I’m in the market for a new upper. Normally I would lean toward a LW barrel, but I already have 2 LW builds and was thinking about going with something slightly different this time. Is there any benefit at all to getting a govt profile? Seems the general consensus is that LW barrels shoot just as well, or am I wrong? Thanks in advance
The only reason to go for a govt barrel would be if you want to mount a grenade launcher.
There may be reasons to go with a mid or heavy contour barrel if you are concerned about accuracy and high rates of fire. But since you most likely don’t shoot full auto…
If it is very high quality AND is a screaming deal.
I have a DD V7 with the gov’t profile barrel and now that I have an BCM ELW-F and a BFH LW, it seems stupid to me. I don’t need the gov’t profile for my purposes. The gov’t profile is a LW contour under the hand guards with extra material at the end (worst place to have it). I honestly don’t even know what the gov’t profile exists for. I’m sure someone will chime and and I’ll have learned another thing from this forum!
This is what I’ve heard as well. I could certainly see the benefit of a med or heavy barrel over a LW, but since the Govt is basically a LW under the handguards there seems to be no advantage to it.
LtCol Dave Lutz (aka coldblue on M4C) was involved in the development of the A2 barrel profile. If I recall correctly, he said that after performing straightness tests on M16A1 barrels they found that the rifle barrels were bent at the gas port and incorrectly assumed the bending was occuring in the field from GI Joe and LCpl Schmuckatelli using his rifle during bayonet training and to open up crates. They decided to thicken the barrel starting at the beginning of the gas block (retaining the original diameter under the handguards allowed the M203s to go on unaltered)
Later on they realized that M16A1’s have a small burr from the drilling of the gas port which interfered with the straightness gauge. So the A2 profile barrel really wasn’t necessary. The Marines originally wanted an HBAR but compromised as the extra material on the front end helped somewhat with barrel whip.
This is as I remember it; I could be very, very wrong.
Seems legit! Learn something new every day.
Like I said though, I love the LW barrels. I’m not a LW freak but it frees up some weight for adding optics, lights, lasers, and whatever else man kind can imagine up for super elite operators to slap on their weapons[emoji12]
How do you like your ELW? That’s one of the ones I’m considering, non-fluted version.
My opinion won’t carry much weight because I have yet to fire it, but just from handling it, I can tell that it’s going to be pretty dang close to perfect for me. I have the ELW-F coupled with a 13" KMR and that’s about the lightest you can go without getting crazy with the low mass carrier and such.
From everything I have read, it’s nothing less than great. Markm said he took his out to 1000 (maybe farther) and was successful.
Once my LPK’s come in, I’ll be able to give you a better response but for now I can assure you that you will not be disappointed.
The ONE upside that I can think of with a Govt Profile is use with a silencer. Volume firing with a silencer results in heat being transferred back to the barrel from the can. With some meat near the can to absorb that heat, you might enjoy a greater number of rounds fired before excessive heat issues popped up.
Thanks, that’s probably what I will end up with. I was leaning toward a BFH, but really like the ELW profile. From what I’ve read the difference between the BFH and Std barrel is minimal.
I hope I’m remembering correctly, but didn’t you take and ELW out to 1000 or so?
I’ve quoted your experience with the ELW several times and just wanted to confirm that it was indeed you.
I too had this dilemma, but think of it this way…cost of ammunition to reach the end of the life on either of the barrels will far outweigh the cost of the barrel. You will have much more in ammunition than you will in the barrel.
My solution, I got both:)
I’m actually kind of suprised that there aren’t more medium contour chrome-lined and / or hammer forged barrels out there. Only one that comes to mind is maybe Noveske. Seems like everything is either govt or LW. If someone made basically a govt with just a little more meat under the handguards I’d be all over it.
I have a 16" BCM LW, a Centurion 16" CHF-LW (not quite pencil profile like the BCM), and a 20" Government profile BCM upper. All things being equal, I would take the light weight profiles over a government profile any day of the week. The only reason I have the government profile is that BCM didn’t make a pencil profile 20" barrel. Unless you plan on shooting so much that you will need the heat advantages of the heavier profiles, I just don’t see a huge benefit outside of some special circumstances (like Mark mentioned above).
But, let your needs dictate. If you’re doing higher volume of fire, go for a mid or government. If you will carry it more than you will shoot it (or go long strings of dry fire between shots), which allows time for it to cool down, go with the lightweight.
That’s where I’m getting a little confused… My understanding is that the govt profile is the same as a LW under the handguards. Seems like this is where most of the heat is generated, closer to the chamber. If that’s the case it would seem the govt profile would add no benefit over the lw in terms of heat dispersion and overall stiffness. I do want something that I can run a few mags through without worry.
You are correct, they are the same before the GB. A lot of heat is focused in the chamber area and apparently at the muzzle when using a suppressor (those things get incredibly hot). The govt profile is supposed to help with barrel whip (I haven’t extensively researched this, but I’ve heard multiple people mention it). You will not have a problem using a LW barrel with a high rate of fire in semi-auto. Now full auto is a different story.
Just wondering, but what is your intended purpose? You said that you already have two lightweight builds. What would this next one be used for? Rather than look at govt profiles, I would start considering stainless options.
If you’re just looking for another fightin’ gun, then my preference would be towards the ELW upper.
Yep. We did that.
Yes, probably just a general purpose / fighting gun. I do want it to be accurate (within reason), around MOA with good ammo would be fine. Seems like even the standard BCM barrels are capable of at least close to that. I do have a few stainless set-ups already. I have a pretty high end upper right now with a CHF / CL barrel that doesn’t seem to shoot better than 1.5 moa. Probably fine for what it is but I can’t help but be disappointed with it.