First post, need some help choosing a barrel

[Nuttcase21]

Hey guys, first time poster here and looking for some advice on a barrel. Have a build in progress that I need a barrel for and I'm just running in circles with options. Here's what I have so far:

Seekins billet lower and upper with 12" sp3r rail
Ssa-e trigger
Voodoo low mass coated bcg
Magpul prs stock

I'm looking for the 18" long range, maybe longer but will be shooting up to 300 yards. Most of my league stuff will be 100 yards with targets out to 200 as well. Trying to build a semi gun that'll shut my friends up about ar's and accuracy. I've looked at the gamut of barrels from white oak to noveske and just can't make m mind up. Will be shooting factory ammo as the league requires 55gr and 62gr penetrator. Thanx for the help!

 

[Fly_True]

I'm interested to see what people say as I'm also looking for an 18" for a SPR build I've got going. Good luck on your project!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Akhunter907]

I'll add krieger to your list. Other than that pretty well rounded

I'm curious though. What kind of comp?? If you are limited to that ammo, them what do the other folks get to shoot? Bolt 223's? Sorry for the ignorance, just the next step would be to hand load. IMO. Shooting factory against hand loads puts you at a disadvantage out of the gate. Can you get the bullet alone? Your build list and hand loading would help level the field

 

[VJJPunisher]

white oak, wont be dissapointed

 

[JB02]

Many shooters on this forum are pleased with White Oak and Krieger barrels.

 

[MPrimo]

Many shooters on this forum are pleased with White Oak and Krieger barrels.

This ^^^^^^

I have one of each on Mega receivers and both shoot exceptionally well … although I am shooting heavier bullets.

 

[decider]

white oak and krieger are praised here by SH members, while members of ar15.com seem to praise noveske, criterion, and mcgowen...

That alone should make your decision for you...

 

[BoilerUP]

Criterion is the button-rifled division of Krieger and makes fine barrels.

 

[jasonfaz]

I'm curious what type of comps your going to run this through as well. Does it entail shooting predominately from prone? Or are you going to be moving a lot?

White Oak, Krieger, and Noveske are all fantastic choices. Do you have a specific budget in mind for the barrel? Northtech Defense, Seekins Precision and Wilson Combat all make very accurate barrels as well and, generally speaking, may save you a little $$ over the top tier guys without sacrificing accuracy at the range you're planning on shooting.

FWIW, you certainly don't need an 18" tube to maintain MOA accuracy or better at 300 yds with the right optic. If you're going to have any significant movement through a course I'd highly recommend going with a shorter barrel. Ideally (for me) that length would be anywhere from 13.5" to 14.5". A 16" would be the longest if you don't want to SBR or mess with pinning and welding a muzzle device on a 13.5-14.5 tube.

 

[502Chevelle]

I've shot a lot of three gun, and my AR is home built with a JP barrel and it shoots very well. 24 gr of varget behind a Hornady 75 goes into 1/2", and my three gun load of 55 MG's with H335 loaded on a Dillon will stay under an inch all day long. I'm surprised that I don't see JP listed here more often

 

[NICETRY]

I run JP barrels in most my stuff.

 

[Donr13]

Lothar Walther makes a great 18'' barrel

 

[thehaunt]

JP's are great. Ranier Arms Ultramatch barrels are very accurate also. They are Shilen blanks I believe.

 

[jackal1]

JP makes some awesome barrels too. I have seen some lasers of the sand bags running there tubes.

 

[jasonfaz]

I've shot a lot of three gun, and my AR is home built with a JP barrel and it shoots very well. 24 gr of varget behind a Hornady 75 goes into 1/2", and my three gun load of 55 MG's with H335 loaded on a Dillon will stay under an inch all day long. I'm surprised that I don't see JP listed here more often

I knew id forget one! I would also put JP in with the best of the best group when it comes to barrels.

 

[Nuttcase21]

I'm curious what type of comps your going to run this through as well. Does it entail shooting predominately from prone? Or are you going to be moving a lot?

White Oak, Krieger, and Noveske are all fantastic choices. Do you have a specific budget in mind for the barrel? Northtech Defense, Seekins Precision and Wilson Combat all make very accurate barrels as well and, generally speaking, may save you a little $$ over the top tier guys without sacrificing accuracy at the range you're planning on shooting.

