Flatland Shooter Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 (edited) I'm thinking of getting a new 16" barrel for a competition only carbine. I already have an 18" Black Hole Weaponry barrel in standard configuration that is super accurate so I've narrowed this purchase down to another BHW. (Plus BHW is running a 20% discount on any and all of their 16" barrels ending tonight.) My goal is the lightest upper possible that will still be good out to 500 yards without a drastic POI change after warming (heating?) up. All profiles are offered with mid-length gas system and threaded for a compensator. Profiles offered: 1) Pencil (requires 0.625" gas block) 2) Slim 3) Light weight 4) Standard Unfortunately BHW does not supply the barrel weights. I suspect most will rule out pencil and slim barrels, but hoping someone will share their experience with the light weight and standard profile barrels. So what say you? Bill (Just an additional comment. I can order any of these barrels with a 1/9, 1/8 or 1/7 twist. I plan on ordering the 1/8 twist unless anyone can advise why a different one is in order.) Edited November 12, 2014 by Flatland Shooter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtaylor996 Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I usually do Nordic barrels, and even have a spare 16" laying around from the last 20% off group buy. But I think you're going to want the voodoo ultra lightweight in 16". I haven't heard anything bad about them yet, and they're really light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcloudy777 Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 But I think you're going to want the voodoo ultra lightweight in 16". I haven't heard anything bad about them yet, and they're really light. That's what I picked. For every time you might have to shoot out past 250 yards after enough shots to heat up a barrel where a thin profile might hurt you, you'll probably have to transition between a couple hundred close targets where that light thin barrel will help you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonytheTiger Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 But the Nordic doesn't have the super powers of polygonal rifling! For some reason that excites me.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.E. Kelley Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 (edited) I have a BHW 16" LTM (Light taper, medium gas) and I am always impressed by its accuracy. Hot and Cold and shifts of impact has a lot to do with concentricity. Even pencil barrels can shoot great provided they turned perfectly ID to OD. Edited November 13, 2014 by P.E. Kelley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Sierpina Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I'm using Black Hole's Light contour, in an 18". I also received a 20 Light Contour, but in a 9" twist, since I use 55 grain bullets. The 9" will stabilize a 69 grain bullet, and possibly a 75 / 77. I have a 9" twist barrel that is on a Wilson Arms match grade blank, it handles 75's just fine. The 9" twist could improve accuracy with less costly bullets, since the RPM is slower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solidgun Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I see a lot of 18" lightweight configurations at matches. Others are 16". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJW Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Pat (or anybody else), do you have a weight for a (presumably non-fluted) light contour Black Hole barrel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Sierpina Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Pat (or anybody else), do you have a weight for a (presumably non-fluted) light contour Black Hole barrel? I can weigh the 20" light contour, since it's not mounted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Therealkoop Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 What is the real weight difference between a pencil or lightweight barrel and the typical midweight we would see in 3 gun such as a Nordic or JP? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Sierpina Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 The Black Hole 20" light contour is 43 ounces. The Nordic 18" I have is 36 ounces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooterdog Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 Any ideas on what is the lightest 18" barrel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonytheTiger Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 I must be way behind the times, I actually prefer a little weight to dampen some recoil. As long as I don't plan on humping the gun up too many hills that is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.E. Kelley Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 Uber light is the next fad...until the next one. I figure when Daniel or Taran or Greg or Keith, start winning with their shoes on the wrong feet "we" will all want to, too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonytheTiger Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 I could see how that would help, you'd be quicker while running two directions at once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Light700 Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 I have the Voodoo innovations for my lightweight gun and I really like it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acespeedy Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 I've also got a 16.5 Voodoo and really like it, like it so much I'd like to try to build an 18 inch with their lightweight barrel slowly. JG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jadeslade Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 Flatland, what did you end up getting? I found Blackholes website confusing. Where are you guys getting information about BHW and Voodoo products, because their websites aren't exactly huge deposits of information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatland Shooter Posted November 14, 2014 Author Share Posted November 14, 2014 (edited) I went with the BHW 16" LTM (Light taper, medium gas). Delivery is estimated at 6 - 9 weeks. I purchased a BHW 18" standard profile barrel last year and continue to be impressed with its accuracy. Hoping this 16" barrel will be just as good. I agree that the BHW website could be more useful. A lot of the information I've found on their barrels has been here on the Enos forum. Now that BHW is a 3GN sponsor, maybe a little more info will be available. Bill Edited November 14, 2014 by Flatland Shooter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jadeslade Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 Thanks. I have an unused Sabre in 16" that's a replacement for one AR. Daniel Defense is right up the road from me and make really good barrels that are extremely light. Made a nice M4 I use a lot. All are 1:7, I'm shooting 77s most of the time in that. Occasionally use in local 3 gun. From this thread I guess some of the attraction on BHW and Voodoo is the customization and cosmetic work. It makes the nightmares of a few years ago with no product seem like a bad memory. Thanks for the info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grouse Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 I have a sabre defense. Spr profile with fluting under hand guards. Perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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