Any magic to an AR barrel extension?

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I’ve made AR barrels in many calibers from 17 Rem, 20 calibers, 224 and 6mm cals (223 and Grendel based), all the way up to the 458 SOCOM. Best barrel extensions by far were the BAT extensions. There’s a guy making copies of them now (BAT WILL FORWARD YOU HIS CONTACT INFO) but not sure they’re as good. Used to be after threading/chambering a blank through the headstock I’d spin on the bat extension and test runout…it was always under .001”. I’ve had some OEM type have .015” of runout. Last few I’ve used were very good however, around that .001” runout range. Don’t remember the brand, but you could tell they were better finished with clean machining on all critical surfaces.

Thanks. I'll check with them.

 

[Fast14riot]

Darn Wilson barrels....

White Oak Precision is a different line of products from WOA, its more of his custom stuff. I think he uses Kreiger and Bartlein barrels.

That falls in the myth category.
There has been no evidence the port in a groove is better.
John H posted a long time ago he only did it because people complained it wasn't there, so he wanted to save time from the phone.
Robert Whitley claims based on all of the barrels he has done in the groove is actually worse than hitting land and groove.
There is a lot of dogma in the rifle accuracy world that seems to logically make sense, but in reality doesn't do what we think it does.

Accuracy wise yes, it doesn't make a difference. Seems to make cleaning a little easier though.

 

[SteveOak]

Unfortunately CLE is no longer doing consumer stuff.

 

[padom]

Just call the good folks at Compass Lake Engineering and order you a Krieger barrel of your specs and they will install a top quality barrel extension and ship the barrel to you. No muss, no fuss and no worries of any kind.

Did they start selling barrels on the consumer market again?

They stopped selling barrels to consumers and we're only doing contract barrels for the past year or so. They even had a message on their website...

I did hear some Rumblings the past month or two that they were going to start taking retail orders again for barrels but I didn't know if that actually happened yet or not

 

[Pawnee Bill]

Did they start selling barrels on the consumer market again?

They stopped selling barrels to consumers and we're only doing contract barrels for the past year or so. They even had a message on their website...

I did hear some Rumblings the past month or two that they were going to start taking retail orders again for barrels but I didn't know if that actually happened yet or not

I have gotten several barrels from them in the past. It has been a while since I got a barrel from them. Your information is more up to date than mine.

 

[akajun]

Good AR smiths time the gas port to be in the groove when threading.

thats hocus pocus, theyve learned that the gas port comet tail has no bearing on accuracy, and the ones entirely in the hole are actually larger than the ones split by the land. Its throat erosion that kills the accuracy, just like any other rifle.

 

[akajun]

If you carefully measure your upper hole, you can buy a custom diameter extension for it, or if you buy a small one you can simple cut a small piece of shim stock to tighten up the hole. It easy, fast, and works.
To install the extension, I simply chamber as normal, then thread the extension on with red locktight and tighten it down with a breaker bar. I let the locktight dry and I install the pin by drilling into the threads a pit and driving the pin in the hole or even drilling and tapping for a set screw, but my reasons were when installing a service rifle FF tube, that sometimes adjusting it or removing it I have unscrewed the barrel from the extension.

 

[VA_XTC_Shooter]

I’ve made AR barrels in many calibers from 17 Rem, 20 calibers, 224 and 6mm cals (223 and Grendel based), all the way up to the 458 SOCOM. Best barrel extensions by far were the BAT extensions. There’s a guy making copies of them now (BAT WILL FORWARD YOU HIS CONTACT INFO) but not sure they’re as good. Used to be after threading/chambering a blank through the headstock I’d spin on the bat extension and test runout…it was always under .001”. I’ve had some OEM type have .015” of runout. Last few I’ve used were very good however, around that .001” runout range. Don’t remember the brand, but you could tell they were better finished with clean machining on all critical surfaces.

That's a good point. You could cut a perfect no runout chamber and threaded tenon, then toss on a barrel extension and all of a sudden you have runout and chamber not concentric with the upper and bolt...

 

[padom]

I have gotten several barrels from them in the past. It has been a while since I got a barrel from them. Your information is more up to date than mine.

I have as well. Was always nice chatting with Frank White and talking load data and barrels. They stopped taking barrel orders from consumers man I dont remember exactly when but the last few years.

Like I said, I did hear some people saying the past month or so that Compass Lake was either taking barrels from consumers now or are about to start again....

 

[LVLAaron]

Unfortunately CLE is no longer doing consumer stuff.

Yeah. Their website is basically blank.

 

[padom]

I have a 20" WOA SDM Wilson 1-7 223 Wylde AR barrel that is a hammer with 77smk and 8208.

Here is my 77smk/23.6gr 8208 seating depth test

And this is 4 five shot groups in a row @ 100yd after the seating depth test to confirm my load.

Here my 20" WOA Bartlein 4 Groove 1-7 @ 100yd with Frank White's favorite AR accuracy load he gave to me.. 52SMK and N133

And here is my 20" Compass Lake Bartlein


Sierra 60gr HP and RE15

 

[jelenko]

I have a 20" WOA SDM Wilson 1-7 223 Wylde AR barrel that is a hammer with 77smk and 8208.

Here is my 77smk/23.6gr 8208 seating depth test

And this is 4 five shot groups in a row @ 100yd after the seating depth test to confirm my load.

Here my 20" WOA Bartlein 4 Groove 1-7 @ 100yd with Frank White's favorite AR accuracy load he gave to me.. 52SMK and N133

And here is my 20" Compass Lake Bartlein


60 SMK and RE15

In the seating tests with 77 SMK's - do I have it right that 3/1000 made a huge difference in group size?

For the 60 SMK, do you mean the 60TMK's or the 69 SMK's?
Thanks!

 

[padom]

In the seating tests with 77 SMK's - do I have it right that 3/1000 made a huge difference in group size?

For the 60 SMK, do you mean the 60TMK's or the 69 SMK's?
Thanks!

Yea, you have it right and you can see the confirmation in the follow up 4 groups, five shots each..

Sorry it's not a SMK... Sierra 60gr HP Sierra # 1375..

https://imgur.com/409FIsi

 

[padom]

In the seating tests with 77 SMK's - do I have it right that 3/1000 made a huge difference in group size?

When doing seating depth tests I usually work in 0.003" increments and I almost always find 1 seating depth that clearly stands out from the rest and shrinks right up. If I don't then that bullet/powder combo isn't for me and I swap bullets or powders or both..


Here my 20" Rainier Ultramatch (shilen blank) doing load development with the 73 ELD's... you can see the standout seating depth here as well... and again follow up 5 shot groups to confirm load.

https://imgur.com/RufQcvi

https://imgur.com/VWgLziP

https://imgur.com/vs2lBTr