Thumbs Up for Ballistic Advantage Barrels

[usbp379]

Which barrel was that? That's very good performance given the target and optic.

http://ballisticadvantage.com/16-inc...rn-barrel.html

[usbp379]

My only other comment would be 'what's the purpose of the rifle'? If it's a minute of man shooter you're after then you got that more than covered. You will have a wide variety of ammo that you can easily use if that's what your end goal is.

I didn't really have a goal when the mods started.

The host firearm is a Ruger AR556 that worked fine and shot okay but I didn't like the plastic carbine handguards. I thought I'd replace these with a VTAC delta rail. The VTAC didn't fit because the Ruger uses a proprietary front sight base.

My original plan was to modify the Ruger FSB to clear the internal cuts on the VTAC. This worked but I soon decided the barrel was too heavy. Ruger is using a barrel that's probably close to a Colt SOCOM barrel in profile.

Next I replaced the factory barrel with a Ballistic Advantage M4 barrel. This took some weight off and I would have been content to leave the gun as-is had BA not just released the pencil profile carbine barrel.

So my end result is an AR that's 8.4 pounds with a sling and optic attached. Not the lightest gun in the world but usable in a variety of formats. I'll probably use it next time the local club has a 3gun match.

[Aragorn]

So how's she look with the new pencil barrel?

[usbp379]

So how's she look with the new pencil barrel?

About the same since all but the last bit of barrel is covered by the forend.

I'll grab a photo once the sun comes up.

[usbp379]

8.4 pounds as pictured.

[Aragorn]

Pretty wild looking weapon. What's that in front of the rear sight?

[alamo5000]

Pretty wild looking weapon. What's that in front of the rear sight?

Maybe it's one of those pic rail mounted brass catcher things? I don't know. I am curious now too. :)

[usbp379]

That's a base for a PVS-14.