Wanting to eventually pick up a complete midlenght 16" BCM upper. I noticed that thye have a CHF and non-CHF version. Is there any significant advantage to the CHF? I would rather pay the lesser price of the non CHF.
Some say yes, but i don’t see any difference between my standard BCM and CHF BCM. Can’t go wrong either way though.
I think extended barrel life is the payoff with CHF so that is the route I took with my BCM upper.
I’ve always wondered about that. would’nt you need to wear out the chrome before the actual barrel manfacture method would have an effect on barrel life ?
I think there are like 3,490,867,092,347 threads on this topic:
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?52759-Hammer-forged-vs-quot-std-quot-barrels-and-accuracy
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?83513-BCM-Hammer-Forged-vs-Standard
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?56034-hammer-forged-barrels-vs-standard-barrels
https://www.m4carbine.net/archive/index.php/t-68379.html
And many more…
Thanks for all the responses.
Pretty much.
CHF barrels are nice, I’ve had both, could not tell a difference between 'em. And I use my stuff…
Same here. I wonder if one has a higher Rockwell hardness rating than the other.
Have you considered the “enhanced lightweight” barrel, which is a sort of continuous taper profile? I believe that’s only available non-CHF and I would consider its profile worth getting.
Otherwise… CHF probably has some durability benefit, but the button rifled barrels are plenty good also.
They have CHF ELW barrels now. I believe they’re only available when you buy an upper. Worth it, though, considering the KMR is a perfect match for an ELW barrel.
EDIT - I was wrong, they do have them available for purchase now.
For me, the BFH made sense at only $70 more. They didn’t have the standard in stock at the time, but I would have likely gone BFH anyway. The Filthy 14 is not a CHF barrel, and it’s still rocking at what, 40k rounds? Will I ever put that much through one single upper? Eh, not for a couple decades. But it does make me warm and fuzzy inside in the meantime.
Thanks for the suggestion regarding the “enhanced lightweight”; however, I think I will just go with the standard. Still have not decided on whether I can fork out the extra cash and get the CHF. Way things are looking right now from a finances standpoint, it may end up being the non-CHF. I have my Glock 36 up for sale right now, and if I sell it, it will allow me to get the CHF.
The difference between LW and ELW isn’t so much the weight as the profile, the ELW is 1oz lighter but should point significantly better and I would expect tighter groups due to more efficient distribution of material.
i wouldnt sweat it. the regular BCM barrel is still top notch and will take many more rounds than the average shooter will put through it before it wears out. the $70 extra dollars is better spent on mags or ammo in my opinion.
I’ve got both and can’t tell any difference between the 2. I also have doubts that the BFH is anymore durable due to it’s the same chrome lining in both.
I’m pretty sure BCM sources their CHF barrels from FN, and when FN CHFs barrels they use double the thickness of mil spec M4/M16 chrome lining.
I mean unless BCM gets their barrels from DD…?
I really wish that I had the finances to shoot out a barrel. At my current income, there is simply no way. Nevertheless, I like to think that when I buy an upper, that it is capable of withstanding heavy duty. That is why I do have a Colt 6920 complete upper that I got from Grant about 2-3 years ago.
I do also have a Windham Weaponry complete rifle that I picked up at a Memorial Day weekend sale a couple of months ago. I could not pass it up. It was not the carbon model, but the model (SRC) that sells for around $800.00. It was on a clearance sale (old stock from 2013) brand new in a sealed box for $499.99.
CHF barrels are more accurate when heated up, and they last longer then the regular barrels as far as round count goes.
I wouldn’t overthink it. The cost of the ammo required to shoot out a barrel dwarfs the cost of the barrel itself, and re barreling isn’t that difficult.
Where are you getting your info on accuracy when heated? Source?
BFH barrels are a gimmick for the most part - just a cheaper way of mass producing barrels while minimizing variations inherent in such. No secret.
I have had multiples of each kind in various lengths and do not see any difference - if anything, my BFH lw middie is my least accurate AR of any make I own (with my 11.5" lw standard being most accurate).
Like others have said, spend the extra cash on mags and ammo.
If you’re worried about shooting out your barrel, you won’t. If you are worried about accuracy, you are much better off free floating.
There are some people that will still not want to here this and/or will always doubt their choice if they go standard - doesn’t sound like you are looking for the push to go the BFH route…
Thanks. I have decided on the BCM complete standard upper without the chf. Now I just have to get the money. Hopefully my timing will be right and they have the free BCG special going at the time.