Top notch AR15 barrel makers/gunsmiths?

[msinc]

I really like my White Oak barrel!

So do I...I have one of their 26" barrels on my AR and it is a tack driver. WOA barrels are made by Wilson. I have a Noveske barrel on my Larue OBR and it works great. I am not so sure there are any "bad" barrels out there.

I would not dismiss Krieger either...wasn't their big claim to fame that the gas port was drilled first and then the rest of the barrel "timed" off of that so that the gas port hole itself ended up smack square in the middle of a groove instead of half on the land or all up on the land??? I don't know how big of a deal this really is, but they sure sold a lot of M-1, M1A and AR barrels so far!!!

I also had a Blue Hole Weaponry barrel that was perfect in every way too.

As far as "gunsmithing" goes, on an AR?????.........they are modular. I'm not knocking anyone's ability, but someone needs to explain to me just how much better one guy can get at assembling parts than the next. Maybe another way of asking it is: How much better at assembling parts can one guy get that you need to ship all these modular pieces across country to have it screwed together and pins pushed where they belong??? I mean, you put the barrel on the receiver and tighten it with the wrench to whatever the torque requirement is...how many different "improved" ways can you tighten a nut????

 

[Fast14riot]

Lol, I have seen some really goofed up builds by people! The AR and it's "precision slop" is capable of functioning in many circumstances, but to truly ring out every last bit it takes more than just pin punches, spanner wrenches and deep pockets. There are some tricks to it.

If building a carbine for steel case ammo, then just build the Lego kit. For a long range gun, I do my own machining, throat my chambers how I want, bed things, stiffen things, lighten things, all of it for a specific goal.

 

[butchlambert]

I like John Holiger and he has done 3 uppers for me. He did all of them with Shilen blanks. John shot a Shilen at Camp Perry this year. John does offer Shilens.
Nez Rongero, of this forum, chambered Shilen barrels for the Texas State Juniors and the winner of the Presidents100 and I think the 3rd place guy also at Perry. He also chambered the uppers for the winning adult team with a new all time record and also Shilen barrels.

 

[butchlambert]

So do I...I have one of their 26" barrels on my AR and it is a tack driver. WOA barrels are made by Wilson. I have a Noveske barrel on my Larue OBR and it works great. I am not so sure there are any "bad" barrels out there.

I would not dismiss Krieger either...wasn't their big claim to fame that the gas port was drilled first and then the rest of the barrel "timed" off of that so that the gas port hole itself ended up smack square in the middle of a groove instead of half on the land or all up on the land??? I don't know how big of a deal this really is, but they sure sold a lot of M-1, M1A and AR barrels so far!!!

I also had a Blue Hole Weaponry barrel that was perfect in every way too.

As far as "gunsmithing" goes, on an AR?????.........they are modular. I'm not knocking anyone's ability, but someone needs to explain to me just how much better one guy can get at assembling parts than the next. Maybe another way of asking it is: How much better at assembling parts can one guy get that you need to ship all these modular pieces across country to have it screwed together and pins pushed where they belong??? I mean, you put the barrel on the receiver and tighten it with the wrench to whatever the torque requirement is...how many different "improved" ways can you tighten a nut????

Not all WOA barrels are Wilson. John shoots and chambers Shilens. He also offers Kreiger. msinc, what barrel extension do you use? Is it important? The better "AR smiths" have their own design reamers and some are very ANAL with their machine work.
OK, some folks buy all of their components and do their own uppers. If and I say If they pick the right barrel maker and components, they "should" shoot.

 

[Sniper338]

As far as "gunsmithing" goes, on an AR?????.........they are modular. I'm not knocking anyone's ability, but someone needs to explain to me just how much better one guy can get at assembling parts than the next. Maybe another way of asking it is: How much better at assembling parts can one guy get that you need to ship all these modular pieces across country to have it screwed together and pins pushed where they belong??? I mean, you put the barrel on the receiver and tighten it with the wrench to whatever the torque requirement is...how many different "improved" ways can you tighten a nut????

Im not asking for someone to build it. Im very capable. This thread is about barrels only, i dont have a lathe to get a barrel made and chambered in what i want...

Big difference lol.

 

[Sniper338]

Im not asking for someone to build it. Im very capable. But i dont have a lathe to get a barrel made and chambered in what i want...

Big difference lol.

And buying a barrel ready to go is cheaper than a lathe set up...