OK, picked up my 18.6" 6.8 SPC barrel from adco firearms in Sylvania Ohio (not too far from the Cabelas in Dundee Michigan). Stopped at Cabelas and picked up some SST 115 OTC.
The barrel has had about .050" in diameter removed from in front of the gas block to eliminate the step behind the flash hider. At the same time they added a thread protector and turned it to match the barrel. 6 flutes were cut to maximize weight reduction, both sides of the gas block.
I only have access to an old fashioned baby scale and I did not weight it before it was fluted, but compared to my 18.6" heavy barrel 5.56 it is 14ozs lighter!! This is almost 1 pound of weight savings from the front of the gun makes it much lighter to carry and moves the balance point rearward. I realize that 6.8 barrels are lighter than the 5.56, but the latter can be fluted deeper so I think reduction would be about the same. I like the gun much better without the flash hider, since the primary use for this gun will be deer, bear and coyote hunting, better to have the weight gone.
Without the flash hider the recoil is still very light, just a slight jump at the shot with gas on setting 4. The barrel had not been fired, I shot 11 shots to sight in my scope at about 75 yards, at the end I had 5-6 in just about an inch. Very happy! This is also the first time I shot at paper since the enhanced trigger was installed.
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Next step will be to camo dip the upper and lower receiver, while leaving all controls, grip, and foam cheek rest black (as well as the barrel). Not sure what to do with the rail covers.
5.56 barrel is going to be fluted next!
The barrel has had about .050" in diameter removed from in front of the gas block to eliminate the step behind the flash hider. At the same time they added a thread protector and turned it to match the barrel. 6 flutes were cut to maximize weight reduction, both sides of the gas block.
I only have access to an old fashioned baby scale and I did not weight it before it was fluted, but compared to my 18.6" heavy barrel 5.56 it is 14ozs lighter!! This is almost 1 pound of weight savings from the front of the gun makes it much lighter to carry and moves the balance point rearward. I realize that 6.8 barrels are lighter than the 5.56, but the latter can be fluted deeper so I think reduction would be about the same. I like the gun much better without the flash hider, since the primary use for this gun will be deer, bear and coyote hunting, better to have the weight gone.
Without the flash hider the recoil is still very light, just a slight jump at the shot with gas on setting 4. The barrel had not been fired, I shot 11 shots to sight in my scope at about 75 yards, at the end I had 5-6 in just about an inch. Very happy! This is also the first time I shot at paper since the enhanced trigger was installed.
Next step will be to camo dip the upper and lower receiver, while leaving all controls, grip, and foam cheek rest black (as well as the barrel). Not sure what to do with the rail covers.
5.56 barrel is going to be fluted next!
