Benefits of the pencil barrel?

[WillBrink]

The thread on the HK G36 using pencil barrel as (supposedly) the major issue behind very poor accuracy of the rifle once it gets hot, which is supposedly a known issue of pencil barrels, got me to thinking what the pros of a pencil barrel are. I'm assuming the basic mechanism is, the thin barrel gets hot, which makes it flex, and you get a whipping effect of the barrel and accuracy goes to chit.

The obvious pros are a savings in weight and savings in costs to the manufacturer. As always, there's a trade off to any choices made in a design and a risk/benefit assessment made.

It would seem in a primary mil rifle as the G36, that con far outweighs the pro, unless there's some other benefits of the pencil barrel I'm not aware of. HK is not known for intentionally short changing a design to save a few $$$ (if my assessment of that is correct that it does save on costs some place) and most troops are more than willing to lug the extra weight from the added weight of a barrel that does not give minute of mini van once heated.

What am I missing?

[Kyohte]

I thought the issue with the G36 was a plastic trunnion, but having never picked one apart I can't say for sure. Weight savings on a pencil barrel is pretty dramatic on longer barrels. Looking back at most military rifles of late 20th century, one can see the trend of lighter barrels. Even new contenders like the SCAR are sporting pencil barrels.

Edit: the trunnion itself is steel, but it sits in a polymer cradle with no other metal support. This is what is likely causing issues.

[nova3930]

Depending on what the initial OD of the barrel blanks you're using is, the production costs could actually be a higher. More wasted material and more machine time.....

[Mr blasty]

Advantages really depends on the purpose of the barrel. Precision and sustainable fire and longer service life with consistent use aren't a pencils strong points. A quick handling carbine that's easy to carry and won't be seeing high rates of fire often are. Police and civilians are likely to get the most use out of one. Military with higher rates of fire may not need an Hbar or even a medcon but something between a lw and a medcon is probably minimum at least for them.

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[SteyrAUG]

Can't comment on the G36, but my SP1 carbine shot about 1MOA if I was doing my part. That was a really light and handy carbine. I remember the first M4 profile barrel I got I was like WTF?!? because it was so much heavier and out of balance (front heavy).

I always wondered which was more accurate, a SP1 20" barrel rifle or a M4 16" carbine? The rifle in question would be a lot lighter.

Now when it comes to suppressors, I can see where a pencil barrel might not be the best platform.

[grunz]

I cant imagine any downside to pencil barrel when compared to the thin then thick M4 govt profile barrels - particularly now with long FF rails covering the whole BBl like on a 14.5....

BTW I have heard of G36 accuracy issues since at least 2006 from a couple guys I talked with from Fairfax VA county swat team - they were not fans and had recently switched to 416s because of those issues.

[WillBrink]

Advantages really depends on the purpose of the barrel. Precision and sustainable fire and longer service life with consistent use aren't a pencils strong points. A quick handling carbine that's easy to carry and won't be seeing high rates of fire often are. Police and civilians are likely to get the most use out of one. Military with higher rates of fire may not need an Hbar or even a medcon but something between a lw and a medcon is probably minimum at least for them.

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Which is the intent and design of the G36 no? That was it's primary role I had thought.

[WillBrink]

Can't comment on the G36, but my SP1 carbine shot about 1MOA if I was doing my part. That was a really light and handy carbine. I remember the first M4 profile barrel I got I was like WTF?!? because it was so much heavier and out of balance (front heavy).

I always wondered which was more accurate, a SP1 20" barrel rifle or a M4 16" carbine? The rifle in question would be a lot lighter.

Now when it comes to suppressors, I can see where a pencil barrel might not be the best platform.

It appears the G36 is too, until it gets hot. How hot, I'm not clear. That appears where the trouble starts.

[Business_Casual]

It appears the G36 is too, until it gets hot. How hot, I'm not clear. That appears where the trouble starts.

Wouldn't crew-served and heavier weapons do most of the killing, while rifle fire is primarily to pin your adversary in place while the aforementioned booms are organized?

[WillBrink]

Wouldn't crew-served and heavier weapons do most of the killing, while rifle fire is primarily to pin your adversary in place while the aforementioned booms are organized?

A bit above my pay grade. You'd have to direct that at the BTDT mil members here. It would seem me, there's plenty of times where that rifle is the primary weapon troops have and it's spitting bullets and getting damn hot.