I own two BM CAR’s. One is an A1 and the other an A2. Both have that ridiculously long flash hider pinned to the barrel. I bought these guns back in the 1990’s, about the time California became the staging grounds for the Kalistan extremists.
I recently completed an A3 upper for another build and have now turned my attention to the CAR’s that are sitting in my safe. I always liked the M4gery so that’s what I am planning on building next. My question is, what should I do with these uppers? I don’t plan on selling anything (especially in today’s political climate), but is there any value in keeping these uppers “as is” or, at very least, swapping barrels with something that offers real function in a carbine-length rifle? I already have a 20" DMR and 16" LW middy that I love. Any suggestions?
Having had a 20" HBar, I’ve never seen such a gross case of trying to make a vice a virtue. The HBar totally ruined the feel of the gun to me (past experience in the service with an M16A1); the damned thing weighed almost as much as a Garand.
I’d rebarrel it with a pencil and a pinned flashider, or have ADCO turn it to Government profile and also go for the 16" barrel length.
I know they are Colts, but the HBars are an answer to a question that nobody asked.
Moon
The CAR has “HBAR” stamped into the 5.5" flash hider. I’m not sure what the bbl profile is under the handguard.
These Bushy’s were built in the 1990’s, hopefully before any QC issues existed. I know this is a stupid question but is there any “collector value” in keeping them factory original? I’ll have to remove the FH (probably destroying it) if I am to replace the barrel.
I had a 24" Colt Accurized Rifle hbar back in 2001-03. That thing was a tack driver, but it was heavy. When I built it’s replacement this past fall, I went with an 18" barrel to cut down on some of the weight, but the rest of the gun is nearly identical - just not Colt.
Back then, bushy was still a premium brand believe it or not.
I doubt it has any collector value (they made tens of thousands of them), but it’s probably not the POS everyone around here thinks of them as. If you like the rest of the gun, re-barreling it with a DD or something else decent is probably a great move. Sell the barrel to someone who doesn’t know how much heavy profiles suck. They’ll think they scored big time.
I am still laughing. This is exactly the scenario that I envisioned with the remark about making a virtue of a vice.
No disrespect to anyone that likes the feel, but, as noted, they are too heavy in general and too muzzle heavy in particular. But that is just MHO.
Also, the ‘BM’ part escaped my notice; assumed that ‘HBar’ had a Prancing Pony.
For the OP, do what suits ya’. I felt not a moment’s remorse modding my Colt.
Moon
It’s what you’re used to. I trained and was issued a 20" pencil barrel a couple years ago, and loved the feel of the thing; I’ve built an A1 clone for that reason.
The HBar was my first AR after the ban sunsetted, and I jumped on it 'cause I could get it. That’s the same issue some of the current ‘panic’ buyers may encounter; they may not much love any black rifle they are able to get.
Moon
After going on a 4 mile hike with a friend a few years ago I wasn’t going to buy a HBAR AR. I was carrying my Mini-14(pre- AR love) and he had a 24" HBAR Rock River. I wasn’t in great shape and he was in very good shape. At the end of that hike I was less worn out than he was. My Mini was very light, at least a few pounds lighter than his RR. It was a lesson I remembered when I got into AR’s a few years ago.
I went with a Gov. Profile when I finally got around to a 20" AR that was always wanted by my brother. When comparing the weight and handling characteristics to my buddy’s RR my 20" is the clear winner. It might not handle as well as my 16" but it is close. Unfortunately almost every company you find wants to sell you a 20" HBAR. 20" Gov. and Pencil profile barrels are never in stock. If all I ever did was sit at a table and shoot paper then a HBAR would be fine I guess. I go hiking frequently, so my Gov. Profile 20" and 16" AR’s work pretty good. Others results may vary.
The idea that a company would promote something as better because it is cheaper to manufacture isn’t out of the relm of possibility. It happens all the time. Is it more accurate? Maybe. Is it needed? I guess that is subjective to the individual.
Also, there are two HBAR’s. one 24 inch Goliath. Then the 16 inch military type. Goliath, not bueno, the other seems fine. They even make them in 11.5. Keep it down to 16, and I could hump it.
Mission specific. My 11.5 weapon weighs three tons with RISII, m4-2000, light and mag. But I can hump that sucker right through the living room.
Let’s make a distinction between ‘carry it heavy’ and ‘aim/hold it heavy’.
I’m not at all sure that the extra couple three pounds even in the 20" was the deal breaker if all you had to do was carry it.
And I’m sure that it’s not an issue for benching the gun.
My gripe was in feel and handiness; a 20" pencil is downright feathery, and the closest to St. Gene of Stoner’s original idea of ‘lightness uber alles’. Many AR features (DGI for one) make perfect sense in a flyweight weapon; maybe not so much in a heavier gun.
Moon
