NM Freefloat barrel sleeve

Bolivar

Bolivar

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Outside Barrie ON, Native to South Shore of NS
http://mobile.brownells.com/mobile/aspx/search/product.aspx?pid=9943

I'm thinking of modifying my SR rifle to look more like a C7 for no better reason than looks (dumb reason but there you have it)

Does anybody have experience with the above RRA NM barrel sleeve?

What are there downsides I should be aware of?
 
I've built a few rifles with these, weight and cost are two disadvantages, but the biggest is that it is completely unnecessary. If you look at the scores the new breed of Army shooters are turning in with rack grade guns you'll realize you don't need it for SR. If you decide to go down that road, you can always cut staggered flutes to reduce weight. Now if you're building a rack grade looking DMR gun then they are nice.
 
Those winning are also going through racks of rifles looking for rifles that shoot well, my current rifle was selected as the best of the 20 I tested.
Free floated barrels really pay off when something is in contact with the hand guard. Shooting off window sills, around barriers, with a tensioned sling or off a bipod will cause zero shift unless the barrel is free floated.

If anyone really wants to see if a free float tube will help their rifle try shooting with a bare barrel. Some rifles will tighten up some will show zero change.
 
Here's a few pics of the Armalite set up I have, scoped the 1/8" SS medium contour barrel is solid. I had flats cut on the barrel and used set screws so there wasn't any pressure at all on the barrel.The flash hider is set in place and loc-tite on, there is no pressure on the threads. Just keep in mind, that unless your positional shooting is on the money all this will be for not.


 
Sparrow - I need all the help I can get against army shooters. They usually win our matches :)

My interest was purely looks. I have a FF tube on my current rifle but since I am re-barreling it for next season I thought I might change it up with a forend that looks like a stock rifle.

I like your idea with the FSB. I tried to find a clamp on stile A2 but came up empty. Currently have a Yankee Hill flip up waiting for the barrel to arrive. At least it will let me shoot irons if I want to.
 
I really like NM tubes, I use one on my service rifle. However, having said that if I didn't use a sling for possiton shooting I wouldn't need it. And yes I love the stock look.
 
I tried the clamp on A2 sights as well, but I figure if you're going to all the trouble and expense of a float tube and expensive barrel then why have a tensioned clamp around the sight, this one is a .750 FSB that has been tapped for set screws, the FSB has been loc tite on and the set screws gently press against the barrel and are loc tite on. In the hands of a decent shooter it would be a rock star upper, sadly it is mine.
 
So I got to handle a buddies rifle with the NM FF tube this past weekend. Holy heavy batman. Definitely not for me. Glad I skipped on that idea. Makes sense for sling supported position shooting with no movement but I ain't gonna bother with that for events with rundowns.
 
Mine was glued on - not loctite. It was nearly impossible to get off.

Replaced it with a Diamondhead USA. Light, top rail for a back up sight if I ever go that way. It also has a huge hex nut to replace the little OEM barrel nut. Doesn't require timing for the gas tube gap either.
 
Bolivar said:
Makes sense for sling supported position shooting with no movement but I ain't gonna bother with that for events with rundowns.
Click to expand...

I keep hearing about this and honestly, I always had time to get into a hasty sling position, even on the 5-100 rundown.
If a slinged position helps your hold and you are proficient with it, use it to your advantage.
Guys will say it is a crutch that isn't needed - well so was mag rested prone so many years ago and now no one uses anything but.

I use a colt HB with my RRA FF tube - now that is heavy.
If you want lighter, pick one of the many round FF tubes like the JP VTAC. (IMHO)
 
beltfed said:
I use a colt HB with my RRA FF tube - now that is heavy.
If you want lighter, pick one of the many round FF tubes like the JP VTAC. (IMHO)
Click to expand...

Agreed, there are lots of other, lighter FF tube options. That is why to me at least, the RRA does not make sense for SR.

I believe the RRA tube was designed for National Match shooting, where a heavy rifle is an asset. For SR up here, I don't think it is an asset. I'll stick with my current FF setup.
 
I was in sort of a determined mood to keep my rifle A2 looking. I turned it down and swiss cheesed it. The second picture near the handguard cap you can see how much of the thickwall tube has been removed. It took about 7 ounces of slugs in the trapdoor compartment to make the loaded and scoped rifle balance on the delta ring. I doubt it's any heavier than any of the various aluminum quad rail type tubes, and its only $100.



 
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