Looking at a 16", looking for opinions on the differences one which would be the hammer forged barrel on the Govt model, specs look the same, Govt model is less money, what am I missing?
Are you asking what the difference is between the hammer forged barrel and the standard barrel?
The question I have is are there any differences to consider between the 2? I really don’t see much feed back on the govt model. Any advantages from one or the other?
You’ll hear some people say that the extra money spent on the hammer forged barrel is well worth it. You’ll hear other people say that you won’t notice a difference and the standard barrel will serve you just as well.
Pick an answer and you can’t go wrong.
The difference is the process for how the barrels are created. The materials are the same. The chrome lining is the same. BCM does things right regardless. It’s been said that hammer forged barrels will last longer. I’ve got both and haven’t noticed a difference. If the standard is available and the BFH isn’t, go with the standard. If the BFH is available and the standard isn’t, go with the BFH. If they’re both available, toss a coin.
Perfect answer.
Hammer forged barrels have a longer life. So it may be money well spent to go with the hammer forged barrel.
Allegedly.
I figured I would get a hung jury on the forged barrel discussion point. Let’s take the thread in a different direction, dark bronze vs black. Can’t get the forged barrel in dark bronze. I’ve concluded I am comfortable with the standard barrel but if I go black it’s going to be the govt model and a forged barrel. I do like the dark bronze, but am concerned on the durability of the cerakote.
Thoughts?
This is what I came down to while waiting for a BCM upper to come in stock after a particularly bad year of scarce gun parts.
I scoured this forum and others looking for DEFINITIVE detailed facts about accuracy and barrel life of hammer forged vs standard. I found nothing. I only found people that told me one was better, but no one backed it up with any sort of science, tests, data, etc. Dare I say, I may have even found some conflicting posts by the same members who, over time, were advocating different barrels and praising one over the other.
I gave up, and bought the BCM upper they had in stock (ELW standard).
I have the ELW standard and shot it in 3 gun for a year and a half. I like the way it handles and the accuracy. As stated earlier, either will be a good choice.
I’d go with the lightest barrel available in the configuration you want unless it’s an SPR. Barrels are consumables. Replace as needed, but most people rarely ever get around to changing out AR barrels before buying a new gun.
I like 16" because I like ARs suppressed.
Have you nailed everything else down? Std vs bhf would be the last factor to consider.
Weight, profile, accuracy, and material all come before that. My opinion , build type will likely rearrange those, but manufacturing method still is last regardless for me.
I got the BFH because I liked the picture of the hammer on the side, like Thor!
But seriously I got the one that was on sale at the time.
Besides one being hammer forged and one being button rifled their is no difference between the two. BCM sources its barrels from high quality manufacturers and I honestly don’t think performance wise there will be any difference between them. I would go with the button rifled simply because it is cheaper.
I went with the std, dark bronze, can’t wait to get it
I know that looks are subjective, but I love mine in that color.
It has taken everything in my power to keep me from ordering their burnt bronze RECCE in 16" or 14.5". The gun is gorgeous.
From our experience, the hammer forged barrels are more accurate.
C4
From what Ive gathered when I was researching hammer forged vs button rifled was that hammer forged barrels have more consistency when being made. A barrel maker using a hammer forging machine should have less defects and bad barrels in their products. Thats doesnt mean that a button rifled barrel is worse or cant be better than a hammer forged barrel. They just have a higher rate of defects. But good QC practices, such as the type that BCM uses, make that a non issue.
My Colt and FN barrels have been more accurate than a regular chrome lined government profile AR-15 barrel needs to be. Mt BCM hammer forged ELW barrel has also been very accurate. Ive never shot them side by side to compare but all are accurate enough that I know misses are my fault.