HBAR wont make the gun any more accurate, it makes you more accurate by helping you keep the barrel steady. IE less felt "noise" disrupting your sight picture becuase small muscle tremors dont affect the heavy rifle as much.
A pencil thin barrel will be as accuate as an HBAR untill it heats up, then groupings will open up a bit. Make no doubt though, a penicl thin barrel is still accurate enough hot to do what you need to do even when slightly warm.
Maybe for my 2nd AR15 I would probably build my own, but for my first gun I would like it all built up so I learn easily.
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Oh, if you build it, and it breaks, you will know how to fix it. Thats the best learnin you can get. It will also be cheaper if you build it and again... it will be custom for you.
Here you go, short list of rifle weights by barrel. All bushmaster rifles.
[img]http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/weapons/Images/pcwa2y16sl.jpg[/img]
5.80 pounds, superlight barrel, stubby stock.
[img]http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/weapons/Images/pcwa2x14m4my.jpg[/img]
6.59 pounds, m4 profile barrel (Skinny under the handguards)
[img]http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/weapons/Images/pcwa2s16.jpg[/img]
7.22 pounds, HBAR barrel profile
All HBARS are at the heavy end of the scale. You save a little bit of weight with a non HBAR barrel. Also, the above rifles are a sample of other configurations.
You are best off without a muzzle brake. It reduces felt recoil while sending the blast of the rifle back at the user or off to the sides. The Y comp is said to reduce recoil allot, however, it is also labeled as the loudest.
Stay away from muzzle brakes unless you have time to slap on hearing protection. I wouldnt want to shoot those "naked".