PSA Lightweight vs Freedom?

wild cat mccane · June 16, 2018, 12:10 PM

Hey there,

I've read in the real world "lightweight" doesn't change accuracy at all while giving the benefit of being lighter.

So I'm just looking for opinions on PSA's "PSA" lightweight barrel for a Freedom barrel from PSA--all features being equal.

Thoughts?

Everything I google on this subject comes from the time when Freedom was introduced years ago...

For example, note-not the features of the product but the barrel alone:
http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-1...165448551.html
vs
http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-1...h-7780446.html

Thanks!

DubC-Hicks · June 16, 2018, 01:43 PM

Both are A2 profile barrels, so they should be exactly the same.

I believe the "lightweight" is talking about the lightweight handguard.

kymasabe · June 16, 2018, 03:11 PM

Of those two, they're the same barrel. The "lightweight " is referring to the handguard. Their nitride barrels are pretty decent. They occasionally advertise one as having Melonite finish as well. PSA's Classic line are phosphate coated barrels with unlined bores, not as pretty....but of the two you asked about, either will serve you well.

kymasabe · June 16, 2018, 03:31 PM

Here are a couple of mine. Both PSA lowers and uppers.
https://ibb.co/dA1tny
https://ibb.co/gDV8LJ

Liberate80 · June 16, 2018, 07:25 PM

Hardenedarms.com

Their store bought complete uppers beat PSA hands down.

Freedom barrels are hit or miss for accuracy. You get a barrel that shoots, not shoots well.

Lightweight in this case means the handguard. Lightweight barrels do not handle heat well, in other words, rapid fire means rapid inaccuracy. They have a smaller surface area and dissipate heat slower than thicker barrels with flutes. Flutes decrease weight and increase surface area.

Spend money on a decent barrel. Everyrhing else gets built around the barrel. If you want to shoot bullets, get a PSA freedom midlegnth kit for $369 with free shipping. If you want to shoot bullets well, get a nice barrel, about $200 barrel. If you want a gun that shoots better than you, Shilen, Green Mountain, etc, $500 a barrel.

What are you trying to build?
Spending a lot of money on a paint job does not tune the engine.

marine6680 · June 17, 2018, 01:17 AM

All things being equal... A rare occurrence, but we will run with it.

A lightweight barrel heats up faster. It can be more prone to stringing shots as it heats up. It will cool down faster. It can be more suseptable to changes in barrel harmonics, so free float is a good idea with one.

Accuracy is a combination of things, and consistency from shot to shot is part of that.

So a lightweight barrel can be accurate, but it may not stay accurate through an entire course of fire.

There are pros and cons, gains and trade offs with everything.

Lightweight barrels help she'd weight out front on the gun, bit have their drawbacks as well.

You choose what to use based on your primary performance goals for the rifle.

wild cat mccane · June 18, 2018, 07:26 AM

Can I now change my question? (thank you for all the help so far)

I have the Freedom barrel with MOE hand guard and also purchased a new barrel with the M-Lok PSA hand guard.

I'll know pretty quick, but the wait is killing me. Change the MOE to MOE SL and keep the metal front sight or go with the PSA hand guard with MBUS sights?

Mostly, which is more comfortable in the hand? MOE SL or the M-LOK? (I know M-LOK is the hole configuration, but you know the hand guard I'm thinking about on this one

)

Thanks again!

Did also buy a Nickle Boron BCG and the steel charging handle to replace my PSA regular BCG and aluminum handle.

marine6680 · June 18, 2018, 07:29 PM

Comfort is subjective...

I really like the feel of the SL handguards, so there is no need to swap to a free float handguard just because if you don't want to.

wild cat mccane · June 18, 2018, 08:31 PM

So free float on a normal PSA barrel isn't going to make a break accuracy in a measurable way compared to the MOE versions?

marine6680 · June 18, 2018, 08:37 PM

Well... That depends.

Free floating a barrel removes external factors.

Inside 100yds, it's likely not an issue. Many shooters wouldn't see any real difference between free float or not.

And freedom barrels are not target barrels, so no you are unlikely to see any real change...