FWIW, you certainly don't need an 18" tube to maintain MOA accuracy or better at 300 yds with the right optic. If you're going to have any significant movement through a course I'd highly recommend going with a shorter barrel. Ideally (for me) that length would be anywhere from 13.5" to 14.5". A 16" would be the longest if you don't want to SBR or mess with pinning and welding a muzzle device on a 13.5-14.5 tube.

All shooting is from a bench through a window. As far as comps or brake to be used I was looking at the seekins comps but didn't really have anything locked in yet. I'd like to not spend a ton of cash on a barrel as I've already got we'll over a grand into the rig thus far, but I'm more interested in quality and accuracy than I am price at this point. I have been eyeing an 18" Walthar barrel with bolt as well as a noveske 18 too, but the $470 price range for those is a little bit discouraging. I actually do like the idea of using a seekins tube on this build and keeping it all name brand (and the price is nice too) but after some web searching those tubes are so new that no one really has comments or reviews on them yet to help make a decision. Optics is a whole other story. I'd love to go nightforce just so I can say I have a nightforce (yes I'm a whore, I know) but would really like to stay in the $400-500 range for glass. Nothing low light condition really until those prairie dogging trips in the evening.

 

[pklin1297]

Contact Paul Craddock at Craddock Precision and have him tailor a barrel to your needs. His custom barrel pricing is good and he quoted me 3 weeks for a 6.5 CM barrel build just yesterday. His .223 time frame might be shorter... Great guy to deal with.

Wix.com craddockprecision created by pa4444 based on pro-bistro
[email protected]

 

[koden]

Lilja Precision Rifle Barrels

They are usually in stock. I built a 260 ar with one and loved the barrel.

 

[jasonfaz]

And there's always the CF Proof Research pipes if you don't mind the $900+ price tag...

 

[tickled pink]

I bought a complete WOA 18' varmint 1 in 7" twist and fluted in 5.56/.223. The very first 5 shot group I shot after 2 shots for sighting my scope. The bullets were reloaded 65 gr. Sierra Game kings I used last fall deer hunting. The group is below. The next 5 shot group was with 69 gr. Sierra Match Kings and was smaller. They were shot at 100 yds.

The scope is a Bushnell AR/223 with 4.5-18x40mm zoom. It is crystal clear with good contrast and the turret clicks are almost as good as my 6-24 Vortex PST and they are as accurate as the PST returning to any adjustment.

http://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperst...ushnell-4.5-18x40-bdc-reticle-target-ar-scope

I also received these custom turret labels.

http://customturretsystems.com

 

[SKS Guy]

I would suggest something with a 1/8 or 1/9 twist. 1/7 doesn't seem to like the light bullets in my experience.

 

[Redmanss]

Sounds like your overall use is not "shoot and move", instead bench and varmint hunting only. I would opt for a 20" Krieger DCM: AR-15 MATCH-GRADE DCM BARREL | Brownells

I wouldn't even bother with a muzzle device at all. You likely won't need it with that heavy of a barrel in .223, putting a brake on a bench gun is not fellow shooter friendly, and I've seen it induce flinches in some shooters as well, only amplified when shooting around structures. Thin muzzle threads (1/2" 28tpi) can also have a negative effect on accuracy if torqued too much along with some muzzle devices as well, and it sounds like accuracy is your real goal here so I would leave it slick.

Others recommended some wonderful brand choices as well, damn is it nice having so many great options. If budget is a serious constraint for you and you need to keep it under $300, go with a Daniel Defense CHF barrel.

The scope and your budget there is the real question, but shouldn't be too hard to come up with a SFP and high mag in that price range that will do the job. Vortex is certainly one option, used/demo even better. There's some really good deals floating around on HS, HS-T and Viper PSTs. Try Sportoptics.com [MENTION=31745]Opticsspecialist[/MENTION] or cameralandny.com [MENTION=7151]gr8fuldoug[/MENTION] for two great options for deals. Call them, tell them you heard of them from Sniper's Hide, and they will not only help you select the perfect scope for your applications, they'll give you some great deals as well.

Welcome to the Hide.

 

[Nuttcase21]

Thank you for all the advice and warm welcome guys, I'm gonna like it here.