Thread: HBAR 20" barrel for Service Rifle Shooting ?

Hi guys,

I have a Schmeisser 20" AR-15 A4 Rifle with a Heavy Govt Profile HBAR barrel.

The rifle is being done up as a m16 copy.

I was wanting get to get into service rifle shooting with it this year. I've been reading online and it seems that the standard 20" Government profile barrel which is lighter is more popular.

Is a HBAR good to go for service rifle shooting or is it considered too heavy?

Do many guys use a HBAR barrel?

Cheers

It’s the same profile as my Schmeisser mid length Lothar Walther barrel. The diameter under the handguard and behind the gas block should be 0.96” diameter which should be the maximum allowed for service class.

Yeah it is legal, just wondering if it is common to shoot a HBAR 20" rather than a standard govt profile due to the weight. It is a Lothar Walther too, whole rifle seems really well made to be honest, tolerances are tight.

Yep, plenty of HBar barrels. My Stag 20” barrel is HBar, not to 0.96” though.

Been running a 20" HBar Bushmaster for the last 12 years and it does the job. In that time I would say the 20" HBar has been the most common rifle used in the nationals. Personally I find the extra barrel weight an advantage for standing and rapid matches over carbine and M4 barrels. You also gain extra velocity with longer 20" barrel.

Originally Posted by dogmatix

Yep, plenty of HBar barrels. My Stag 20” barrel is HBar, not to 0.96” though.

Attachment 104002

Here is mine. It is actually 0.98 by the chamber but drops down to 0.96 so I think that is legal based on the rules?

Excuse the marks on the D ring, I bought a cheap tool to get the d ring down...too cheap

It is reasonably heavy in the hand, a lot lighter though since I got rid of the quad rail.

I pull the d ring by hand. Have the rifle muzzle down, stock in your stomach and pull the d ring towards you. Easier that way.

I'm using an Aero HBAR, it is .980 at the chamber.

Check the Match Code to confirm if vertical foregrip is allowed. I know it is for LMT spec, not sure for M16 clone.

Also, if you are on A-cat license, check if a bayonet lug is ok. Easy enough to grind off with a dremel etc. Or get your E and get a nice A2 stock for it

Originally Posted by dogmatix

I pull the d ring by hand. Have the rifle muzzle down, stock in your stomach and pull the d ring towards you. Easier that way.

Yeah man that is pretty much how I do it now, those tools suck.

Originally Posted by ebf

I'm using an Aero HBAR, it is .980 at the chamber.

Check the Match Code to confirm if vertical foregrip is allowed. I know it is for LMT spec, not sure for M16 clone.

Also, if you are on A-cat license, check if a bayonet lug is ok. Easy enough to grind off with a dremel etc. Or get your E and get a nice A2 stock for it

The lug was castrated when it was imported, It is hard to tell from the photograph but it has been grinded off on the sides sadly, at least it was done neatly.

The rifle will be going E cat soonish.

Code states 'Knights style front grips are permitted' - I actually imported that one from Brownells because of that (it is a genuine Knights they are not that expensive).

Originally Posted by Square22

The lug was castrated when it was imported, It is hard to tell from the photograph but it has been grinded off on the sides sadly, at least it was done neatly.

The rifle will be going E cat soonish.

Code states 'Knights style front grips are permitted' - I actually imported that one from Brownells because of that (it is a genuine Knights they are not that expensive).

Cool. you going to keep the carry handle and shoot irons or put an optic on it ?

Originally Posted by ebf

Cool. you going to keep the carry handle and shoot irons or put an optic on it ?

I have a 3x Vortex thing, the poor man's acog.

I'm a bit of a novice, can't you shoot both - aren't there irons only matches?

depends where you shoot...

Nationals has irons class, but much smaller field than optics (10 in that class vs 50 in service optics)

Some of the big regional matches like ASRA don't have irons class - not sure why.

At club level you will probably find some guys shooting irons.

This weekend there is an irons only regional comp at CNIGC in Rotorua.

Originally Posted by ebf

depends where you shoot...

Nationals has irons class, but much smaller field than optics (10 in that class vs 50 in service optics)

Some of the big regional matches like ASRA don't have irons class - not sure why.

At club level you will probably find some guys shooting irons.

This weekend there is an irons only regional comp at CNIGC in Rotorua.

Which still has one or two places left...

Originally Posted by ebf

I'm using an Aero HBAR, it is .980 at the chamber.

Check the Match Code to confirm if vertical foregrip is allowed. I know it is for LMT spec, not sure for M16 clone.

Also, if you are on A-cat license, check if a bayonet lug is ok. Easy enough to grind off with a dremel etc. Or get your E and get a nice A2 stock for it

Dont grind it off! If its not a hassle ill swap you my one which is already neutered. (what is involved in removing and replacing a front sight/gas block?)

JUst finished reading the rest of the thread.....
Cancel my request.

Iron sights are indeed fun.