Barrel suggestion

[Frack N Cylons]

About 4 years ago, I picked up a Faxon Pencil and built out a light weight rifle. There really wasn't any trick to it, pencil barrel, MI lightweight rail, MFT stock, pretty much milspec otherwise.....boom 5.4lb rifle.

I threw a red dot on there, shot it a few times, then chucked it in the safe where it sat.

I've now pulled the rifle back out and I'm toying with it. I've just put a Viper PST 1-4 MRAD on there and the rifle seems quite capable at distance, more so than I would expect from the pencil barrel. My problem now is the rifle just feels too light. 6.5lbs with the scope.

If I were carrying the gun around all day it would be perfect, but I'm not. I want to get some weight back into the gun to make it a little more stable on long shots and softer on close in fast shots. Now,...I don't want a boat anchor either. I'm thinking an 8lb rifle seems about right. I'll get some weight back into the gun when I swap the MFT for CTR to balance it out. Also when I go from the 13" handguard to a 15".

So what barrels should be on my short list? I'm budget conscious and I do not need top if the line, nor do I want crap. The BA and Faxon barrels seem fine to me.

I'll be shooting 3 gun, but I want this to be an all porpoise rifle.

 

[BigWaylon]

Just put a bag of fishing weights in the pistol grip. If it shoots fine, why change the barrel? 😁

 

[Frack N Cylons]

That's...........not a terrible idea....

 

[BlackGun]

CMMG would be mid price point with high quality. I have the opposite issue. Daniel Defense loaded with Star War lights and lasers plus a very heavy quad rail, bipod, Aimpoint PRO with 3X magnifier. Feels like 12 lbs of lead.

 

[JBoyette]

That's...........not a terrible idea....

Not to be Richard head, but if you are having issues with controlling a lighter weight rifle, then your technique needs work.

You dang well might of built a GREAT firearm and you need to grow into it.
John

 

[Frack N Cylons]

Those are fair points, and this is just something I'm pondering.

I will be running the gun in a match this weekend and I'll have a better idea of where I want to go. I will likely run it as is for a few months before I really consider changing anything.

My range session yesterday was the most time I've spent with the gun. It did not feel as planted on long shots as I'm used to, and it did feel bouncy on closer targets. No problems controlling the gun per se, just not as smooth as I'd like.

 

[Beef15]

If you're not married to changing barrels.
Better brake/comp, heavier buffer or adjustable gas and maybe a lighter one, better stock, different handguard and/or hang a light or something else out there if you want to try more weight forward.

Front heavy rifles tend to be slower if you have target transitions or anything.

 

[NCFubar]

Before you change up your current carbine try a couple others if you have access. I thought I wanted a Mod which I really did think a few extra ounces would matter (a 16” Mod H weighs 9-10 ozs more than a 16” LW pencil) so I built a separate upper. For a little work … a couple hours or so … it’s fine but for a day class or even more weekend class I go back to the lightweight pencil upper. Thank goodness I didn’t swap barrels and still have the lightweight barrel which is actually also my HD choice too.

 

[BigWaylon]

That's...........not a terrible idea....

It was one of the things I did (along with filling the “buffer tube” of my 15-22 with quarters) when I thought I wanted my 22LR to weigh closer to a 5.56 rifle.