AR 15 Barrels

[Frankr]

Well guys I got a 20" SDM Barrel and it seems to shoot 1/2moa or slightly better..I am glad I did it so far very happy with the shooting and still very new to this Black Rifle stuff. It Is just a little heavier than I wish it was at 9 1/4 LBS scoped. So the wheels have been turning upstairs to build a lighter weight upper to switch to for some night hunts and just to play with. Is there any Barrels that are not a heavy contour that you could get 1/2 moa out of. I was thinking a least 18" lighter contour but would like it to be accurate. I have been looking around and I don't want to spend 600 bucks for one.
I been looking at a Faxon Barrel. So has anyone been down this rabbit hole.

 

[RCC1]

You will likely get a lot of answers on this but here is my opinion.

There are a lot of very good AR barrel manufacturers.

I shoot a lot out to and past 500 yards on regular basis with my AR's.

White Oak Armament makes some the best barrels IMHO. If you are looking to save some money Odin Works 1/8 twist barrels can't be beat.

I built, tuned, Cerakote, and reload for every AR and M16 in this picture.

 

[Ggmac]

I see you live in California or is it NY city ?
Nice collection and nice work .

 

[mac86951]

+1 on WOA and +1 to faxon. WOA I feel is best for service rifle and heavier profiles. Faxon has a great 18" with rifle length gas port called the Gunner profile. No side by side the two don't compare; different purposes, but both I'm happy with. 1/2 MOA from faxon at 100y; hmmm sometimes, but not "all day.". More like sub-MOA "yes."

 

[varmintshooter]

Thanks for the picture, showed it to my wife and said see I'm not sick .

 

[Frankr]

You will likely get a lot of answers on this but here is my opinion.

There are a lot of very good AR barrel manufacturers.

I shoot a lot out to and past 500 yards on regular basis with my AR's.

White Oak Armament makes some the best barrels IMHO. If you are looking to save some money Odin Works 1/8 twist barrels can't be beat.

I built, tuned, Cerakote, and reload for every AR and M16 in this picture.

well now...very cool...so you would have a idea what I have in mind then.lol...No I can not find a contour that is not heavy that can or should shoot well...I was looking at the 18" Gov't / Socom contour to keep the weight down as maybe more accurate than like a GUNNER contour or pencil contour, But I don't know. So if asked you if you were going to buy a barrel right now 18" in a less then Heavy or MED heavy contour to keep the weight down. and you want it to shoot beter than 1MOA what would you buy. my factory 16" 1-8 Bushmaster barrel will shoot 1" to 1 1/4" at 100 yards. SO I would want it to shoot better than that. And with so many barrels out there and so many prices I really have no idea...What would you recommend that is not heavy...Lighter weight at least 18"

 

[RCC1]

well now...very cool...so you would have a idea what I have in mind then.lol...No I can not find a contour that is not heavy that can or should shoot well...I was looking at the 18" Gov't / Socom contour to keep the weight down as maybe more accurate than like a GUNNER contour or pencil contour, But I don't know. So if asked you if you were going to buy a barrel right now 18" in a less then Heavy or MED heavy contour to keep the weight down. and you want it to shoot beter than 1MOA what would you buy. my factory 16" 1-8 Bushmaster barrel will shoot 1" to 1 1/4" at 100 yards. SO I would want it to shoot better than that. And with so many barrels out there and so many prices I really have no idea...What would you recommend that is not heavy...Lighter weight at least 18"

I have no experience with Faxon but others have vouched for them. All of 18" guns all have the same WOA barrel as I run Ops inc/Allen engineering suppressors on them plus they are freakishly accurate.

I have tested just about every brand of 16" and 14.5" barrels. A lot of them are MOA accurate. I have found Noveske, Odin Works, Larue, Spikes Lothar barrels to be sub-MOA. Out of those the Odin works is the best priced.

I wouldn't stray away from using a 16" barrel to save weight. I average 2800 FPS with my 16" barrels and 75gr loads.

 

[jepp2]

Is there any Barrels that are not a heavy contour that you could get 1/2 moa out of.

Realize you might buy 3 more heavy contour barrels that don't do 1/2 moa. To meet your goal of 9 1/4 lbs., how much barrel weight do you think you need to cut? If you are certain you need to meet the 9 1/4 lb. weight, you might consider all components, and make selections that retain the best accuracy merits. Trying to save it all with just the barrel might not be the best choice.

I have had really good accuracy from WOA barrels, and they offer a wide range of profiles/lengths. You can pay a lot more.

 

[Frankr]

Thanks RCC1 I am looking at the odin works 3 gun contour. You will have to PM me some load info as I only got around 2,500 FPS from my 16" I am not even getting 2,800 from my 20" yet..just some factory BH 69gr'ers at 2,690 so if you want to PM me some info I would appreciate it..

 

[RCC1]

Thanks RCC1 I am looking at the odin works 3 gun contour. You will have to PM me some load info as I only got around 2,500 FPS from my 16" I am not even getting 2,800 from my 20" yet..just some factory BH 69gr'ers at 2,690 so if you want to PM me some info I would appreciate it..

The load info is easy.