June 16, 2018, 12:10 PM	#1
wild cat mccane Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 3,622	PSA Lightweight vs Freedom? Hey there, I've read in the real world "lightweight" doesn't change accuracy at all while giving the benefit of being lighter. So I'm just looking for opinions on PSA's "PSA" lightweight barrel for a Freedom barrel from PSA--all features being equal. Thoughts? Everything I google on this subject comes from the time when Freedom was introduced years ago... For example, note-not the features of the product but the barrel alone: http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-1...165448551.html vs http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-1...h-7780446.html Thanks! Last edited by wild cat mccane; June 16, 2018 at 12:17 PM.

June 16, 2018, 01:43 PM	#2
DubC-Hicks Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2009 Location: Backwoods, Northern MI Posts: 1,031	Both are A2 profile barrels, so they should be exactly the same. I believe the "lightweight" is talking about the lightweight handguard. __________________ ”Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars.” ~Unknown

June 16, 2018, 03:11 PM	#3
kymasabe Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2005 Location: SW Florida Posts: 2,747	Of those two, they're the same barrel. The "lightweight " is referring to the handguard. Their nitride barrels are pretty decent. They occasionally advertise one as having Melonite finish as well. PSA's Classic line are phosphate coated barrels with unlined bores, not as pretty....but of the two you asked about, either will serve you well. __________________ God's creatures big and small, eat them one, eat them all.

June 16, 2018, 03:31 PM	#4
kymasabe Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2005 Location: SW Florida Posts: 2,747	Here are a couple of mine. Both PSA lowers and uppers. https://ibb.co/dA1tny https://ibb.co/gDV8LJ __________________ God's creatures big and small, eat them one, eat them all.

June 16, 2018, 07:25 PM	#5
Liberate80 Member Join Date: October 18, 2017 Posts: 17	Hardenedarms.com Their store bought complete uppers beat PSA hands down. Freedom barrels are hit or miss for accuracy. You get a barrel that shoots, not shoots well. Lightweight in this case means the handguard. Lightweight barrels do not handle heat well, in other words, rapid fire means rapid inaccuracy. They have a smaller surface area and dissipate heat slower than thicker barrels with flutes. Flutes decrease weight and increase surface area. Spend money on a decent barrel. Everyrhing else gets built around the barrel. If you want to shoot bullets, get a PSA freedom midlegnth kit for $369 with free shipping. If you want to shoot bullets well, get a nice barrel, about $200 barrel. If you want a gun that shoots better than you, Shilen, Green Mountain, etc, $500 a barrel. What are you trying to build? Spending a lot of money on a paint job does not tune the engine. Last edited by Liberate80; June 16, 2018 at 07:45 PM.

June 17, 2018, 01:17 AM	#6
marine6680 Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2012 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 4,594	All things being equal... A rare occurrence, but we will run with it. A lightweight barrel heats up faster. It can be more prone to stringing shots as it heats up. It will cool down faster. It can be more suseptable to changes in barrel harmonics, so free float is a good idea with one. Accuracy is a combination of things, and consistency from shot to shot is part of that. So a lightweight barrel can be accurate, but it may not stay accurate through an entire course of fire. There are pros and cons, gains and trade offs with everything. Lightweight barrels help she'd weight out front on the gun, bit have their drawbacks as well. You choose what to use based on your primary performance goals for the rifle.

June 18, 2018, 07:26 AM	#7
wild cat mccane Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 3,622	Can I now change my question? (thank you for all the help so far) I have the Freedom barrel with MOE hand guard and also purchased a new barrel with the M-Lok PSA hand guard. I'll know pretty quick, but the wait is killing me. Change the MOE to MOE SL and keep the metal front sight or go with the PSA hand guard with MBUS sights? Mostly, which is more comfortable in the hand? MOE SL or the M-LOK? (I know M-LOK is the hole configuration, but you know the hand guard I'm thinking about on this one ) Thanks again! Did also buy a Nickle Boron BCG and the steel charging handle to replace my PSA regular BCG and aluminum handle.

June 18, 2018, 07:29 PM	#8
marine6680 Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2012 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 4,594	Comfort is subjective... I really like the feel of the SL handguards, so there is no need to swap to a free float handguard just because if you don't want to.

June 18, 2018, 08:31 PM	#9
wild cat mccane Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 3,622	So free float on a normal PSA barrel isn't going to make a break accuracy in a measurable way compared to the MOE versions?

June 18, 2018, 08:37 PM	#10
marine6680 Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2012 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 4,594	Well... That depends. Free floating a barrel removes external factors. Inside 100yds, it's likely not an issue. Many shooters wouldn't see any real difference between free float or not. And freedom barrels are not target barrels, so no you are unlikely to see any real change...

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