Some more info
Gas Port diameters:
BCM 14.5" Mid ELW-F, .078"
Noveske 14.5" Mid Skinny, .088"
Overall length:
-Measured from the barrel shoulder
BCM 14.5" Mid ELW-F, 14&1/16"
Noveske 14.5" Mid Skinny, 14"
-Measured from the barrel extenstion
BCM 14.5" Mid ELW-F, 15"
Noveske 14.5" Mid Skinny, 14&15/16"
The BCM barrel is 1/16" longer than the Noveske.
Profile diameters:
Noveske 14.5" Mid Skinny
- at barrel collar, .973"
- about 1" ahead of barrel collar, .863"
- about 6" bellow handguard cap shoulder .665"
- about 3" bellow handguard cap shoulder, .625"
- directly behind handguard cap shoulder, .608"
- gas block, .625"
- directly in front of gas block, .582"
- directly behind muzzle device collar, .577"
BCM 14.5" Mid ELW-F (not measured at the valley of the flutes)
- at barrel collar, .977"
- about 1" ahead of barrel collar, .780"
- about 6" bellow gas block .690"
- about 3" bellow gas block, .650"
- directly behind gas block, .600"
- gas block, .625"
- directly in front of gas block, .575"
- directly behind muzzle device collar, .575"
The Noveske Skinny profile tappers faster than the BCM ELW and is actually thinner in diameter towards the base of the barrel. The ELW-F, however, is .3oz lighter due to the flutes (ELW-F is said to weigh .5oz less than the ELW on BCMs site, so the ELW is probably about .1oz or .2oz heavier than the Skinny). The ELW is thinner ahead of the gas block lending to the balance concept and use material where it is best served towards the chamber. While both barrels are tapered I would say the ELW is more linar in its taper over the whole length of the barrel. The Noveske tapers faster and is slightly thinner up to the gas block. For this reason I would venture a guess that the ELW profile is probably more ridged than the Skinny barrel and the ELW-Fluted is probably about same ridgity if just slightly more.
I like how the BCM is already dimpled for a GB. The Noveske comes with a .625 gas block drilled for a pin and a pin, but if you want to use a different gas block you will either have to find one pre drilled for pinning, have one drilled for pinning, or have your barrel dimpled for a set screw in order to do it right.
The steel BCM .625 GB is the same size as a .750 GB but just has a .625 diameter hole.
The steel Noveske .625 GB is scaled down for the smaller diameter.
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