Faxon barrels

Firemn260

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Jun 14, 2017
38
4
I want to lighten up my ar 15 a bit and want to put a 16 inch Faxon pencil profile barrel on it. I can’t find anybody who has them in stock.

Anybody have any experience with them.? How do they shoot when it heats up?
 
Faxon would not be in my list of first choices. Why are you picking this barrel? What is the length, and how do you use your weapon? What is most important (in which order): weight, accuracy, durability, price

Weight, price, durability, accuracy in that order.

This particular weapon is set up for quick engagement out to 100 or so yards. Combat accuracy and reliability is the main goal. I’m not looking to shoot tiny groups or anything. I have a 16” Hbar barrel on it now and I would like to cut some of the weight out front. I want to get away from the carbine length gas system too.

Unfortunately the wife put me on a tight budget after she found out how much I put into my JP barreled aero Precision M5.

I’m open to other barrels in the same price and weight range though. I would love to slap a JP ultra light 16 barrel on there but that just isn’t in the cards.
BC12B69F-2692-422A-9883-52C029127420.jpeg
 
Well then for what you are doing Faxon is probably your best bet for weight saving. If you want to trade about +6oz for more accuracy the Criterion/ADM Hybrids or Larue PredatAR or ARP Scout all fit your budget.
 
  • Like
Reactions: longshot2000
I have a ballistic advantage Hanson .625 barrel that shoots way better than I expected for a light barrel. Seems to shoot about 1moa or a little less with about anything. Haven't tried any handloads or even good match ammo, and I only have a 1-4 optic on it, but I'm very happy with it thus far.
 
The Faxon pencil barrels are excellent quality and given your mission for this rifle they will give you the ability to build a super lightweight, quick handling rifle. I've built at least a dozen rifles with both the pencil and Gunner profiles. As has been said, if you want to punch pretty little holes in paper then there are probably better choices, but for a lightweight option they are my top choice. I take one into harms way on a daily basis with all the confidence it will do what I need it to do.
 
Thanks for the reply’s fellas. That’s why I love this forum. I have learned so much here while assembling my ar projects.

I found Faxon pencil barrels in stock at optics planet but now I’m a bit intrigued by the criterion ultralight barrels too.

I’m running a eotech right now so that limits my accuracy and I’m fine with that for what I do with the rifle. I’m thinking about switching to a aimpoint pro though because for some reason the donut in the eotech is fuzzy if that makes sense. It may just be my eyes.
 
Entire upper, 4.11lb, $429.99 complete with BCG and T Handle. 16", 1:7".

It's my own newest Upper, and I still need to get out and do the ammo testing with it.

For the testing (only), it has the Bushnell 3-12x40 AR Drop Zone 223 BDC scope, and also a Sparc II mounted in the customary 45 degree BUIS location.

After the testing, the Bushnell will come off, and the SPARC will ride atop with folding BUIS co-witnessed, including the Magpul Ma Tech rear folder.

Greg
 
Last edited:
I have a Faxon 6.5 CM match barrel on my AR10 and Gunner 16" 308 waiting for an upper. The 6.5 has been outstanding and I would buy a pencil 5.56 from Faxon without a second thought. I would also look hard at the Gunner in 5.56 and the Match barrel series in 223 Wylde chamber. I have one 223 Wylde chamber gun and it has run just like the 5.56's I have. The weights are close on all these, within a few oz.

http://faxonfirearms.com/match-seri...ngth-416r-nitride-5r-nickel-teflon-extension/


This is the heavy one at 1.71 lb. :

http://faxonfirearms.com/match-seri...ngth-416r-nitride-5r-nickel-teflon-extension/
 
I have a 20" 308 Faxon Pencil on an AERO M5 build that was assembled as a hunting rig. I wanted it to be 8 lbs or less before optics, irons, and full mag. It just made that and I really like it in this role. The barrel was procured from Optics Planet. I also have .223 Wylde Pencil on another build that is meant as a lightweight CQB rifle with a 1x Prism scope for my wife. That said, I don't find accuracy suffers all that much unless you are doing full mag dumps and even then they are still plenty accurate enough for their intended roles. The bottom line for me is that a pencil barrel is great for the right application and Faxon makes a good one.
 
Last edited:
In the order of priority you listed, I'd think something like a FN CHF(Spike's, Centurion, Noveske, PSA, etc) or DD CHF barrel would be good candidates. Also, equal consideration given to Colt SOCOM(damn good shooters for a CL'd) and Criterion(again, DAMN GOOD shooting chrome lined barrels - some of the best).