User Panel
Posted: 1/22/2024 7:34:33 PM EDT
Trying to decide what to do with a Clinton era ban 20" A2 Bushmaster. It was my first AR and it is a good shooter. Kinda just sits in the back of my safe as I enjoy shooting my SBR Ar's and carbines more. Thinking of swapping out the HBAR with a 20" government profile barrel with flash hider and bayonet lug. Found a couple 20" a2 barrels for sale and one has a correct a2 sight tower (non F marked), but is nitride. Should I hold out for a phosphate and chrome lined barrel just for traditions sake? Not a deal breaker, but trying to re interest myself in this heavy old pig.
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I’d hold out for a chrome lined barrel.
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"If its worth shooting, shoot it twice."
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Nitride is fine.
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Go chrome or go home.
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On going to war over religion: "You're basically killing each other to see who's got the better imaginary friend." - Richard Jeni
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Keep the HBAR, swap out the A2 for a flat-top, get yourself a fair-priced scope, and make it your 500-yard rifle.
Nothing like killing targets five football fields away away (without chrome lining) to make you a believer. To paraphrase (I think Chuck Pressburg), nobody looks down at the bullet holes in their chest and asks, "What, is that a two minute group?!" |
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Keep looking for phosphate and chrome. Nitride is perfectly OK, but it tends to look somewhat off. I bought a nice nitride barrel, but it has a noticeably shiny finish.
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Personal preference.
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Can't never could 'til try came along.
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Nitride on any retro or A2 rifles just doesn’t look right. It’s too shiny. Hold out for chrome lined bore with phosphate exterior.
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You can get a chrome-lined A2 assembly at Fulton Armory
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I have a ban era Colt H Bar.
Had muzzle cut and threaded post 2004. Didn't cost much at all and my rifle is still all Colt. RCA |
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That was my original plan. It’s about $100 or so to thread the barrel, not including shipping. For $155 I could get a phosphate 20”a2 barrel from Delton or JSE surplus. Problem with that is F marked fsb. For $250 I could get a proper chrome lined phosphate barrel with correct a2 sight. I have 7 AR’s so this is not my primary rifle. Just trying to regain some interest in the rifle so it’s not a safe queen collecting dust.
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Originally Posted By wreckdiver: That was my original plan. It’s about $100 or so to thread the barrel, not including shipping. For $155 I could get a phosphate 20”a2 barrel from Delton or JSE surplus. Problem with that is F marked fsb. For $250 I could get a proper chrome lined phosphate barrel with correct a2 sight. I have 7 AR’s so this is not my primary rifle. Just trying to regain some interest in the rifle so it’s not a safe queen collecting dust. View Quote Del-ton 20" A2 Barrel (Option for Chrome) Edited: this barrel has a standard A2 FSB and not an F-marked. |
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I'd hold out for a chrome lined phosphate barrel.
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"Technique isn't something that can be taught. It's something you find on your own." - Bunta Fujiwara
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Originally Posted By HighpowerRifleBrony: What problem? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By HighpowerRifleBrony: Originally Posted By wreckdiver: Problem with that is F marked fsb. His rifle has an A2, fixed carry handle receiver. F-marked FSBs are meant to be used with flat-top receivers and the shelf on the FSB where the sight post threads in sits slightly higher to the axis of the bore. When zeroing an F-marked FSB with an A2 upper, you sometimes end up having to bottom out the front sight post due to the height difference or get a taller front sight post. Often times, you can still achieve a zero but the front sight post looks buried. |
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Originally Posted By Bebop_941: His rifle has an A2, fixed carry handle receiver. F-marked FSBs are meant to be used with flat-top receivers and the shelf on the FSB where the sight post threads in sits slightly higher to the axis of the bore. When zeroing an F-marked FSB with an A2 upper, you sometimes end up having to bottom out the front sight post due to the height difference or get a taller front sight post. Often times, you can still achieve a zero but the front sight post looks buried. View Quote |
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"Technique isn't something that can be taught. It's something you find on your own." - Bunta Fujiwara
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Originally Posted By HighpowerRifleBrony: 0.040" is about 1.5 revs. If that's enough to bottom out, something else is funky. If it is one of the tall threaded posts, that's an easy dremel job. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By HighpowerRifleBrony: Originally Posted By Bebop_941: His rifle has an A2, fixed carry handle receiver. F-marked FSBs are meant to be used with flat-top receivers and the shelf on the FSB where the sight post threads in sits slightly higher to the axis of the bore. When zeroing an F-marked FSB with an A2 upper, you sometimes end up having to bottom out the front sight post due to the height difference or get a taller front sight post. Often times, you can still achieve a zero but the front sight post looks buried. Bottoming out is a poor choice of words on my part. It's just not the correct FSB. An F-marked base will work, but the sight post will be lower in the FSB and it appears to not be what the OP wants. |
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The heavy factory chrome lined 1/9 twist barrel is ridiculously accurate. I just don't care for the weight or aesthetics of the neutered barrel. I'll find a decent chrome lined phosphate 1/7 barrel with correct a2 FSB. Like I said before, my favorite AR currently is a budget build PSA 10.5 SBR. The Eotech on it cost more than the rifle. I'm trying to rekindle the fire for a 20" musket. I have other AR's that fill the carbine, SBR, designated marksman, and 9mm A1, etc.
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A Grendel's Love is different from a 5.56's Love
SC, USA
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Leave me alone. I’m a libertarian. CW vet x7, give away a kidney to a loved one if they need it.
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I see you mentioned government profile as a requirement. However, this may suit you if you're wanting to lighten the rifle:
Brownells It meets all of your requirements, except for profile. However, you shouldn't notice any appreciable difference in accuracy between this and a government profile barrel, all other things being equal. Just a thought. Brownells sells the same barrel in a government profile too but they are out of stock: Brownells Government |
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Just get a spare FSB and send it to John Thomas to be threaded and have the new fsb put on.
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Go pencil & phosphate. I made a late GWOT clone with a M4 stock, it’s super handy. Got the barrel from Brownells
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"It just gets that much more exciting when it has a carry handle on it. Or tiger stripes. If you have both, then you have the John Wayne in the Green Berets size of a big win."
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