Barrel Weight

[JayWilling 33]

Does anyone know the relative weights of different barrel configurations. I know there are a lot of variables, but I'm just talking about all things being equal, say a stainless barrel at 16", what would be the approximate weight difference between a bull barrel vs. standard, vs a lightweight barrel. How much weight are you saving?

[T Bill 649]

https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tsU_kAjONKoGGfkDPaQZX1Q&single=true&gid=0&output=html

[Vlad G 345]

Jay, what are you trying to accomplish? If you want the lightest barrel the answer is a 14.5" pencil barrel with perma-attached comp. 

 

There are too many variables at hand like exactly what steel was used, who's profile for the barrel and so on. Besides the official milspec barrel types there are simply to many different varieties. 

[JayWilling 33]

I'm looking at a stainless 16" standard barrel which has a flash hider...would have to have that changed, pinned and welded, as opposed to a bull barrel with no device. If the weight diff is only 1/2 lb or so I'll just go bull barrel.

The chart T Bill suggested helps. Just looking for relative information, not number crunching.

Thanks.

[Vlad G 345]

16" standard stainless (assuming standard means m4 or carbine profile) would be lighter then any bull barrel the same weight by between 1/2lb to 2/3lb

 

My opinion is that you ALWAYS want to go with something with a muzzle device, and stay away from plain muzzles. Comps are always good to have and also protecting the crown is a good idea. I can't think of a single reason to use a bull barrel with no muzzle device.

[Scorpio64 5,147]

Barrel selection is the single most important decision when building a rifle.  Determine what your rifles purpose in life is, choose a barrel accordingly and build around that.  You can slap together virtually any combination of parts and end up with a working rifle, but will it be the rifle you want?

 

Nothing wrong with a bull barrel but they are generally used on varmint and long distance competition rifles and are typically 18" or longer.  As Vlad pointed out, you need to protect the crown as any damage to it, no matter how slight, will severely impact accuracy.  Target crowns offer the absolute best for accuracy but you have to baby the crap out of the rifle.  Your next best option for simplicity and comfort is a threaded bbl with a recessed target crown and thread protector.  You can also get a brake or compensator but I strongly recommend researching these devices as they are extremely loud and you need to weigh the benefits of what they do against the negatives.  The least offensive type of active muzzle device is a linear compensator.  Levang and Kies seem to be the two most popular linear comps.