Gauging interest in a gas block for a heavier barrel?

[1fncfan]

I've been looking around for a way to adapt and install a barrel with a custom profile heavier than the pencil barrel of the FNC. I spoke to Josh of Stormwerks.com regarding a different design of the gas block to accomodate a barrel dia. of .750 at the gas port shelf. It would have to be CNC'd to also have the "ears" of the gas block pin to retain the ability to use the original FNC handguards or the TBA/B&T quad rails.

I might be the only one crazy enough to wish for a medium-heavy weight profile on my SHTF weapon of choice. But I was wondering if anyone else would like a lot better accuracy out of their FNC's than the original 1:12 twist FNC barrel or the 1:7 Twist Green Mountain barrel in the original barrel profile configuration. Call me crazy but I've been wanting a different choice in barrel length, twist rate and profile.. Anyone interested?

On a side note. Anyone here have any experience with the Green Mountain barrels? How accurate did they wind up being? I'm not so sure I'd be happy to go thru the expense of putting one on to have it turn in 2-3 MOA accuracy.

 

[dash]

If I recall, okpud replaced the barrel in his with something heavier. He didn't modify the gas block though. This was before Green Mountain made any for the FNC.

 

[1fncfan]

I'm looking to get a Shilen or Krieger barrel contoured from 1.25" at the receiver down to roughly .750 at the muzzle. With a 20-22" length, 1:8 twist and a 223 Wylde chamber. The expense of this endeavor would make most FNC owners shy away from even thinking about it. Cost of the barrel, contouring, fluting, threading and cryo-treating alone will exceed $800-$1000 as it is. Just tired of my AR shooting buddies out-shooting me in our slightly less than friendly 100-200 yd matches. Have my AR but for reasons of personal pride I'd go down in flames before I let an AR shooter outdo my prized FNC without a fight. But having all the options on their AR's available at the click of a mouse, it doesn't make it a fair fight. Want to see if Josh of Stormwerks will be persuaded to make a custom gas block to accommodate a slightly heavier contour at the front end. .750 happens to be my choice because I still don't want it to be too heavy and become a benchrest queen. Anyone out there have a custom barrel ever made to other than the orig. dimensions of the FNC? What kind of results did you wind up with. I'm looking for 1-1.5moa w/ commercial ammo and sub-moa with handloads. As of right now I can only get 2-3 moa with most commercial ammo and matchloads only get me below 2moa's. Not good enough IMHO. Keep in mind I've already done the trigger work and got it down to 4.3lbs. pull. Not exactly match trigger pulls but it breaks so clean it puts my LR308 (with polished trigger and springs) to shame.
Just hoping there might be enough interest for Josh to tool up to do a first run of a few to see how performance is improved. Particularly for the FA guys that still want to get groups in semi. Anyway, I'm of the opinion that the thicker barrel will do nothing but improve accuracy in happy mode and 3 rd. burst also after the barrel heats up.

Any one else unsatisfied with their barrel options on their C's here?

 

[JoshNC]

I'm not interested in a heavier barrel, but I would buy a spare gasblock for the standard barrel. If you're having them made, you may as well do both.

 

[TheColtCollector]

I'm not interested in a heavier barrel, but I would buy a spare gasblock for the standard barrel. If you're having them made, you may as well do both.

This

 

[okpud]

The GM barrels will do best with 62gr and heavier ammo. 55gr and lighter tends to open up groups by ~0.5 MOA. In general, most of the FNCs I put GM barrels into are capable of 1-2 MOA w. non-match NATO 62gr ammo. I haven't really spent any time trying to get groups with match grade ammo, as the FNC trigger and bolt really isn't up to the task. Every barrel we have installed is custom head spaced to the bolt provided with that rifle, and that has a much greater effect on accuracy than anything else related to the barrel. The gas port is way out at ~11", and chamber temp is what your more worried about for accuracy (bolt to barrel lockup), so trying to make it "extra thick" out past the gas port really won't be helping you much. Also, from experience, if you make a barrel with a diameter greater than the receiver threads (~.685"), you have to capture the barrel nut and make a retention pin for it. This is because the barrel nut can no longer slide over the barrel for installation.

Basically, here's the short list:

- FNCs are not match rifles and can't be turned into one. Don't expect anything better than 1 MOA, with 1.5-2 MOA being more realistic.

- Custom head spacing to your bolt with a new barrel will have the greatest positive effect on accuracy for any given ammo

- Shoot 62gr - 69gr ammo if you have a 1:7 - 1:9 twist barrel if accuracy is greatest concern

You might also want to read up on this thread -> http://www.uzitalk.com/forums/showt...rmarket-Barrels-for-Sale&highlight=FNC+Barrel It's what started it all on the barrels way back in 2006. Also, here is the thread for the creation and testing of the GM barrels -> http://www.uzitalk.com/forums/showt...barrel-any-out-there&highlight=Green+Mountain

I know we've done some custom barrels for folks on this forum, as well as a good amount of GM barrel installs. I'd rather let customers speak to their own accuracy experiences with the GM and custom installs.

We still make custom barrels for FNCs, too. BabsControl was kind enough to share the one we make for him as part of his AK5 project in this thread -> http://www.uzitalk.com/forums/showt...k-5-Build-Project/page2&highlight=babscontrol
If your interested in having a custom barrel make, you can PM me what you are looking for and we can come up with a quote for you.

 

[BabsControl]

I can't recommend okpud enough. His barrel was hitting at just around 1 MOA with Black Hills Mk 262 Mod 0 and it was made perfectly to fit my Ak5. It was priced well for a custom barrel.

 

[1fncfan]

Babs, your AK5 makes me drool and sport wood at the same time. OKpud, your father and I have spoken at length about the possibilities. Nice job on Bab's AK5 btw. Had no idea the connection w/ your dad. What kind of barrel blank did you wind up using for Bab's? Twist rate, chambering, length? Still wishing for a Shilen or Krieger or Douglas in a 1:8 w/ a Wylde chamber and a heavy profile all the way out to gas block if I can't get a custom one made. Already did my trigger work, down to about 4.2-4.5 on the pull. Anyone ever try the SCAR trigger here in an FNC?:https://www.midwayusa.com/product/567486/geissele-super-scar-trigger-fn-scar-16-17-two-stage-matte
Curious if it would fit or not. I'm also looking for a hammer spring for my 'C if you have any spares. Would like to see if I could further lighten the trigger by shortening this spring a coil or 2.

 

[AresShrike]

Depending on the cost, of course, I'd love to have an FAL heavy barrel gas block, to do a L2a1 type build.
You could PM me, as to the projected cost, when you find out.
thanks

I just noticed one on Gunbroker, for around $200.