Considering one of two carbines

[Waylander]

But he wants to do CQB and run and gun with it too.
Wants accuracy but is looking at non-free float.
(Sigh)

lol well there’s that.

[1168]

When I first read that OP post it took me back to 2013 when I was debating getting another 16" gun or going 14.5", I remember going through forums, and Youtube videos only to find out that the ammo had much more to do with velocity then the barrel did at both those lengths. M193 was something like 3000 fps out of a 16" and 14.5" was around 2870, or just a menial difference. Meanwhile the profile of the barrel, the materials used in construction, the rifling, the manufacturing process probably matter much more then length (That's what she said joke here).

I don't shoot out passed 150-200 yards often with my ARs but I've gotten well out to 600+ with my 11.3 and rung 10" plates just fine, although it does teach out about wind and a 55gr-69gr round.

I think that people are constantly looking for a one size fits all solution and it doesn't exist. We all have our Go-to rifle, but they all come at a compromise, you just have to train for that. I had a GySGT who used to tell us NCOs when we got mad at the boots " Their just in the shallow end of the pool" and that's where the OP is.

Gunny was a clever dude. And yeah, ammo makes a bigger difference than an inch and a half. Heavier projectiles appropriate for longish distances lose very little velocity per inch in non-SBR lengths. Also, a “fast” 14.5” will equal or exceed a “slow” 16”, but that’s luck of the draw. I just mean to emphasize how little of a difference that is.

OP wants a heavy profile barrel not skinny.

True, but it’s a screaming deal on a great upper and OP already has a lower. He doesn’t seem to have a strong assessment yet of what he’s going to be doing at distance, so it might be a step up from the “budget” gun he already has. I hate gov’t profile, a lot, but I’ve also shot 2nd and 3rd overall with a 14.5” one, simply because it’s what I had with me. It’s not the highest precision barrel, but I suspect that it’s not going to hold OP back, at least not for a while.

Taddy Blasuziak could win Erzburg on a clapped out KX125 with bald tires. I wouldn’t even be able to finish it on a Gasgas 300. The bike wouldn’t be the problem; I would, because I don’t even have a training plan for that race, nor the experience to put one together.

[Hank6046]

Gotcha!! That is a smokin' deal for a nice complete upper though. I was very tempted.

That is a great deal.

[markm]

Colt SOCOM barrels are heavy enough and plenty accurate.

I bought one of these Barrels last month from Brownells. Haven't assembled it yet, but I hope I enjoy the good accuracy these were known for.

[C-grunt]

Here is a bone stock 6920 shooting a 1.66 MOA group with American Eagle 55 grain ball. When this group was fired the rifle was 12 years old and had over 12,000 rounds through it. That's my old patrol rifle and has had many training days where the rifle got smoking hot. I've since purchased it and it sits a little over 14,000ish rounds now. I haven't grouped it in several years but I haven't noticed a change in accuracy.

20200301_140051 by chase, on Flickr

20200301_114618 by chase, on Flickr


Here is the same rifle at my range. Det Sog and I were shooting steel silhouettes and 10-18 inch gongs out to a little over 600 yards that day. Again with 55 grain ball ammo and both of us using 4x scopes. He was rocking a 6940 with an ACOG.

IMG955636 by chase, on Flickr

20190921_123215 by chase, on Flickr

[SteyrAUG]

But he wants to do CQB and run and gun with it too.
Wants accuracy but is looking at non-free float.
(Sigh)

And ironically the one that comes closest to being that "magic wand" is probably a 6920.

[JediGuy]

That 6960…

The project I currently have in mind involves taking 6960 upper apart, bedding the barrel and possibly truing the receiver. Never tried to shoot for groups with it, so just tinkering. But interested to see how tight I can get things with the setup.

[HKGuns]

Taddy Blasuziak could win Erzburg on a clapped out KX125 with bald tires. I wouldn’t even be able to finish it on a Gasgas 300. The bike wouldn’t be the problem; I would, because I don’t even have a training plan for that race, nor the experience to put one together.

G. Jarvis could do it with only rims. I'm neither and would still buy the 6920.

[shadowspirit]

A few of you are being hard on me.

[Waylander]

Put your big boy pants on son.

I half kid but you have to realize people that know a lot more than me or you are trying to help but you seem to be bouncing all over the place with what you want.

A lot of these same discussions have been had ad nauseum over the years so there’s also the possibility you can find what you need if you just search the forum threads.