Purpose of M4 Barrel Design?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Purpose of M4 Barrel Design?

Posted: 8/17/2004 3:17:21 AM EDT

I chose my AR among the several the dealer had in-stock at the time, partly because I thought that stepped section of the barrel looked cool.

Of course like many newbies I had next-to-no knowledge of what I was buying

, and only later through shooting, talking w/ friends, and connecting to this site !

, did I come to at-least partly educate myself.

So in that spirit, tell me. Thnx.

Posted: 8/17/2004 3:26:27 AM EDT

[#1]

The stepped down portion of the barrel is to allow the M203 grenade launcher to be mounted to the barrel. The barrel is also cut down under the handgaurds.

Posted: 8/17/2004 3:37:16 AM EDT

[#2]

Quoted:
I chose my AR among the several the dealer had in-stock at the time, partly because I thought that stepped section of the barrel looked cool. Of course like many newbies I had next-to-no knowledge of what I was buying , and only later through shooting, talking w/ friends, and connecting to this site ! , did I come to at-least partly educate myself.

So in that spirit, tell me. Thnx.

[shameless plug]Since you are in VA, come on out to the Black Rifle Day next month and we'll get you up to speed on every thing you need to know

[/shameless plug]

Posted: 8/17/2004 8:20:28 AM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:
Quoted:
I chose my AR among the several the dealer had in-stock at the time, partly because I thought that stepped section of the barrel looked cool. Of course like many newbies I had next-to-no knowledge of what I was buying , and only later through shooting, talking w/ friends, and connecting to this site ! , did I come to at-least partly educate myself.

So in that spirit, tell me. Thnx.

[shameless plug]Since you are in VA, come on out to the Black Rifle Day next month and we'll get you up to speed on every thing you need to know [/shameless plug]

That was a very nice plug. Your link doesn't seem to be working though.

BRD

Posted: 8/17/2004 8:25:58 AM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I chose my AR among the several the dealer had in-stock at the time, partly because I thought that stepped section of the barrel looked cool. Of course like many newbies I had next-to-no knowledge of what I was buying , and only later through shooting, talking w/ friends, and connecting to this site ! , did I come to at-least partly educate myself.

So in that spirit, tell me. Thnx.

[shameless plug]Since you are in VA, come on out to the Black Rifle Day next month and we'll get you up to speed on every thing you need to know [/shameless plug]

That was a very nice plug. Your link doesn't seem to be working though.
BRD

Fixed. Cutting and pasting is harder than I thought

Posted: 8/17/2004 8:42:46 AM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
The stepped down portion of the barrel is to allow the M203 grenade launcher to be mounted to the barrel. The barrel is also cut down under the handgaurds.

This unit fits under the handguard, correct? How is this affected by the change in barrel diameter. Ah dunn unerstan.....

Posted: 8/17/2004 8:52:37 AM EDT

[#6]

Posted: 8/17/2004 10:02:09 AM EDT

[#7]

Ah so, velly crever.

Posted: 8/17/2004 10:38:05 AM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
....I thought that stepped section of the barrel looked cool.

While the step does serve an actual purpose, most of us bought or built M4gery's for the same reason you did.

Posted: 8/17/2004 11:28:55 AM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
Quoted:
....I thought that stepped section of the barrel looked cool.

While the step does serve an actual purpose, most of us bought or built M4gery's for the same reason you did.

The M4/A2 contour is also lighter than the HBAR. And they can be obtained with a 1 in 7 twist.

And they go great with a Val Kilmer or Robert Denerio mask on Halloween.

Posted: 8/17/2004 12:58:17 PM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
Ah so, velly crever.

Posted: 8/18/2004 12:04:47 PM EDT

[#11]

In the early 80's, the Abu Dahbi government asked Colt to make them a carbine version of the then-new M16A2. They wanted it to have all of the same features and capabilities, including the ability to mount the M193, but with a carbine (i.e., 14.5") barrel and collapsable stock. That rifle eventually became the M4 carbine.

-Troy

Posted: 8/18/2004 12:14:58 PM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
In the early 80's, the Abu Dahbi government asked Colt to make them a carbine version of the then-new M16A2. They wanted it to have all of the same features and capabilities, including the ability to mount the M~~193~~203, but with a carbine (i.e., 14.5") barrel and collapsable stock. That rifle eventually became the M4 carbine.

-Troy

Posted: 8/18/2004 12:25:37 PM EDT

[#13]

I think the military copied an Airsoft rifle that looked cool!

Posted: 8/18/2004 12:33:42 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
I chose my AR among the several the dealer had in-stock at the time, partly because I thought that stepped section of the barrel looked cool. Of course like many newbies I had next-to-no knowledge of what I was buying , and only later through shooting, talking w/ friends, and connecting to this site ! , did I come to at-least partly educate myself.

So in that spirit, tell me. Thnx.

On the M16, they mount the grenade launcher to 'special' handgaurds.

On the M4, the HGs are too small, so it locks onto that special 'notch' in the BBL...

Posted: 8/18/2004 12:47:06 PM EDT

[#15]

M203s on M16s are not mounted to any handguards; they're mounted directly onto the barrel. Yes, they had a special handguard, but that's because it was 3-sided to leave the bottom open, back when all regular handguards were left-and-right-halves. With M4s, which use round top-and-bottom handguards, SOP is to just remove the bottom handguard. Saves money and easier to convert to and from.

-Troy

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Purpose of M4 Barrel Design?

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