Okay, it's getting closer to the expected ETA of the receivers from Armtac, and I have some questions.
It's looking like getting a custom barrel made is going to be my only option. Since I've never gotten a barrel made before, I'd like to ask about opinions on contour, barrel weight, etc.
I think my best bet is ATRS. I contacted Mystic Precision about Krieger and they said I could get it short chambered and get it finished here in Canada, but to get a bunch of different people working on it doesn't seem like the best idea to me, considering all the shipping costs to bounce it around to get it finished. I also e-mailed but never heard back from Bits 'n Pieces. I basically just want to ship off what I need to (bolt head, barrel extension, etc) and get someone to do the whole thing.
I had contacted ATRS awhile back when I first ordered the receivers and was put off by the cost, but the lack of any regular run of the mill AR10 barrels that I've been hunting has made their price seem a bit easier to swallow. I'm sure the barrel will be awesome, I just didn't think I was going to have to put that much into it to get one.
As far as options, I was thinking 16", but 18" wouldn't be too bad either. Are there any appreciable differences in accurate range between the 2?
For the contour, what are the considerations apart from weight? I think I read somewhere on here that a heavier barrel will take longer to heat up and therefor be more consistent shot to shot than a thinner barrel.
For an AR10 barrel, I've seen reference to .936" diameter barrels, as opposed to the standard .750". I'm assuming .750 will be thick enough? I've seen gas blocks for sale that say they're made for AR15's and AR10's, and they're .750" diameter. Is that the standard for AR10's as well?
Is fluting worth the extra cost? I don't know how much more it is, but if I'm already dumping a bunch of money into the barrel, it almost seems as though I should go all out. I'm assuming it's done for weight savings, as well as helping the barrel cool faster. Will this negate the previously mentioned "benefit" of not having the barrel heat up as fast and therefor have more consistent shots once it's fired a bunch?