Considering one of two carbines

[SteyrAUG]

Accuracy, including after a number of rounds have been fired through it.

What kind of distances are you talking about?

Because I have a Colt SP1 1/12 twist lightweight carbine that I got around 1981 and the damn thing is still 1 MOA out to 100 yards and the round count has to be about 50,000 rounds. The only time I worry about Colts is sometimes I think that 1/7 twist rate is gonna be hard on the barrel but so far - so good.

[shadowspirit]

What kind of distances are you talking about?

Because I have a Colt SP1 1/12 twist lightweight carbine that I got around 1981 and the damn thing is still 1 MOA out to 100 yards and the round count has to be about 50,000 rounds. The only time I worry about Colts is sometimes I think that 1/7 twist rate is gonna be hard on the barrel but so far - so good.

Up to where the bullet starts going trans sonic.

[JediGuy]

Perhaps a troll…

But anyway, OP, if you buy the 6920OEM linked previously (no FSB), send the upper to me, I will take off the M4 profile barrel, install a lightly used S&W heavy profile barrel takeoff, and add a CMT HDM 13” handguard all for no cost except I’ll keep the Colt barrel assembly.

So there you go.

[kirkland]

Up to where the bullet starts going trans sonic.

If you're gonna be shooting that far and need to be that precise, you're gonna need a custom stainless barrel and match ammo. If you're just looking for a blaster then either the Colt or the S&W barrel will be more accurate than the ammo you'll be putting through it. The Colt is built to a known standard, that's why people recommended it. This thread kind of turned into a mess. Is this your first AR OP? You've been here since 2012 so I'd think not, but who knows. What is it exactly that you want this rifle to do?

[hotrodder636]

Perhaps a troll…

But anyway, OP, if you buy the 6920OEM linked previously (no FSB), send the upper to me, I will take off the M4 profile barrel, install a lightly used S&W heavy profile barrel takeoff, and add a CMT HDM 13” handguard all for no cost except I’ll keep the Colt barrel assembly.

So there you go.

Hell of a good offer there, if I was OP, I would take you up on this...if I was hard set on the S&W barrel.

I sure as hell wouldn't be looking at an S&W if I was wanting to shoot a 5.56 to "where it goes trans-sonic".

[shadowspirit]

If you're gonna be shooting that far and need to be that precise, you're gonna need a custom stainless barrel and match ammo. If you're just looking for a blaster then either the Colt or the S&W barrel will be more accurate than the ammo you'll be putting through it. The Colt is built to a known standard, that's why people recommended it. This thread kind of turned into a mess. Is this your first AR OP? You've been here since 2012 so I'd think not, but who knows. What is it exactly that you want this rifle to do?

This post caused a light to go off in my mind: The Colt, then replace the barrel with an aftermarket one that is very accurate.

I know stainless is the way to go for best accuracy, though they don't last as long as carbon ones. I would need to look into just how much more accurate a stainless barrel is compared to carbon, as well as how much less longevity it provides. Then make a decision.

With an aftermarket barrel, I can always keep the stock one as a spare, or sell it.

This isn't my first AR. I have a budget one.

I'd like the rifle to be both robust and accurate. I'd like it to be reliable if many rounds need to go through it and I'd like it to be accurate at distance for target shooting and if I wanted to use it for hunting.

I'm glad I started this thread even if it became a bit messy. I certainly learned from it. It also reminded me I can be a little obsessive over details.

[shadowspirit]

Perhaps a troll…

But anyway, OP, if you buy the 6920OEM linked previously (no FSB), send the upper to me, I will take off the M4 profile barrel, install a lightly used S&W heavy profile barrel takeoff, and add a CMT HDM 13” handguard all for no cost except I’ll keep the Colt barrel assembly.

So there you go.

Not a troll. I'm too old for that.

[shadowspirit]

The FN carbine they make for the military is excellent, unfortunately the FN carbine made for the civilian market is not the same. The AR market is pretty saturated and if one looks around you can find a Colt 6920 in the $900-1000 range. If you are willing to buy used, a bunch of us just snagged LE trade ins for $699.

The latest FN 15 carbine is the same as their outgoing FN 15 Basic Carbine, except for the furniture. The newer one appears to be around $150 more than the Colt. Its a bummer the civilian FN isn't as good as the military one the way Colt's civilian one is as good as the military one. I wonder why.

[kirkland]

Oh boy, here we go...

[DoubleW]

No one cares what you buy. Buy something and quit asking what should I buy. The end.