Help with 14.5" light weight mid-length barrel

AR/M4 AR General Discussion
1

I’m bored and decided to build something new.

I want a light weight mid-length 14.5" upper with a Surefire pinned/welded flash hider.

Who should I look to for a lightweight mid-length 14.5" barrel? BCM has some nice looking options, but they seem to be perpetually out of stock.

Don’t plan on doing many mag dumps so heat dissipation isn’t a real issue.

While the plan is to NOT run it suppressed I may one day add a Surefire SOCOM mini. Would like something properly gassed as I don’t plan on running an adjustable gas block.

Looking for just the barrel, not a complete upper.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

2

The BRT CHF 14.5” has a really nice profile. Also consider the Criterion Core, if available.

BA Hanson, maybe? There are some good Green Mountain options, as well.

3

BCM’s ELW is unbelievable. That is THE light weight set up to have.

Mine is the smoothest AND lightest gun I’ve ever shot. Part of the glory might be the gunfighter muzzle device, but it’s permed so I’ve never tried it with a regular flash hider.

4

I was just strolling by to comment the same thing.

5

Good to know. And here I was thinking I messed up not ordering a Sionics lightweight setup when I had the chance.

6

I’ve got a couple BCM ELW 16s, and would likely get another if I felt a need for another lightweight build.

They’re worth the wait.

7

Or BKF had Ballistic Advantage 14.7” Pencil barrels for $88.

8

BA certainly exists, and I even have one in 308 Win, but you won’t see me recommend one over BCM, Criterion, or any other maker of quality LW barrels.

9

Centurion makes a solid hammer forged lightweight 14.5 as well. Its not a pencil weight but its lighter than gov profile and is extremely well built.

10

I’m not going to argue which is better, but SOLGW appears to white label this barrel, so I’m guessing it’s at least a decent option.

Edit: It’s also in stock.

A couple years ago, I had to buy a used BCM upper assembly (or just barrel, I don’t remember) that someone had pinned, then I cut off the MD, just to get an ELW Fluted barrel. They’re nice, but not always available. Also, there are credible concerns on this forum and others (YouTube, etc) demonstrating very poor performance out of some BCM barrel, coupled with horrific customer service. So defaulting to BCM isn’t necessarily the right thing to do.
Regarding Criterion, though I enjoy my 13.9” Core, the 14.5” is not “lightweight” by any means.

11

I have to agree, this is the barrel I choose and love it’s performance.

12

Bravo Company 14.5” ELW Accuracy: A Quick Look

ELW stands for enhanced light-weight. This barrel is from Bravo Company’s cold-hammer forged series of barrels. The barrel has a “continuous taper” design with a smooth shoulder at the gas block journal, which reportedly improves barrel harmonics. This barrel has a mid-length gas system and a 0.625” gas block journal.

According to Bravo Company, this barrel has a stripped weight of 1 pound, 5 ounces. For comparison, a Colt 14.5” M4 barrel has a stripped weight of 1 pound, 9 ounces.

BCM 14.5” ELW

Colt 14.5” M4 barrel. (not stripped)

I purchased this barrel as part of a BCM factory assembled upper receiver group with the MCMR 13” free-float hand guard. The barrel has BCM’s pinned and welded A2X flash hider.

Shooting off-the-bench at a distance of 100 yards (using a high magnification scope), this barrel produced a 10-shot group that has an extreme spread of 0.946” with a mean radius of 0.33”.

….

13

You’re right, the Core is not super light, but it handles much lighter than the scale implies. All the weight is near the chamber. I forgot about SOLGW; I’ve got their 14.7”, and its fairly light at 21.1oz, and very well balanced. Thats lighter than the BRT I recommended earlier at 24.6oz.

14

Alright, you guys convinced me to wait for the BCM ELW. At this point I’ll just buy a complete upper since they can P/W the surefire flash hider I want.

I already signed up for them email notification. Anyone care to venture a guess as to how often they become available?

15

What don’t you like about the BA barrel?

16

This looks like a great deal for something with the SOLGW warranty. https://www.gandrtactical.com/SOLGW-147-Combat-Grade-556-Lightweight-Barrel_p_3449.html

17

All of these as well as the BCM ELW, there seems to be a ton of good options right now

18

I didn’t say I don’t like their barrels. I said I won’t recommend them over one of the others already mentioned in this thread.

For a budget build, I’m sure they’re fine. I didn’t get the idea from the OP that budget is tight for this purchase.

I think I paid $200 or less for the 308 barrel and it works, but it’s nothing special.

19

I’ve seen some folks on one of the other forums stating the same. Particularly being unimpressed with their ss410 barrels. I used to be a hardcore BCM fan, but now days there are a lot of quality options so if its a known reputable manufacturer or oem supplier I’m not nearly as picky.

20

I actually haven’t purchased a BCM barrel in a few years. My last ones have been Criterion, Centurion, and Sionics.