Need advice on contouring vs. fluting vs. dimpling

I am about to send my 11.5” Colt 6933 to ADCO for some work and am debating what to do with the barrel to reduce its weight.

ADCO offers fluting, dimpling and contouring.

Fluting and dimpling will end up being al almost identical weight reduction. According to ADCO, the greatest weight loss will come with contouring.

I am leaning towards a light weight contour to closely mimic the BCM ELW contouring. The question is how thin can one go without sacrificing reliability?

This is my go-to rifle and is always run suppressed with a Surefire Socom. The rail is a BCM KMR, so not much more I can cut out there.

Anyone have any similar barrel work done on their SBR’s? What did you have done? What was the weight reduction? Any heat buildup issues? Stiffness issues? Regrets about having is done or not doing the right thing?

Don’t let those guys mess up your barrel. Are you trying to give scottryan a heart attack?

Ha!

I’m open to alternatives… Does Scott do this type of stuff?..

No. He had those clowns ruin a Colt barrel apparently.

Is your barrel .625 front of the FSB? An ELW is about the same profile as yours already is under the handguard. So all you’re going to gain is the removal of the gas block shoulder and a little off of the diameter front of the FSB. NOT worth it.

I’ve had ADCO do a few things for me, and I’m sure they can handle it. But yes, scottryan my stroke out.

The best advice I can offer is if you do decide on dimples, Marvin of Nefarious Arms does far superior work.

I just don’t think there’s enough to gain to make pulling the barrel out worthwhile. The ELW effect is from a long gradual taper, and it works beautifully.

Contouring a finished barrel may impact negatively its accuracy, if that is a concern. Cryo treatment afterwards is supposed to restore it.
Suspect the cost of work on the barrel is more than the hit you would take buying a barrel as you want it, minus what you can sell yours for.

This was my thought. Just buy a BCM barrel of your choice. If you can’t do the handy work, send the upper to Markm, he would swop it out for you. Just shipping cost.

Don’t risk ****ing your nice barrel up. Adco and others are plenty good, just not worth it.

I just bought a new BCM UPPER after shooting Marks, it’s dynamite.

Good luck

PB

Aren’t 6933’s already light-weight ?

Now you have me drooling on Mark’s handiwork! I will hit him up and see if he’ll take care of me… Thanks!!!

Standard Gov’t profile. I bet I can easily knock off at least 6 ounces…

I’m sure I’m looking at this wrong, but I can’t find anything listed as an ELW barrel on BCM’s site. Would someone post a link to the barrel you guys are discussing, please.

Oops, just found the answer in a thread about these barrels in GD. They’re not available as a separate part as of now. No wonder I couldn’t find them. Bummer.

It’s .625 diameter. Are newer ones .750?