20" 223 wylde Shilen barrel thread or not

[Outlaw45]

I've got this 20" Shilen AR15 barrel and it shoots great. The gun it was on went another direction so I've got this barrel laying around and I am now thinking of building on it. My question is, while its not assembled should I have the barrel threaded for a brake or flash hider? Here in Iowa we can't have suppressors. My hope is that will change so I thought if I have it threaded it will be easier in the future to add a suppressor. For the time being I'll just use a thread protector, muzzle brake, or flash hider.

Thought?

 

[Drifter™]

I considered something similar, but decided to leave my 20" Shilen unaltered...

 

[ORD]

Provided that you get the job done right, meaning you send the barrel to a competent gunsmith to have it threaded and ensure that it is threaded concentrically to the bore, etc., and not some local machine-shop hack-job, then it should be fine. I have had this done several times on a variety of barrels over the years, including a Shilen "post-ban" service rifle barrel. My last one was done by Steve and the guys at ADCO in Ohio. They did an excellent job with incredibly fast turn-around (~2 weeks) and for a very good price (back then...I think I paid ~$55 + S&H both ways). Their charge for the barrel threading service includes turning the barrel down to the proper size, threading the barrel concentric to the bore to your specified thread pattern (1/2x28 for most .223/5.56 ARs), and crowning.

See here for more info: Shop/Machine Services at Adco Firearms

Good luck!

 

[jjrgr21]

i have a douglas thats awesome, and thought about getting it threaded, but decided not to. what if it comes back, and it doesn't anymore.

 

[tomcatfan]

Or you could just scrap building on the barrel and sell it to me. These barrels are impossible to find right now. But seriously, I would leave it the way it is. Flash suppressors are for tactical purposes. Unless you don't want a bad guy to see where you are as your trying to kill him, is it necessary? And brakes on a 223 have always made me laugh. Unless your trying to shoot 30 shots really fast very accurately, probably not worth it. I guess if you have faith in the suppressor route, it might be worth it for that. But I wouldn't be holding my breath on your state making them legal.

 

[Outlaw45]

True. Now I'm debating against it.

Drifter, is that a rifle length rail?

 

[Drifter™]

Drifter, is that a rifle length rail?

Rifle-length Mega monolithic

 

[GillJr]

I personally like threaded barrels if done right. It gives you options.