So, where would one go to find a quality milspec 14.5 M4 barrel with the FSB and barrel nut already on it? I’m not in the market to buy one right this second but I’d like to know where a reliable source to get such an item is. Or is just searching for a Colt 6921 barrel on GunBroker the best bet?
I see Colt SOCOM profile barrels floating around here and there but I’m going want the standard profile.
The only manufacturer I have found with standard profile 14.5" M4 barrels with a front sight and barrel nut are DSA and TNTE Sales, the specs as listed on both look acceptable but I don’t know anything about the origin of DSA’s or TNTE’s barrels or their quality, and since I tend to look gift horses in the mouth, the $135 price tag on DSA’s barrel in particular makes me suspicious.
+1 on recommending G&R Tactical. Put yourself on the waiting list for the M4 barrel, and be patient. Colt parts (and most parts) come and go in batches, so be prepared to make a purchase as soon as you get notification it is back in stock.
I’d prefer something milspec, with chrome lining. Ballistic Advantage only offers Nitride as far as I know.
DSA and TNTE list their barrels as chrome lined and the proper 4150/1159E but I just don’t know anything about the actual quality of their stuff.
I guess for now I’ll keep an eye on G&R and a couple other places that have them listed but are out of stock and try to snag one if they become available.
Worse case scenario I can just buy another BCM M4 barrel and have an FSB installed like I did before but just getting the barrel with the barrel nut and already FSB assembled from the get go would be more convenient.
Yeah those are the whole upper receiver groups, I’m just after the barrel itself with an FSB on it. BCM is generally my first stop for anything AR, and then if it’s something I need but they don’t offer (Mostly Retro stuff like A1 uppers, non-F FSBs etc…) then I hit up other outfits.
You might want to try Windham Weaponry. Their barrels have a decent reputation. I think they are sourced from Green Mountain barrels. I built a 20" A4 type rifle with one, but I haven’t fired it as of yet.
A Colt 14.5" SOCOM barrel is less than 2 ozs heavier than a Colt 16" M4 profile barrel. I like the balance of the Colt 14.5" SOCOM barrel and it shoots like a house afire.
If you want that SOCOM barrel at G&R, grab it quick. You won’t find it cheaper, they sell out fast and it often takes awhile to come back in stock.
I was mostly just curious how the SOCOM compared to a standard M4 barrel overall, but for my needs I still think I’m going to go with the standard profile for now. I’ve got a line on one at the moment.
I had forgotten about Windham too, those might come in handy for a different project requiring an M4 barrel down the road. They’re not my first choice but most of the specs on their barrels look solid, they just don’t appear to individually HP/MP test them.
They apparently use non-F FSBs but since that barrel would be going on a future 727 clone that would actually be a plus in that case.