Recommend me a Lightweight Barrel.

[rebelEMPIRE]

Title sort of speaks for itself. I've been running a heavy barrel in my AR for a while now, and although it's great for accuracy, I'm having trouble keeping pace when shooting for long periods.

The alternative is to work out lots and overcome with strength, but I'd really like to have a lighter barrel, too! Here are the conditions:

Must be 16" barrel, 5.56 NATO, Feed Ramps, Chrome Lined, 1/7 Twist.

We can pretty much find those anywhere nowadays, but the problem is manufacturers and retailers don't seem to post their products' weights.

If anyone can point me in the right direction, I'd be ever grateful!

-rebelEMPIRE

[Paulo_Santos]

Look for the Government Profile Barrels. They are the lightest. Followed by the Recon Profile Barrels.

[rob_s]

There is a good repository of barrel profile information available here (http://www.ar15barrels.com/profiles.shtml).

"Government profile" typically means A2 profile, which is thinner under the handguards but still .750" from the handguard cap forward. Depending on the length of the barrel and the gas system, this could still leave you with a lot of heavier barrel material. The worst would be a 16" barrel with 7" gas system (http://adcofirearms.com/rra/LW%20CAR%20Barrel.jpg) where almost 9" of barrel will be .750" in diameter. Better would be a mid-length, or 16" barrel with 9" gas system (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/v/vspfiles/photos/BCM-BRL-s-MID-16%20STD-2.jpg) where only 7" of barrel would be the .750.
(the above numbers are approximate, if someone wants to drag out a tape measure to contradict me, have at it. [bash] )

The truly lightest barrels, other than custom turn-downs to ridiculously thin walls, are the A1 profile barrels or so-called "pencil barrels". They are typically .625" diameter for almost the entire length of the barrel. These come standard on the Colt 6520 and are about the lightest profile factory barrel you're going to get. Other makers sell, or have sold, this same profile. That .625" both behind and in front of the FSB is what you want.

If you can wait a few months, Bravo Company has said that they are going to be producing barreled uppers with barrels that are a little less than the .625" everywhere but at the chamber and the FSB sometime early in 2010. They are supposed to be doing 16" with a 9" gas, 14.5" with a 9" gas, and potentially a 16" with 7" gas. I am going to be selling off my current "government profile" BCM upper and getting one of the lightweight versions myself. Paul has said that the profile will be
Similar to a A1 type barrel.
Under handguards .675 to .610
Forward the front sight .575
But .750 under the FSB
and weigh 1.bs 8 oz. +/-

Another option, if you can't wait, is to get a barrel from Bravo now and have the .750" portion turned down to .625" by ADCO Firearms (http://adcofirearms.com/shopservices/shop_.cfm?code=21) which runs $65.

[rebelEMPIRE]

Thank you for the input guys. I can definitely wait a few months from a super lightweight barrel; especially if it's something brand new to the market from BCM.

-rebelEMPIRE