Why do so many AR-15 Co. sell weapons with the stupid grenade launcher Notch in the barrel. I saw a new model marketed for 3 gun with the notch. I hated the Bayonet lug on the carbine thing but the Notch is even worse.
That's it in a nutshell. Same old whore in a different dress!!
Look...they make them that way because they do. Hard to tell why some bbl mfgs still do it for civilian carbines because in my mind, it is just more machine time and expense to add a feature that is 99.5% of the time completely and utterly useless, adding nothing to the functionality, accuracy, operation, etc. of the rifle. Most people I have seen with "203s" mounted on their rifles (i.e. - 37mm flare launchers) have so much rail real estate that they opt for the full rail mount anyway and don't even need the M4/203 barrel profile!!
This is your answer! Which is why a base model M4 carbine can be in the sub $1 range....because there's bushels of parts already made for the Gov contracts and changing tooling is very costly. So, just keep the line running.
I have spent my money on other profiles.I just can't understand why somebody would put up with a useless notch. As far as retooling a M4 has a 14" barrel these are all 16" and some are on 3 gun high dollar stuff.Just my pet peeve .I build all my weapons .Have for 20+ years I guess the only thing worse than a notch is a barrel that is not ff .Those 2 pc hand guards and delta rings are about as useless as a carry handle.