine, I just removed my heavy barrel and installed the midlength medium contour barrel myself (using proper required tools), I also installed a LaRue 9" free floating rail at the same time. Other upper receivers that are good, BCM, CMT, Daniel Defense, Mega, Noveske, Sabre Defence, etc, (any major good manufacturer). If you can't find a complete upper that you like maybe consider ADCO to assemble your upper for you with the components of your choice. http://www.adcofirearms.com/ I agree totally-also look at Noveske stuff |
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Quoted:
Well, its official. I just ordered a chrome lined BCM middy in 1:7 with the BCG. Any clue what the barrel profile is like on that? Think it will handle 55gr well? I've got two BCM uppers (14.5" Carbine and 16" Middy [w/ Hammer Forged Barrel]). Both shoot 3-4" @ 100yds with off the shelf 55gr stuff. The 14.5" will shoot 1" groups with 75gr TAP or handloaded MK262 clones. The 16" hammer forged will do .70" with the same loads. Both wear Aimpoints, no magnifiers and have free float rails (though for what its' worth the 14.5" shot the same when it had standard handguards on it vs. free float). |
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Great choice.
There is probably gonna be more accuracy lost to mil-spec 55 gr ammo and the preference of a particular barrel than anything else. Like folks have said, it's more the varmint bullet weights that you might have trouble with. My 1:7 barrels handle 55 grain stuff just great. Also, nice work on avoiding the bull barrel. I always suspected manufacturers put them on to save machining costs than anything else... |
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