Carbon barrel or fluting? .22 lr barrel AR-15

[pwinnall]

Hello,

I have a CMMG .22 lr bull barrel on my AR-15 rifle. Aero precision M4E1 upper and lower. 

It is too heavy and need it lighter. 
Has anyone carbon tubed their barrel or would fluting be better?

I need it lighter but without losing the bull barrel accuracy. 
 

thanks for your input

phil 

 

[BamBam]

You'll lose more weight by cutting the barrel to 12" and fitting a shorter lightweight handguard.

[Mattnall]

Float the barrel and thin it down to lighten it. The barrel doesn't know how fat it is and you'll have the lighter rifle of your dreams.

[BamBam]

Barrel is already free floating, M4E1.

[Mattnall]

I don't know the E1 but if it's floated I wouldn't bother with the expense of fluting, just re-profile ( and shorten?) and be done with it.

[BamBam]

The M4E1 is like the Mega Arms upper, where the upper fits inside the handguard, it's a decent set up and the only drawback being you can only fit Aero handguards.

[pwinnall]

Thanks for the replies. 
 

True, it is free floating too. And yes, only Aero hand guards but thankfully they are nice hand guards.

It is already 16” and want to keep the length.  And it is very accurate too being a bull barrel. It just buggers up the balance of the rifle. 
 

I would like to know what carbon sleeves or tubes to use so I can turn the barrel down fit carbon sleeve it. 
 

I work in engineering so turning down a diameter is easy.

Thanks Phil

[Mattnall]

Just turn it down, if you can do this yourself it'll be a nice little project. Making it thinner in itself will not make it less accurate, the bull barrel is only weight and helps with felt recoil, the accuracy will still be there if it is thinned down. The bore doesn't know how thick the barrel is and I very much doubt you'll get it hot enough with .22lr to affect accuracy of a thinner walled barrel.
You don't need the thickness or weight on the front or the expense of a carbon sleeve. Unless you like the look of the thicker barrel, that is.

[Dellboy]

Is it the weight or the balance  (probably a stupid question ) but would weight at the stock help ?

[Mattnall]

It might not be so easy to add as I think this rifle has a collapsing stock.