Lightweight AR10 “Battle Rifle” Barrel Selection

[Mitu]

Hi all, looking to get my first AR10. I currently have a 10.3” pistol (in process of SBRing) and 16” AR15 set up as a general purpose rifle (Vortex 1-10x LPVO, etc.).

As I think about practical use for my purposes, I’d like the role played by my 16” AR15 with to be replaced with an AR10. I’d want to keep it as a true “battle rifle” with the goal to consistently hit steel out to 600 yards, but be manageable for <200 yards.

As a result, I want to keep this as light as possible without compromising reliability. My initial inclination was to build this with mostly V7 or 2A parts, with a heavy dose of titanium for the BCG, gas block, etc.

However, I’m currently hung up on barrel selection. Reliability and longevity are high on my list, so I naturally looked at the Criterion Chrome Lined match barrel. However, it looks to be on the heavier side (2.4lb) compared to a Faxon Big Gunner (1.9lb) or the like.

2 questions:

1. Is there any reason not to flute or dimple the criterion barrel for weight savings?

2. Are there other barrels I should be looking at?

Thank you!

Edit: will ultimately want to suppress this as well, likely with an OSS flow-through can

 

[PusherX11]

JP Rifles

I’m running a 14.5” jp super match on my “battle rifle” and love it. It’s set up for pigs right now, but I had no problems banging steel out to 500 when I put my ZCO420 on it to see what I could do with it. Jp link at the top.

 

[Darqusoull13]

I'm doing something similar and I'm going off a buddy's build list. I'm going to do a JP LTC-19 with a Proof Barrel and JP BCG + Silent Captured Spring. I may do some Ti but I've always wanted to go with a carbon fiber barrel and keeping the weight off the barrel end is more important to me than keeping it off the receiver.

 

[celltech]

Maybe go for the heavy fluted Faxon barrel. The nitride job they do is beautiful and the functionally will likely be as good as chrome. My 18" version shoots 1/2" with handloads and 1.2" with cheap Magtech rounds. Works good enough...

 

[BufordTJustice]

Bartlein medium weight 18" here. Not a light rifle by any means, but it's a hammer.

 

[Mitu]

I'm doing something similar and I'm going off a buddy's build list. I'm going to do a JP LTC-19 with a Proof Barrel and JP BCG + Silent Captured Spring. I may do some Ti but I've always wanted to go with a carbon fiber barrel and keeping the weight off the barrel end is more important to me than keeping it off the receiver.

Thanks! I was looking at the Carbon Fiber barrels (Proof, BSF, Christensen), but didnt know how suitable they’d be for a “battle rifle” role with a more aggressive firing schedule. Would love to throw on a BSF Fluted 16” barrel, which gets me under 30 oz, but was concerned about it holding up.

 

[celltech]

If you are going to have such an "aggressive firing schedule" just what ammo do you plan on shooting? You will be racking up costs rather quickly...

 

[Mitu]

If you are going to have such an "aggressive firing schedule" just what ammo do you plan on shooting? You will be racking up costs rather quickly...

Sorry, I should clarify. When I say “aggressive firing schedule”, I mean closer to how you might use an AR15 in a carbine class rather than a precision rig. Might shoot as many as 300-400 rounds in a day of M80 ball. Obviously that wont be the norm, but I’d like to have a rifle that can manage that without me significantly using up barrel life.

 

[Merle]

16" Criterion hybrid chrome lined barrel would be a good choice.

 

[celltech]

Then I think you would find a Nitride or Chrome barrel the best bet. Not sure I would burn up a Proof on M80...

 

[HornDog87]

JP Rifles

View attachment 7353471
I’m running a 14.5” jp super match on my “battle rifle” and love it. It’s set up for pigs right now, but I had no problems banging steel out to 500 when I put my ZCO420 on it to see what I could do with it. Jp link at the top.

Man just like punisher said, I'd got with a 14.5 jp barrel. I had a 18" jp enterprises 308 and that thing was an absolute hammer, now I have a 14.5 jp ss match and it's the same thing. I elected to put a slr adjustable gas block on it with a Griffin Armament suppressed buffer and a springco orange spring and it's smooth as butter.
If you do decide jp enterprises optics planet offers them for around 570 with a matched bolt and you can always find a coupon online for optics planet.

Semper fi
Horner