A SERVICE RIFLE CONTOUR 20", SAME AS AN H-BAR, IS NOMINALLY 54 OUNCES.

THE 18" GOV'T SPR PROFILE BARREL WEIGHS 38.5 OUNCES.

THERE'S NO POINT IN GOING TOP SHELF ON A BARREL UNLESS YOU PLAN TO USE  AMMO CAPABLE OF SUB-MOA, GOOD MAGS, A DECENT TRIGGER, AND MAYBE EVEN GLASS, DEPENDING ON YOUR PARTICULAR NEEDS.

IN BARRELS, PRICE IS A MEASURE OF VALUE. AS ALWAYS IN PRICING, THERE IS A POINT OF DIMINISHING RETURNS. YOU GET TO CHOOSE YOURS.

I GET TO CHOOSE MINE. I JUST WANT THE BEST BARRELS I CAN GET, REGARDLESS OF COST. I ONLY BUY LILJA BARRELS TURNED OUT BY COMPASS LAKE ENGINEERING, AND NOVESKE BARRELS TURNED OUT BY THE FOLKS AT NOVESKE RIFLEWORKS. IF I COULD FIND A BETTER BARREL, I WOULD BUY 'EM.

WES GRANT
M.S.T.N.

Quoted: Are "SPR" profile barrels available in midlength gas systems? That's what I want.

That is what we sell.  Made by White Oak with 1/7 twist.
www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=7&f=22&t=359565

GOV'T CONTOUR SPR BARRELS USE THE RIFLE LENGTH GAS SYSTEM. IT'S NOTHING ALL THAT SPECIAL, REALLY, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.

AN 18" BARREL WITH A MID-LENGTH GAS SYSTEM MAY BE CALLED ANYTHING YOU WANT TO CALL IT - I CERTAINLY DO NOT CARE - BUT IT IS BY DEFINITION A DIFFERENT BARREL THAN THE GOV'T CONTOUR SPR BARREL.

WES GRANT
M.S.T.N.