06-12-2019, 06:16 AM
lazyengineer Wrote:Related to the current PSA 20" BBL deal; they like using A2 cut profiles. I've never been a big fan of that cut.
For something like a 6.5 Grendel, is there any advantage to the A2 profile cut? If you took an A2 cut barrel vs a light weight barrel that didn't have the extra mass out there, would the A2 shoot any better?
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52' is an avid history buff when it comes to the M16/AR15 so he might have more detail.
My thoughts are that the heavier the gun the more stable it is when shooting supported. This is why there are weight limits in competition, like the 8kg rule for F-Class. Any weight down the end of a barrel, for example a heavy suppressor or in your case, a thicker barrel will help precision.
My understanding is that the A1 profile ('pencil' barrel) was replaced by the A2 profile because the thicker barrel dissipated heat better in sustained fire situations. And yes, they are less prone to damage. The thin section under the handguard was kept to continue compatibility with the M203 grenade launcher. So thick forward of the block and thin behind it. Sometimes you see a one inch thinner cut section on barrels in front of a shorter gas port, which is where the 40mm launcher clamps.