AR 15 barrel profile ?

[hoz53]

Hi everyone. I am wondering if there is a maximum barrel diameter for an ar 15 barrel for the barrel to fit under as issued hand guards. Thanks

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Not sure about the issued hand guard allowance, but it's nothing to throw on a free floating hand guard. I believe the largest AR15 barrel profile is a 1" barrel with a .936" gas block. Which is what I have on my 20 TAC. And with the barrel being 20" long and using a rifle length hand guard, it definitely adds some heft to the rifle.

 

[hoz53]

Not sure about the issued hand guard allowance, but it's nothing to throw on a free floating hand guard. I believe the largest AR15 barrel profile is a 1" barrel with a .936" gas block. Which is what I have on my 20 TAC. And with the barrel being 20" long and using a rifle length hand guard, it definitely adds some heft to the rifle.

Hi Ledd. Thanks for that info it helps. What brand barrel do you have on that 20 tac? Hoz

 

[Ledd Slinger]

X-Caliber

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

The barrel nut is the limiting factor. As mentioned, about 1 inch on an AR15. Measure the id of the nut.

 

[hoz53]

The barrel nut is the limiting factor. As mentioned, about 1 inch on an AR15. Measure the id of the nut.

Thanks guns--I was wondering about the barrel nut to. I will measure some things.

 

[hoz53]

X-Caliber

Thanks

 

[Bamban]

If you are really hell bent on using a barrel fatter than 1 inch inside the handguard, as long as your handguard can accommodate it, turn down enough length to slide the barrel nut on to the barrel from the chamber side before you torque down the barrel extension. The barrel nut in conventional way is the limitation, this way the limitation is the handguard ID.

I've never done it, conceptionally it should work, I may be wrong though

 

[hpshooter]

"I've never done it, conceptionally it should work, I may be wrong though"

In the dark ages when the AR's were first making in roads into XTC highpower competition I saw an AR that this had been done to and the OD of the barrel was large enough that a groove had been milled into the top of the barrel for so a standard gas tube could be used. This was a match rifle not a service rifle so clearance for a standard hand guard was not a concern.

No idea how it shot accuracy wise.

 

[butchlambert]

If you are really hell bent on using a barrel fatter than 1 inch inside the handguard, as long as your handguard can accommodate it, turn down enough length to slide the barrel nut on to the barrel from the chamber side before you torque down the barrel extension. The barrel nut in conventional way is the limitation, this way the limitation is the handguard ID.

I've never done it, conceptionally it should work, I may be wrong though

You're right Nez. If you didn't know, Bamban chambered the Shilen barrels for the top shooters at Camp Perry. They won the Presidents 100 which was the top shooter over all and the team set a new record beating the old record set in 1992 I believe. 32 points higher than the old record. Nez,Bamban, is a great AR riflesmith.

 

[hoz53]

You're right Nez. If you didn't know, Bamban chambered the Shilen barrels for the top shooters at Camp Perry. They won the Presidents 100 which was the top shooter over all and the team set a new record beating the old record set in 1992 I believe. 32 points higher than the old record. Nez,Bamban, is a great AR riflesmith.

Thanks fellas Things that are good to know.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I need to play with a few adjustments on the load to see if I can get some extra accuracy out of it, but my heavy 20 TAC 1" to .936" AR barrel shoots pretty good. Especially considering that the only thing custom ive done to it is slapped the drop in X-Caliber barrel on and changed out the milspec trigger to a RRA Match trigger.

Only using cheap 34gr Midsouth Varmint Nightmare FB HP bullets too. Nothing fancy or match grade about those bullets, but I always get them to shoot pretty decent.

5 shots at 100 yards. (Speed is wrong. Chronograph was acting screwy that day)

 

[Fast14riot]

My prone match rifle has a Heavy Bull profile, 1.050", .936" journal, .920" to muzzle. I had the barrel nut opened up to fit over the barrel. I do not recommend going much more than that, maybe 1.062" max. I also bedded my barrel to the receiver.

 

[hoz53]

If you are really hell bent on using a barrel fatter than 1 inch inside the handguard, as long as your handguard can accommodate it, turn down enough length cexflle xcec dslide the barrel nut on to the barrel from the chamber side before you torque down the barrel extension. The barrel nut in conventional way is the limitation, this way the limitation is the handguard ID.

I've never done it, conceptionally it should work, I may be wrong though

Hi Bamban. I just reread your reply to my post. That is a good idea about turning down the chamber end. I'm not trying to get the largest possible diameter on, more like I just want to make my barrel the largest possible that will fit under issue hand guards. All this info is good. Thanks

 

[hpshooter]

" largest possible that will fit under issue hand guards".

Would highly recommend fitting a free float tube to this rifle if it is to be used for sling shooting in service rifle configuration. The tube ID would then be the determining factor in barrel OD.

You have a lot more options if this is going to be a match rifle.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

If you are really hell bent on using a barrel fatter than 1 inch inside the handguard, as long as your handguard can accommodate it, turn down enough length to slide the barrel nut on to the barrel from the chamber side before you torque down the barrel extension. The barrel nut in conventional way is the limitation, this way the limitation is the handguard ID.

I've never done it, conceptionally it should work, I may be wrong though

I did think about that. I've not done it but you're right, it should work just fine. Ultimately, the would have to be pretty hell bent to want to, though. Then comes the gas block, if used. One can be made for pretty much whatever diameter. again..hell bent is a good way to describe it, but if there is a want for it, there usually is a way.

 

[Fast14riot]

The service rifle free float tubes (WOA, CLE, RRA make them) for milspec drop in hand guards, the forward end of guards has to be relieved just a little for the guards to fit. I can measure mine tonight or I'm sure it's out there somewhere. But, they work over NM HBAR profile barrels and still fit the triangle clip up front.

 

[hoz53]

I need to play with a few adjustments on the load to see if I can get some extra accuracy out of it, but my heavy 20 TAC 1" to .936" AR barrel shoots pretty good. Especially considering that the only thing custom ive done to it is slapped the drop in X-Caliber barrel on and changed out the milspec trigger to a RRA Match trigger.

Only using cheap 34gr Midsouth Varmint Nightmare FB HP bullets too. Nothing fancy or match grade about those bullets, but I always get them to shoot pretty decent.

5 shots at 100 yards. (Speed is wrong. Chronograph was acting screwy that day)

View attachment 990252

Hey Ledd looks like good shooting there. Did you hold for wind on that one?

 

[hoz53]

My prone match rifle has a Heavy Bull profile, 1.050", .936" journal, .920" to muzzle. I had the barrel nut opened up to fit over the barrel. I do not recommend going much more than that, maybe 1.062" max. I also bedded my barrel to the receiver.

Thanks fast--Good info there. I think I'll measure a nut and if it's big enough just use 1". Also thanks for that info on the float tubes. No need to check the dimensions. Thanks Again. Hoz

 

[hoz53]

" largest possible that will fit under issue hand guards".

Would highly recommend fitting a free float tube to this rifle if it is to be used for sling shooting in service rifle configuration. The tube ID would then be the determining factor in barrel OD.

You have a lot more options if this is going to be a match rifle.

Hi hp-- I agree with you on this. I would use a float tube on any ar 15 I want to get much accuracy out of. I'll measure some of these float tubes to see what I can do. Thanks Much.