Question for people who haved carried M4's in Iraq

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Question for people who haved carried M4's in Iraq

Posted: 8/14/2007 12:28:45 PM EDT

I have searched, but can't find...

All of you who have carried an actual M4 in Iraq, could you tell me what profile the barrel is? I've heard that they are government profile and that they are heavier under the handguards with flat cuts on the sides for a M203. Are both being used?

I sure would like to make an accurate clone...

Thanks

Posted: 8/14/2007 12:51:35 PM EDT

[#1]

I carried an M4 on both tours. My M4 (all of our units too) were standard gov't profile (thinner under handguards) with M203 cut out.

Maj

Posted: 8/14/2007 1:10:12 PM EDT

[#2]

The one I had were standard gov't profile.

M4A1's have the heavier profile under the handguards.

Posted: 8/14/2007 1:33:39 PM EDT

[#3]

I believe the heavier barrel with the 203 cuts your refering to is the "SOCOM" barrel. Go to ar15barrels.com and you can see a pictues of the differences. I have read on the internet (so dont take this as the gods honest truth) that the heavier barrels were developed for the recon teams who were using their M4's on full auto alot as suppression fire and heating the govt. profile barrels up to quickly. Like I said I read it on the internet so I dont know if there is any truth to this or not. I do know the M4's in my units armory all have the govt. profile under the handguards. Hope this helps.

Posted: 8/14/2007 1:48:28 PM EDT

[#4]

Light under the handguards on all of ours.

Posted: 8/14/2007 1:59:57 PM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
I have searched, but can't find...

All of you who have carried an actual M4 in Iraq, could you tell me what profile the barrel is? I've heard that they are government profile and that they are heavier under the handguards with flat cuts on the sides for a M203. Are both being used?

I sure would like to make an accurate clone...

Thanks

Because both are being used.

The M4s have the lighter under the handguards and use 'Burst' as the 3rd selector position.

M4A1s are used by special operations and have the barrels that are heavier under ther handguards. They have the 'auto' setting instead of burst.

Posted: 8/14/2007 2:05:40 PM EDT

[#6]

Light under the handguards

Posted: 8/14/2007 2:16:46 PM EDT

[#7]

Light under the handguards for me too

Posted: 8/14/2007 3:51:06 PM EDT

[#8]

I worked with 3 different SF teams in 2004 in Iraq. 2 from 5th Group and 1 from 10th Group. None used the heavy profile barrel for the same reason. It was too heavy for daily carry.

Posted: 8/14/2007 4:09:00 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
I worked with 3 different SF teams in 2004 in Iraq. 2 from 5th Group and 1 from 10th Group. None used the heavy profile barrel for the same reason. It was too heavy for daily carry.

That's great info TC. I have been trying to research for a while how many of the SOCOMs were actually put into service and if the operators felt the extra weight was worth the benefits of the upgrade. I have a hunch there might be more SOCOMs in gun safes than in the field.

Posted: 8/14/2007 6:04:51 PM EDT

[#10]

It's my understanding the SOCOM barrel was to help with heat disipation during full auto fire. Funny thing is, no one including SF use full auto except rarely. When you go out the wire, all the ammo you have is what you are carrying and no one is going to rock and roll and waste their ammo. Too much Hollywood BS.

Posted: 8/14/2007 7:09:59 PM EDT

[#11]

All of our M4's were gov profile. Except for range settings I have never used full auto or 3 round burst. If we needed full auto we used saws and mK 48 or m240B.

Posted: 8/14/2007 11:07:42 PM EDT

[#12]

lighter under the handguards

Posted: 8/15/2007 12:08:41 AM EDT

[#13]

Standard gov't profile for me too.

Posted: 8/15/2007 4:05:39 AM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
I worked with 3 different SF teams in 2004 in Iraq. 2 from 5th Group and 1 from 10th Group. None used the heavy profile barrel for the same reason. It was too heavy for daily carry.

Thread hijack! I've got a good buddy that's an officer in the 10th Group. I've got a folder full of pics that he sent when he was in Iraq back in '04 & '05.

Posted: 8/15/2007 4:45:10 AM EDT

[#15]

Mine had the Govt. profile under the handguard; the SF carbines have a heavier profile with specific cuts on the sides for the M203 to the rear of the handguard cap. I think it's called the SOCOM barrel.

My M4 Carbine.

Posted: 8/15/2007 11:15:03 AM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:

Quoted:
.. I wonder though are the barrels on M16A3's heavier?

Nope - exact same barrel that is used on the M16A2. Only difference between a A2 and and A3 is the fire congrol group (A2 = burst, A3 = full auto).

The M16A4 has the same profile barrel, but IIRC has an "F" front sight base.

I was thinking the A4 was the A2 w/ the "flat top"

Posted: 8/15/2007 11:58:46 AM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:

Quoted:
.. I wonder though are the barrels on M16A3's heavier?

Nope - exact same barrel that is used on the M16A2. Only difference between a A2 and and A3 is the fire congrol group (A2 = burst, A3 = full auto).

The M16A4 has the same profile barrel, but IIRC has an "F" front sight base.

I was thinking the A4 was the A2 w/ the "flat top"

The A4 is the A2 with a flat top and "F" marked front sight base. Barrel profile is the same on the A2, A3, and A4

Posted: 8/15/2007 1:55:55 PM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
I carried an M4 on both tours. My M4 (all of our units too) were standard gov't profile (thinner under handguards) with M203 cut out.

Maj

Carried same thing in Afghanistan in 02 with the M203.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Question for people who haved carried M4's in Iraq

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