Rick:
For what its worth, I really belive the 1-8 twist is very flexible for civilian shooters and thoses that reload. Many individuals have been talking about barrel profile, and are assuming that the dimetions are known. However I belive its more helpful to explain than leave doubt.
Base on my reseach, I personally would like to see three style of barrels.
Barrel style-1 an SPR style profile
18" long
rifle length gas sytstem
stainless
A2 pinned front sight (can be cut down for low profile block use)
1-8ish twist.
Threaded for flash hider of standard thread
11 degree target crown
Barrel style-2- long carbine
16" long
carbine length gas sytstem
stainless
A2 pinned front sight (can be cut down for low profile block use)
1-8ish twist.
Threaded for flash hider of standard thread
11 degree target crown
This one would have a similar profile as above, just move the Sight block back to carbine length, have 0.839 behind the sight block, and 0.75 in front of it, with a step down to 0.724 close to the end as illustrated above.
Barrel style -3 - CQB
10.25"
Hevyish profile (0.839)
stainless
1-8ish to 1-7 twist.
A2 pinned front sight (can be cut down for low profile block use)
11 degree target crown
Threaded for flash hider of standard thread
This is not a new design, and For certain maker (stag come to mind) is a proven platform. It just seems that these are very hard to get up here lately, and there seems to be a real demand for it.
I really like the idea of stainless, as it negates the need for chrome lining, should give a smooth and accuarte barrel that will wear very well. Also the ablility to blacken it, and have a spesific bolt matched to a barrel would be nice.
Just my 2 cents.
regards
AbH
ETA:
I went back through all the posts, and there has been some interest in Midlength gas systems. At one time I was an advocate for such a system. However, further research, speaking with those that know, and my own experience has turned me off this particular system, and lead me back to the carbine length gas system for barrels 16" and under, with a low profile gas block, and a quad rail free float tube of the appropriate length for the eye releif/sight radiused desired
