AR-10T barrel, how to tell if it's Lothar Walther?

[gewgaw]

I bought a used, complete AR-10T upper with 24" stainless steel heavy barrel a couple of months ago, and I have been trying to find out if it's a Lothar Walther manufactured barrel or not. The guy I got it from did not know.

Is there a way to find out if it is a LW barrel by looking at it? Are there any sorts of identifying stamps or marks I can look for? I don't have a bore scope, so it's hard for me to tell from the rifling....

 

[gewgaw]

Re: AR-10T barrel, how to tell if it's Lothar Walther?

No one??? Sigh... In my research so far, I *think* all 24" stainless steel barrels that were sold with the AR-10T were Lothar Walthers (the polished barrels). The newer ones for sure are not (the 20" length)... but I'm still not sure if the older 24" SS barrels were ALL Lothar Walthers.

Anyone know anything more?

 

[FCS]

Re: AR-10T barrel, how to tell if it's Lothar Walther?

Armalite also used Wilson barrels for 24" T model.

How does it shoot?

 

[gewgaw]

Re: AR-10T barrel, how to tell if it's Lothar Walther?

The best I've gotten from it as 0.8 MOA 5-shot grouping so far...

 

[Scottmilk9]

Re: AR-10T barrel, how to tell if it's Lothar Walther?

take a pic of the crown.

 

[gewgaw]

Re: AR-10T barrel, how to tell if it's Lothar Walt

Here's the crown. Looks like there's 4 grooves/lands.

 

[ROLEXrifleman]

Re: AR-10T barrel, how to tell if it's Lothar Walt

Lands and grooves = not LW

True Armalite LW's were poly barrels

Also, a call to Armalitre w/ a serial should reveal all

 

[gewgaw]

Re: AR-10T barrel, how to tell if it's Lothar Walt

Thanks for the info! I don't have the serial, as I only have the upper, not the lower.

So now that I know it's not an LW, any ideas about who supplied a 24" 4-groove barrel to Armalite for the AR-10T?

 

[skinnj1]

Re: AR-10T barrel, how to tell if it's Lothar Walt

Armalite has used three different barrel manufacturers : Lothar Walther, Wilson and Green Mountain IRC. Each is designated by a number code on the barrel. IRC L-W is a coded "1" if it has an "N" code they used their "nato" reamer. Call Armalite to verify the codes, my notes are in the shop and I'm to lazy to pull a handgaurd....

 

[gewgaw]

Re: AR-10T barrel, how to tell if it's Lothar Walt

Can you tell me where on the barrel the number code is stamped? Under the handguard (as you said), but where should I be looking once I get the handguard off?

 

[GhostFace]

Re: AR-10T barrel, how to tell if it's Lothar Walt

Up by the chamber is where mine is marked...

 

[Turk]

Re: AR-10T barrel, how to tell if it's Lothar Walt

They had 5R's at one time.

 

[fnhp35]

Re: AR-10T barrel, how to tell if it's Lothar Walt

Anyone verify the markings? I just bought one (24 in AR10 barrel, 4 grooves)and I had always thought that L-W barrels were poly too, but I was told that this barrel is an L-W and it does have the "1" stamp on the top near the chamber. The only difference from the pic above is the crown is slightly different. The cut is more square than the one above. The one above appears to have a slight angle between the recessed portion and the muzzle. Mine has no angle to it, just straight down to the recessed portion.

Andrew

Thanks

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Re: AR-10T barrel, how to tell if it's Lothar Walt

Polygonal rifling DOES NOT mean there are no lands or grooves. A Poly rifle barrel is NOT like a Glock or HK barrel.

Polygonal simply refers to the shape of the lands. They don't have 90* corners like standard rifling.

I don't have a LW barrel on my Armalite. I DO have a Noveske barrel with Polygonal Rifling and it most certianly has lands and grooves.

 

[fnhp35]

Re: AR-10T barrel, how to tell if it's Lothar Walt

Gotcha, I called Armalite and they weren't really any help. They said that the markings were stamped on by the barrel maker and not by them. His theory was that the 1 05/08 markings meant it was made on Jan 5th 2008. I find that pretty hard to believe that that's the only info a company would put on the barrel.

Andrew