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I have a connundrum on barrel options; and was wondering the input of others who have trod this path.
I have handled the 12" build versions, and think they are amazing - in power to performance to compactness. I also think they are going away; and for my own project, don't want to depend on the ARPistol path. To that end, I want as short as possible. Which means 14.5 pin and weld. For 5.56, that's a lot of effort, for a gun that has a notable power loss. Effectively going from 16" down to 14.5" in 5.56 halves the terminal (2700 fps) range of the gun. But not so in Grendel; even 12" has 1000 ft-lb well past 100 yards, and crowding 200 yards. Going up to 14.5 Extends that, and going up to 16" only extends it a little more; and more importantly, it extends it out to ranges beyond what I'm likely going to ethically shoot anyway. So my logic is, a 14.5 pin and weld in Grendle, approachs the handness of 12" and I fell like worth the effort of the whole P&W PITA for it. To that end, a 14.5" light weight cut, would seem ideal and might even approach the weight of an A2 cut (fat muzzle end) 12" pistol build.
OK, but today, 14.5" options are basically:
A) Convert an existing well shot 20" SS PSA 6.5 CM HBAR (free in hand, but not modified)
B) Purchase a 16" FAXON Gunner (light weight cut), and convert to 14.5 pin and weld ($200 on order, but long lead time; and not modified)
C) Buy one of the heavy Llija's 14.5" being offered ($400)
Each of these has trade-offs, and I'm curious what this teams thoughts are.
A) Modifying an existing Creemdoor HBAR means cutting, laith machine down to preferred contour, dealing with the pre-existing gas port and any other wear, recrowing, threading, and then pin and weld. I don't have ability to do any of that, but do have friends. That said, by the time that's done; I'm guessing that's not such a "Free barrel" after-all; that seems like a lot of work for a PSA barrel with 3000 rounds through it?
B) The ~$200 FAXON has the contour I want, to be nice and light. But I still have to cut, recrown, thread, and pin and weld. Again, don't have ability to do that myself, and by they time all that's added up, I don't know the real value. The bigger item of note, is that something like a FAXON could be a dice roll? Once you do all that work, and pin and weld - wouldn't that be a heartbreaker if that cost-effective barrel just doesn't shoot?
C) is expensive; Llija's not cheap. I can deal with that, but more notable, it's an H-bar weight; or close to it. Won't that undermine the point of a light-weight and handy 14.5 pin and weld? But I hear good things about Llija.
So I guess my question to those considerably more experienced in this world, is what are you own thoughts on this?
Here's the compensator I've spec'd out. It's the 7.62 version of BCM's Gunfighter. I have one on a 5.56, and find them to be a real nice balance of limiting blast, while still maintaining some effectiveness.
I have handled the 12" build versions, and think they are amazing - in power to performance to compactness. I also think they are going away; and for my own project, don't want to depend on the ARPistol path. To that end, I want as short as possible. Which means 14.5 pin and weld. For 5.56, that's a lot of effort, for a gun that has a notable power loss. Effectively going from 16" down to 14.5" in 5.56 halves the terminal (2700 fps) range of the gun. But not so in Grendel; even 12" has 1000 ft-lb well past 100 yards, and crowding 200 yards. Going up to 14.5 Extends that, and going up to 16" only extends it a little more; and more importantly, it extends it out to ranges beyond what I'm likely going to ethically shoot anyway. So my logic is, a 14.5 pin and weld in Grendle, approachs the handness of 12" and I fell like worth the effort of the whole P&W PITA for it. To that end, a 14.5" light weight cut, would seem ideal and might even approach the weight of an A2 cut (fat muzzle end) 12" pistol build.
OK, but today, 14.5" options are basically:
A) Convert an existing well shot 20" SS PSA 6.5 CM HBAR (free in hand, but not modified)
B) Purchase a 16" FAXON Gunner (light weight cut), and convert to 14.5 pin and weld ($200 on order, but long lead time; and not modified)
C) Buy one of the heavy Llija's 14.5" being offered ($400)
Each of these has trade-offs, and I'm curious what this teams thoughts are.
A) Modifying an existing Creemdoor HBAR means cutting, laith machine down to preferred contour, dealing with the pre-existing gas port and any other wear, recrowing, threading, and then pin and weld. I don't have ability to do any of that, but do have friends. That said, by the time that's done; I'm guessing that's not such a "Free barrel" after-all; that seems like a lot of work for a PSA barrel with 3000 rounds through it?
B) The ~$200 FAXON has the contour I want, to be nice and light. But I still have to cut, recrown, thread, and pin and weld. Again, don't have ability to do that myself, and by they time all that's added up, I don't know the real value. The bigger item of note, is that something like a FAXON could be a dice roll? Once you do all that work, and pin and weld - wouldn't that be a heartbreaker if that cost-effective barrel just doesn't shoot?
C) is expensive; Llija's not cheap. I can deal with that, but more notable, it's an H-bar weight; or close to it. Won't that undermine the point of a light-weight and handy 14.5 pin and weld? But I hear good things about Llija.
So I guess my question to those considerably more experienced in this world, is what are you own thoughts on this?
Here's the compensator I've spec'd out. It's the 7.62 version of BCM's Gunfighter. I have one on a 5.56, and find them to be a real nice balance of limiting blast, while still maintaining some effectiveness.
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