Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Heavy barrels take longer to heat up and cool down, and have the potential for more accuracy. Lighter barrels are easier to sling, shoot, and carry for longer periods of time, and tend to get on target quicker. An M4 barrel also has a cutout for mounting a grendade launcher.

I'm starting to move more towards 16" - 18" mid-length ARs. I've had 20" HBARS and 14.5" M4 profile uppers. I love the looks and light weight of the M4 profile with the M203 cut-out, but 16" - 18" heavy barrels barrels kinda split the difference between weight, pointability, and accuracy.

I have two M4geries, one 14.5" in 5.56 and one 16" in 6.8 SPC. I have two SPRs built, an 18" in 5.56 and a 20" in 6.8 SPC. The shorter carbines are great if you're clearing rooms, and have decent accuracy with the right glass. The two SPRs are for 300 yards and out. The 18" has very little recoil due to the weight and the muzzle brake/flash suppressor I have on it. I've run the 14.5" during a 3-gun match, and the recoil is there but manageable. I use the two 6.8s as deer guns. The shorty 6.8 is a nice brush gun, and I need to put a lower magnification scope on it at some point. BTW, the 18" I built is modeled on the Army DM rifle.

I have an HBAR and want to get rid of it. I'm not much of a bench shooter.
They are great for some people, not so much for others.