Chrome Lined or QPQ HBAR 5.56 Barrel

[MAHLMAN]

So after going through the labyrinth of conflicting online opinions I decided to choose from opinions I find here. I have a chrome lined 16" and a QPQ treated 16" barrel both are HBAR and both made by Ballistic Advantage both are 5.56. Both have the same accuracy guarantee. Which would you use and why?

 

[bfoosh006]

No offense intended, but BA's accuracy guarantee sucks , and while they will honor their guarantee, your time matters.

Myself I would try the CL'd 16", apply as many easy to do assm. accuracy tricks as you can.

And the if the CL'd doesn't met your expectations, buy another upper ( Black Friday prices ) try the QPQ barrel.

Worst case, you'll have 2 "devil may care" typical uppers for training.

 

[Jsp556]

I like melonited barrels. Good luck.

 

[MAHLMAN]

I intend to sell what is not a tack driver to someone who just wants a decent shooter. If neither are good then to sell both off. The ballistic barrels are one of the internet things where I read really good reports as well as some not so good. And I read the same things about DD and LMT and pricey supposed to be great stuff also. I get a 1MOA gun at 100yds after working up a load I am happy and not looking for more.

Reading all the comments in various places it seems at times a really great gun might be the third or fourth one you work on and is a process of elimination you can tilt in your favor with accuracy tips and better rep products. Better rep products then Ballistics have problems too and you still have to send them back but now you have more tied up in them.

 

[Cascade Hemi]

One burn down video and HBARs are back like high-waisters. OP, Creed is touring again.

 

[owtlaw]

I personally prefer the QPQ/Nitrided barrels. The only time CL would be an advantage is if you are running full auto mag dumps and getting the temp over 975 dgrees.

 

[MAHLMAN]

One burn down video and HBARs are back like high-waisters. OP, Creed is touring again.

Nah it was the fire sale $60 and $90 barrel price tags that burned my wallet up.

 

[BCP]

They’re both fine

I had one of the nitrided Hbar and it didn’t shoot as well as my green mountain or white oak

You can get chrome lined green mountain barrels for a little more, or CHF fn from palmetto

 

[longshot2000]

I am not sure what your question is. If you are looking for accuracy, then a) chrome lining takes away from accuracy in favor of extending life of the barrel, and b) BA is not known for being top right quadrant for accuracy.

So, both are fine for average AR shooting.

If you are not shooting steel tip M855 / M855A1, then chrome lining and salt bath nitriding will give you similar wear resistance and corrosion protection. In theory, the nitrided barrel should be more accurate, as you are not adding another layer of metal on top of a rifled bore.

 

[bigjake83]

Geissele's heavy barrels do seem to be an exception to the rule as far as accuracy concerning Chrome line barrels, these things are hammers!

Geissele started releasing these new heavy profile barrels last month with the 14.5" being the first to hit the market, now the 16" are out as well. If Geissele does a 18" with rifle Length Gas it would make for the perfect SPR Barrel.

I've only seen this level of accuracy from Knights Armament Chrome lined barrels.

I do feel like Geissele missed a great opportunity to bring some updated changes to this new line of barrels. The 14.5" Mid Gas rifle is damn new perfect, but the 16" should have a intermediate gas length system and they all should have 5/8x24 threads.

Geissele's New Heavy Barrel and SOLGW Broadsword project. (First Range session)

Just finished this build today, looking forward to running it through it's paces. The Broadsword Builder kit is extremely rigid and well built with clean machining work. The face of the Upper Receiver is true and showed virtually no Runout The Upper with it's heavy construction and increased...

www.snipershide.com

 

[308pirate]

So after going through the labyrinth of conflicting online opinions I decided to choose from opinions I find here. I have a chrome lined 16" and a QPQ treated 16" barrel both are HBAR and both made by Ballistic Advantage both are 5.56. Both have the same accuracy guarantee. Which would you use and why?

I'd use both and stop worrying about irrelevant shit like whether the bore is plated or nitrided.

 

[MAHLMAN]

I am not sure what your question is. If you are looking for accuracy, then a) chrome lining takes away from accuracy in favor of extending life of the barrel, and b) BA is not known for being top right quadrant for accuracy.

So, both are fine for average AR shooting.

If you are not shooting steel tip M855 / M855A1, then chrome lining and salt bath nitriding will give you similar wear resistance and corrosion protection. In theory, the nitrided barrel should be more accurate, as you are not adding another layer of metal on top of a rifled bore.

My question was and is about two 16" HBAR barrels from ballistic and which one would users pick to use for themselves and why. I have read all the barrel generalities until I am blue in the face and I am looking for specific hands on user comments from people who have done this, not generalities. This is not a build that will ever be in competition but I am striving to have a decently accurate gun of 1.5MOA or less at 100 yds with handloads.

 

[MAHLMAN]

I'd use both and stop worrying about irrelevant shit like whether the bore is plated or nitrided.

A conclusion I am reaching sitting here this morning. I need to answer my own question myself with just what you suggest.

 

[BCP]

My question was and is about two 16" HBAR barrels from ballistic and which one would users pick to use for themselves and why. I have read all the barrel generalities until I am blue in the face and I am looking for specific hands on user comments from people who have done this, not generalities. This is not a build that will ever be in competition but I am striving to have a decently accurate gun of 1.5MOA or less at 100 yds with handloads.

Well since you already bought them both go ahead and use them

Any AR barrel will do that unless it's defective

Lighter handloads using a flat base varmint bullet are almost guaranteed to shoot well out of anything

 

[308pirate]

A conclusion I am reaching sitting here this morning. I need to answer my own question myself with just what you suggest.

Knowledge comes from doing more often than it does from talking.

 

[Leicafan1990]

Geissele's heavy barrels do seem to be an exception to the rule as far as accuracy concerning Chrome line barrels, these things are hammers!

Geissele started releasing these new heavy profile barrels last month with the 14.5" being the first to hit the market, now the 16" are out as well. If Geissele does a 18" with rifle Length Gas it would make for the perfect SPR Barrel.

I've only seen this level of accuracy from Knights Armament Chrome lined barrels.

I do feel like Geissele missed a great opportunity to bring some updated changes to this new line of barrels. The 14.5" Mid Gas rifle is damn new perfect, but the 16" should have a intermediate gas length system and they all should have 5/8x24 threads.

Geissele's New Heavy Barrel and SOLGW Broadsword project. (First Range session)

Just finished this build today, looking forward to running it through it's paces. The Broadsword Builder kit is extremely rigid and well built with clean machining work. The face of the Upper Receiver is true and showed virtually no Runout The Upper with it's heavy construction and increased...

www.snipershide.com

SOLGW got it mostly right with their Precision barrels made by BHW. Heavy profile with 5/8x24 threads, nitrided and an 18” with rifle length gas. Too bad the 16” isn’t intermediate gas but they do have a smaller gas port on the 16” so they are supposedly soft shooters. You should try those barrels next. I’d be curious to see how they stack up against the Geissele heavy CHF.