LC case
75gr Hornady BTHP
25.5 grains CFE 223

It's a ballistic match to Hornady TAP #80265 which probably the most accurate commercial Ammo I have ever shot.

As always start with a lower charge my load is hot but safe in every gun I've tested it in.

I'm getting over 3000fps with 62gr M855A1 reloads out of a 16" barrel.

 

[Frankr]

Realize you might buy 3 more heavy contour barrels that don't do 1/2 moa. To meet your goal of 9 1/4 lbs., how much barrel weight do you think you need to cut? If you are certain you need to meet the 9 1/4 lb. weight, you might consider all components, and make selections that retain the best accuracy merits. Trying to save it all with just the barrel might not be the best choice.

I have had really good accuracy from WOA barrels, and they offer a wide range of profiles/lengths. You can pay a lot more.

Yes I do I have had many custom barrels from just about every maker in bolt guns but this is my first venture in to a Black gas gun..And yea wow this barrel is 20" just a shade over 3.0lb and with a certain load it was well under 1/2 moa at 100 yards absolutely could not be happier. But would like to put together a LIGHTER WEIGHT upper and don't know much about these barrels.

 

[Frankr]

OK thanks...I have LC brass coming and them 69gr sierra's that shot so well.. I have CFE 223 . I have RL15.

 

[Richard Coody]

Well guys I got a 20" SDM Barrel and it seems to shoot 1/2moa or slightly better..I am glad I did it so far very happy with the shooting and still very new to this Black Rifle stuff. It Is just a little heavier than I wish it was at 9 1/4 LBS scoped. So the wheels have been turning upstairs to build a lighter weight upper to switch to for some night hunts and just to play with. Is there any Barrels that are not a heavy contour that you could get 1/2 moa out of. I was thinking a least 18" lighter contour but would like it to be accurate. I have been looking around and I don't want to spend 600 bucks for one.
I been looking at a Faxon Barrel. So has anyone been down this rabbit hole.

Well i have been there and done that

Built some fine shooting ARs. Usually hbar. But you would want a gunbearer if you got far from the bench with one. Bought.an upper from Robert Whitley. 6mm AR with a 26" krieger barrel. That.gun would often shoot quarter inch groups.

Got.away from that. Built a grendel with a JP 18" lightweight barrel. I wouldn't call it a half inch gun but a respectable 3/4" gun. And that is with factory hornady SSTs. Haven't even bothered to reload for.it. it is my hog hunting gun. Only time it has been on the bench was sighting in. It is a little over 7.5# with optics. Fun hog gun. We try to kill all we can. Multiple shots are the norm. Had a friend who started with a .308 AR10. He quickly gave that up after a few nights of lugging that thing around.

 

[RCC1]

Well i have been there and done that

Built some fine shooting ARs. Usually hbar. But you would want a gunbearer if you got far from the bench with one. Bought.an upper from Robert Whitley. 6mm AR with a 26" krieger barrel. That.gun would often shoot quarter inch groups.

Got.away from that. Built a grendel with a JP 18" lightweight barrel. I wouldn't call it a half inch gun but a respectable 3/4" gun. And that is with factory hornady SSTs. Haven't even bothered to reload for.it. it is my hog hunting gun. Only time it has been on the bench was sighting in. It is a little over 7.5# with optics. Fun hog gun. We try to kill all we can. Multiple shots are the norm. Had a friend who started with a .308 AR10. He quickly gave that up after a few nights of lugging that thing around.

308's can be built light. Expensive but light. This rifle has a proof research carbon barrel, and every titanium part made.

 

[carlsbad]

I have a fulton armory 24" barrel made by criterion and it suprised me to shoot 1/2 moa. Shouldn't break the bank.

http://www.fulton-armory.com/ar-15-barrels.aspx

 

[msinc]

I don't know that there are any "bad" barrels out there...that said, White Oak does not make barrels. White Oak Armament barrels are made by Wilson, which is the actual maker of many different companies barrels and they are as good as any. I have had very good luck with Wilson barrels on several different rifles. I have also had good luck with Noveske, which also don't make barrels. They are, as I understand it, either Pac-Nor or Lothar Walther, and may even be made by someone else by now, but they have always shot good for me.

 

[711rollerdog]

I am very happy with my purchases from Xcaliber. They offer many different contours and twist rates. You can also have it chambered in 223...

 

[squirrelsplitter]

I am very happy with my purchases from Xcaliber. They offer many different contours and twist rates. You can also have it chambered in 223...

shtnrlse
Good to hear you are happy with your X caliber barrels. Fed Ex delivered my first X caliber barrel yesterday. 17-204 AR barrel. Time to start working on a load it will like. Anyone have a suggested starting load? The barrel is 24" bull in a 9T. I have several 17cal bullets to try, 20 to 30gr.

 

[hunter243sgk]

You will likely get a lot of answers on this but here is my opinion.

There are a lot of very good AR barrel manufacturers.

I shoot a lot out to and past 500 yards on regular basis with my AR's.

White Oak Armament makes some the best barrels IMHO. If you are looking to save some money Odin Works 1/8 twist barrels can't be beat.

I built, tuned, Cerakote, and reload for every AR and M16 in this picture.

I see you just now got started with the ar platforms.

 

[Brian Moeller]

AR15 Performance .