Large FRame AR barrel options.

[wichitaguns]

Hey guys.
Have a stag receiver set coming my way. Debating on the barrel options.
Thinking on either a criterion hybrid barrel in 6.5 creed with matching bolt or a faxon barrel(no idea how to get a matched bolt in this case?
18in/mid length
So questions are
1) what's the best deal on the above two options
2) any other options that people recommend.
Thinking tool craft bolt carrier.
And I'll throw this out there ..are there any more economical barrels that people use.
Criteria will be 1.0 to 1.5moa and reliable.
Thanks in advance.

 

[AZgeek]

I would think an 18" Ballistic Advantage barrel would be best from a price/performance perspective. I blew my load on a SA adjustable gas block, JP full mass bolt carrier & bolt. Functions flawlessly.

Pricey but worth every penny.

 

[rangerlong]

I got a 22" proof stainless. Consistently sub-moa with handloads. 1ish moa with hornady factory ammo. Very pleased.
They make a 20", but it's rifle+2" gas system.

My first 'good' AR barrel was a 20" Ballistic Advantage stainless in 223/5.56. I was disappointed with the accuracy for the price. 1 moa loads are few and far between, even good factory ammo was often 2 moa or worse.

 

[stilesg57]

What’s the purpose of the rifle? What’s the final build generally look like and do? That info will help steer you towards or away from Faxon or BA or a boutique like Criterion.

 

[wichitaguns]

What’s the purpose of the rifle? What’s the final build generally look like and do? That info will help steer you towards or away from Faxon or BA or a boutique like Criterion.

It's mostly a general.purpose working rifle
Range for shooting steel out to 800 and then for field for for the whitetail etc. Will probabaly not be babied..n3esa to be moderately accurate but reliable above all else

 

[awpk03s]

I’ve got a Faxon match fluted 18” on a 6.5CM and a Criterion hybrid M118LR .308 20” in another rifle. Both shoot extremely well. Use SLR adjustable gas blocks, a JP SCS, and Toolcraft BCG.

 

[larryh128]

Hey guys.
Have a stag receiver set coming my way. Debating on the barrel options.
Thinking on either a criterion hybrid barrel in 6.5 creed with matching bolt or a faxon barrel(no idea how to get a matched bolt in this case?
18in/mid length
So questions are
1) what's the best deal on the above two options
2) any other options that people recommend.
Thinking tool craft bolt carrier.
And I'll throw this out there ..are there any more economical barrels that people use.
Criteria will be 1.0 to 1.5moa and reliable.
Thanks in advance.

I have used 3 different 20" Faxon 6.5 C barrels. All the same model, they all shoot very well. I ordered 1 with a matching bolt and couldn't see any difference . All of these will shoot way under MOA. I've shot 3/4" groups at 300 yds with them. Obviously not commercial ammo. I seriously couldn't tell the difference between the barrels and they all shot the same loads. Hard to beat that. I should say they suck so they get back in stock. LOL.

 

[larryh128]

Hey guys.
Have a stag receiver set coming my way. Debating on the barrel options.
Thinking on either a criterion hybrid barrel in 6.5 creed with matching bolt or a faxon barrel(no idea how to get a matched bolt in this case?
18in/mid length
So questions are
1) what's the best deal on the above two options
2) any other options that people recommend.
Thinking tool craft bolt carrier.
And I'll throw this out there ..are there any more economical barrels that people use.
Criteria will be 1.0 to 1.5moa and reliable.
Thanks in advance.

Toolcraft is a good BCG, you won't have an issue.

 

[wichitaguns]

Toolcraft is a good BCG, you won't have an issue.
For the price, it looks amazing

.
Heck it looks amazing period

 

[wichitaguns]

Seeing these Anderson 308 barrels for dirt cheap. Anybody have any experience with them. Stay away? Ok performance?

 

[drewthebrave]

Seeing these Anderson 308 barrels for dirt cheap. Anybody have any experience with them. Stay away? Ok performance?

If your goal is accuracy, I'd lean towards Criterion. A cheap barrel that isn't accurate can get expensive quickly. The barrel should be where most of your budget goes (besides optics).

 

[stilesg57]

If your goal is accuracy, I'd lean towards Criterion. A cheap barrel that isn't accurate can get expensive quickly. The barrel should be where most of your budget goes (besides optics).

Yeah if you’re shooting 800yds you realistically need a 2MOA or better gun. At 3MOA you’ll have a 2ft spread and could easily be off the plate at 800yds even if you get everything else right. Gotta put some money into the barrel if you want to shoot that far accurately. Anderson is for 400yd and in, battle-rifle stuff; not a long range/target gun.

 

[stilesg57]

It's mostly a general.purpose working rifle
Range for shooting steel out to 800 and then for field for for the whitetail etc. Will probabaly not be babied..n3esa to be moderately accurate but reliable above all else

Faxon and BA are the only companies I’ve had 3+ barrels from. Faxon are generally lighter and make for great field guns, BA have consistently been a little more accurate for me (about a half moa on average I’d say).

If you want sub-moa you’ll either need to get a boutique like Criterion, get lucky with a BA (2 of my 4 will consistently shoot sub-moa), or get really lucky with Faxon (1 of my 3 will consistently shoot sub-moa, and even then it heats up FAST and starts opening up).

 

[JS8588]

2a Armament 20 inch lightweight barrel.

 

[larryh128]

Seeing these Anderson 308 barrels for dirt cheap. Anybody have any experience with them. Stay away? Ok performance?

Pretty sure but not positive that they could be Bear Creek.If you can find a Wilson at JSE Surplus, it will shoot.

 

[bfoosh006]

Criterion , hands down.
IMHO, buying a good barrel is a bargain compared to , ammo spent trying to make a lesser barrel shoot to your expectations.

Given that Criterions, are about a 100 bucks more, that equals a about 100rds of match ammo...

 

[stilesg57]

Criterion , hands down.
IMHO, buying a good barrel is a bargain compared to , ammo spent trying to make a lesser barrel shoot to your expectations.

Given that Criterions, are about a 100 bucks more, that equals a about 100rds of match ammo...

VERY true — a $500 barrel that makes $0.30/rnd ammo shoot well is significantly “cheaper” over its lifetime than a $200 barrel that needs $1/rnd match stuff to shoot well. At least if you shoot a lot of cheap brass ammo like I do

 

[wichitaguns]

Oh, totally not an.ammo snob. I shoot anything I can get my hands man on through my seminautos. The AI gets little better treatment.

 

[wichitaguns]

Has anyone heard if Recoil Technologies BCG? Seeing some.decent deals on their large frame bcg, the specs make it seem like tool craft. Just wanted to.make sure, it was not garbage