Hi guys, I’m looking to purchase my first and only AR for HD/SHTF/WROL, and I’m currently looking at the Colt LE6960. Both the mid length gas system and lightweight barrel make it an attractive option. However, I recently found out that the barrel is made from the button cut process and is not cold hammer forged. That being said, does anyone have relatively long term experience with this rifle to be able to offer input on its durability and accuracy? From what I’ve been reading, the 6960 is a 1.5-2.5 MOA rifle. How long before that 1.5-2.5 MOA becomes 3.5-4.5 MOA? I know Daniel Defense makes a pretty darn accurate CHF lightweight barrel, but is it worth swapping out barrels for that extra added durability and accuracy? Or do you think the 6960’s barrel is adequate for its intended use (HD/SHTF/WROL)? Any insight is much appreciated. Thanks!
Does the barrel not being hammer forged make a difference in your enjoyment and practical life of the barrel, not really. The military has been using CMV and hard chromed barrels with great success. There is a real problem with the AR that most ignore. The problem is not many AR owners have just 1 AR… Buy a good quality AR learn how to shoot it and how it works then start planning the next buy or build.
Yea you’re right. Probably won’t affect how I use and enjoy the rifle. I was just wondering if the barrel is of any lesser quality than that of other brands. I don’t plan on getting another AR, so I don’t want to make any mistakes with this first purchase. The way I see it is I’d rather spend a bit more money in the beginning and not have to worry than to constantly modify later on due to uneducated choices. I appreciate your input btw. Thanks!
All Colt barrels are button rifled, including the barrels on ARs supplied to the military.
After owning ARs for many years I have come to prefer the lightweight barrel of the Colt 6720. It balances better, you can shoot longer offhand before fatiguing, it holds steady better. Truly I think the M4 profile and HBAR barrels are bad JuJu foisted on the shooting public. The AR was always intended to have the lightweight barrel.
What he said.
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Gotcha. Knowing the 6920 barrels are battle proven, I’m definitely more confident in buying the 6960 now. Thanks!
Yea, Ive heard many say they prefer lightweight barrels. Thanks for the input!
Okay cool, that’s good to know. I think I’ll spend the extra money on a good optic and trigger. Thanks!
I have never seen any negative feedback from the SMEs here regarding Colt barrel quality or durability.
Andy
…and welcome to the forums!
A couple of points I didn’t see mentioned… Abuse (multiple mag dumps) is the enemy of longevity. The chrome lining is the same in both barrels and it will wear at the same rate in either. Degrading accuracy occurs as the chrome erodes from the throat forward exposing the barrel steel to accelerated wear. The HF barrel will shoot longer after the chrome is gone. You have to remember… Wearing out a barrel cost 15-20 times what a replacement barrel cost. Don’t worry about the difference in longevity.
Thanks!
Good to know, thanks!
Maybe I missed something, but he stated he wanted a 6920 for the mid-length gas system and lightweight barrel…neither of which are on a factory Colt 6920. Personally, I would skip the 6920. There is nothing wrong with it, but I just personally don’t see any advantage to the Govt profile barrel over the light weight barrel (6720) when it comes to semi-auto use…and for heavy firing, even the Govt profile isn’t really working…hence the heavier SOCOM profiles on the M4A1s. The Govt profile is just some awkward middle of the road barrel that doesn’t really do either job well.
Uh…you need to read it again. He’s talking about a 6960, not a 6920.
I just picked one up a week or so ago but haven’t had a chance yet to take it to the range due to wonderful Indiana weather. I have been changing a few things out to make it mine (grip, G2S trigger, Scalarworks PEAK BUIS, BCM KAG and a SOPMOD stock). Also, it touches all the bases with the correct Colt markings that have been causing all the wailing and rending of garments here lately. I hope to get out with it next week. Sorry I couldn’t give you more.
LMFAO!!!
See. I missed something. 
I would absolutely LOVE for Colt to release an OEM version of the 6960. Apparently they did just that with the 6720 so keeping my fingers crossed…
You wont have an issue with Colt barrels. Hammer forging barrels is a faster and easier way to make good barrels, but that doesn’t mean a button rifled barrel isn’t going to be just as good. Colt barrels are known to be pretty accurate for a run of the mil carbine barrel.
My duty rifle is a Colt 6920 with a Steiner P4Xi (1-4) scope. Standard KAC RAS non free float rail. Once I figured out my holdover I was ringing an 18 inch gong at just over 600 yards with regularity using American Eagle 55 grain ball. I tried 700 yards but standard 55 grain ball goes transonic by then and the group opened up to like 5 feet. HAHA. And it’s getting close to or at 10k rounds through it now.
I’m looking to purchase my first and only AR for HD/SHTF/WROL, and I’m currently looking at the Colt LE6960.
My idea of shtf, having lived in South Mississippi my entire life, is a post Katrina scenario. Power outage for weeks on end, fuel shortage for weeks on end, and isolated incidents of violence or potentially violent encounters. I’d imagine that most encounters in such a scenario will be similar to self defense shooting engagements in normal timeframes. Eg, a few shots over a few seconds with one party going down or both parties seeking to break contact shortly after. Any well made AR should be just fine for home defense in such a scenario. Definitely get a solid ccw handgun, too.
While I doubt we’ll have to live through red dawn, (I hope not anyway) standard M4’s seem to perform well for .mil in austere environments. So if they work over there, I’m sure they’d work well here too.
I’ve no reason to believe the 6960 you reference would not serve you well.
As someone who lived through Katrina, this is my idea of “SHTF” as well and is a reasonable scenario to prepare for.
OP, I have a Colt AR, and while it’s not the 6960, it does have a non-hammer forged barrel. It’s extremely accurate and I have no doubts about it’s longevity or durability. There’s nothing at all wrong with quality made button rifle barrels. In my opinion button rifled barrels have proven themselves to be combat worthy by decades of dependable use. A quality made barrel is a lot more important than if it’s CHF. I’d rather have a Colt button rifled barrel than some overgassed low quality CHF barrel.
I’m surprised it hasn’t been mentioned in this thread yet, but the button-rifled “Filthy 14” had over 30k rounds through it and was still giving acceptable accuracy at typical self defense ranges. If you aren’t magdumping constantly it’ll serve you a long time and by the time you shoot it out you’ll have gotten your money’s worth many times over. Barrels are consumable components and can be replaced, but I don’t see a need to replace it until it’s shot out. If it makes you feel better, buy a CHF barrel and store it away for when you shoot out the original. It’s good to stock replacement components anyway.