Looking for a Colt 14.5" Barrel For Your Next SBR?

[omegared24]

Excessive use is probably the cause but it is a surplus (used) upper. I pinned them to a quality lower and it’s a sloppy fit. But I couldn’t find my feeler gauge kit before I had to go furniture shopping with the spousal unit to check the actual clearance between the receivers. I wouldn’t say it’s a major concern but I have the gauges to check it and this is what I found. The pivot pin (front lug) is good though. And these are those funky FN CAGE coded uppers with a raised “C” that’s supposed to be a Colt mark and they have an Anchory Harvey forge mark as well. If you ordered one, your results may vary. Just throwing out there what I found with mine so far.

I haven't done a test fit yet but I'll bet it is loose. I will most likely run it on a cerakoted lower that is super tight so it will probably fit just right. I'll let everyone know.

 

[Redbean]

Okay Ski169, here are pics of my Colt upper from Shark Arms:

 

[calicojack]

Midway also has SOCM barrels https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1022851843?pid=313135

 

[Ski169]

Redbean, you got a legitimate Colt upper there. Stamped “C” with Cerro forge keyhole mark. Mine are a different abomination. The rear takedown lug bore hole will usually be somewhat oval due to tolerances of attaching to different lowers. The diameter of that bore from top to bottom should still be within a certain diameter which mine failed. From the pictures, yours look normal but only gauging them will give you an accurate assessment. Additionally, when attached to a lower, the gap between the receivers shouldn’t exceed .0020”.

From what I can see in the pictures, your receiver appears to be in better shape than the two I had delivered yesterday. So it may not have been as abused as mine. So I would guess it’s less likely that something is out of spec on yours. That’s only a speculation on my part based off of the condition of what I can see in your pics however gauging and a good visual inspection will confirm that.

 

[omegared24]

Okay Ski169, here are pics of my Colt upper from Shark Arms:

That's the same upper I got.

 

[calicojack]

How is that a COLT part?

It's not; an alternative to Colt.

 

[Ski169]

Midway also has SOCM barrels https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1022851843?pid=313135

Better price than Brownells. But Brownells is offering the stripped barrel which is what I need at the moment. I’m also waiting for Centurion Arms to get more of their barrels in stock as I really like their tabbed gas blocks that lock into position so they stay centered over the gas port. Centurion also offers HBAR engraving for those of you in MD.

 

[Redbean]

Thanks for the good info. I'll have the gunsmith check it out when I find one to pin & weld the flash suppressor.

 

[Ski169]

Thanks for the good info. I'll have the gunsmith check it out when I find one to pin & weld the flash suppressor.

Provided he has the gauges. I’m not sure it’s a common thing to check to be honest. Just something I learned from a member here who has made gauges every once in a while for everything on these rifles.

 

[Slim]

Just found this and read the entire thread.

You know it's too bad we have to register these as SBR's because a 14.5" barrel is really a nice rig. OTOH - at least these are be treated in a different category which may have it's advantages in the almost certain ban attempts. Or it may not matter. Regardless I just like a 14.5" barrel better than a 16".

MD laws are annoying (and unconstitutional), but the carveout for HBARs makes it less so I guess. NFA of course, too.

I also like 14.5” better than 16”. But in another thread here we discussed the “other” SOCOM Barrel, the 16” one that came with the Colt SOCOM II RIS FSP. FYI / “Just So You Know” , it’s a 16” MD-legal SOCOM-weight barrel, with the M4 diameter step (red), but not the M203 flats machined (blue). So it looks like it’s an M4 forward of the FSP, but can’t actually mount an M203.

(Maybe no one GAF, but I have so little to offer here, I try to contribute when I can )

 

[calicojack]

Slim, yes, the SOCOM appears to let you have your cake and eat it too. As Outrider pointed out early in this thread, one could just get a SOCOM barrel and pin and weld a muzzled device and there you have it. For me, the SOCOM barrel is a bit heavy. That being said, the SOCOM barrel is very popular for a reason.

 

[omegared24]

Got a chance to test fit on a couple of lowers a bit ago. My Engage standard lower has a bit of a wiggle but not much worse than another well used upper I have.

Barely moves mated to the cerakoted lower. It fits really well. I'll likely use it with this lower anyway.

Passed .223 go, 5.56 go and field headspace gauges.

The only issue I see is that the FSB looks slightly canted. This leads me to believe that the FSB was from another barrel. If it's off I'll have it drilled for larger pins so it lines up properly.

The feedramps line up well and won't have feeding issues. The pin and weld looks clean.

I'm not installing the P and S rails. I'll just hold on to them since they look new. I'll keep them with my 6920HBPW in case I want the SOCOM look.

Was going to add pics from my phone and somehow they have disappeared. Better luck next time.

 

[Slim]

Slim, yes, the SOCOM appears to let you have your cake and eat it too. As Outrider pointed out early in this thread, one could just get a SOCOM barrel and pin and weld a muzzled device and there you have it. For me, the SOCOM barrel is a bit heavy. That being said, the SOCOM barrel is very popular for a reason.

Makes sense for an HBAR, but for an SBR if rather have have government profile.

 

[outrider58]

Back in stock...


https://www.gandrtactical.com/Colt-145-M4-SOCOM-Barrel-w-FSB_p_332.html

 

[Ski169]

Virgin SOCOM Colt barrel. No taper pin holes. I haven’t been doing this long enough to know that all gas block set screws are not the same length. Some are longer. Presumably to have some protrude out of the bottom of the gas block? Anyway, the screws provided with the PRI gas block were longer and I was attempting to make them flush. The mark on my drill bit indicated I was deep enough but they were still sticking out. Went to my McMaster-Carr parts and tried those screws and they are slightly below flush. Glad I stopped when I did. Now I have a barrel to work with the KAC URX 3.1.

 

[calicojack]

Very nice!

 

[Ski169]

Very nice!

Thank you Sir! Thanks for starting this thread and rekindling my love for these barrels. By far my favorite.

 

[Hoons]

Back in stock...


https://www.gandrtactical.com/Colt-145-M4-SOCOM-Barrel-w-FSB_p_332.html

Placed an order, been waiting awhile. Thanks!

 

[135sohc]

Not perfect world but any reason why using this barrel with a non M4 cut receiver would be a big no no ?

 

[Redbean]

Looks great! keep the pics coming!