I’m building a carbine and want to go with a 16" bbl most likely. I’m curios about a couple things.
Who makes the best, most accurate bbl out there… are their a few places that make high quality bbls? I am leaning towards a Noveske 16" Mid length.
Is there any plus or minus if I wanted to go with a 24.5 and permanently atach a Vortex? Would I be better off to just go with a 16"?
My use for the rifle will really be more fun than anything, but with home defense and some long range plinking included. I also want to take come kind of carbine classes some day. I have been shooting since i was 5 or 6 and am now mid 40’s, but I have never had an AR. This is my first and I am building it myself. I have had a few AK’s, but this is my first AR. It should be fun! I had a great time building the lower. It is way easier than I had ever imagined, thanks to great info here and other places on the net.
First thing I generally ask is: will you do most of your shooting from a sandbag or bipod?
Sounds like you will not… so the “most accurate” barrel out there is probably a waste of your money, unless you are all uptight about reducing quarter size groups to dime size groups, it is money that you can spend elsewhere.
I am not a fan of permanently attached FS… the M4 barrel is 14.5 inches long, so that it can mount a bayonet (7" of barrel past the gas port - rifle port is at 13") – I know that some say it is better for CQB, but if your lifestyle has you in shootouts in confined spaced regularly, then let’s get you in a shorter barrel and a suppressor.
Sound to me like what you want is a 16" carbine, I suggest a midlength gas system – I would stear you perhap towards Steve (ADCO) and get one of the 16" 1:8 SS barrels he offers, or hit up Paul (BCM) and see what he has, use the buck fifty you save to buy ammo and mags!
I probably won’t be shooting over sandbags all that much. I DO want to have a gun that will shoot 1MOA out to 300-400 yards though.
Thanks for the thoughts. I just may go the route you suggested and try one of the 1:8 16" SS bbls from ADCO. I just need to do more research. I have time, as I am going to Russia for 2 months! I need to shoot some REAL Russian AK’s!
The SS barrels that ADCO sells are MOA shooters no problem… a few years back, we were sending guys over to various parts of the former Soviet Union to give training – depending on where you go, some parts are just unbelievable! Have fun.
Yeah, I lived there for 18 months. I was on the Black Sea, Sochi. It’s a really awesome place. Headed back there for a couple months. I will be shooting the REAL AK’s while there. It’s gonna be F U N!
