Medium Weight 20" match 5.56/.223 barrel's: Where are they?

[Bakwa]

Long story short:
I'm looking for a medium weight 20" 1/7 twist quality AR barrel and they don't seem to exist.
Normally the answer is turn key WOA, Craddock, or CLE [RIP], but not this time.
What are the options out there?

Details:
I'm building a general purpose 20" AR in 5.56/.223 that needs to be usable [weight wise] in the field. But it also needs to be accurate and able to shoot groups without heating up too quickly.
I'm going for something like an accurized M16A5 concept or lightweight SAM-R... So no flutes.

Criteria:
I need the barrel to be match quality, be under 2.75lbs, have a .750 gas block diameter, and I'd prefer 1/7 twist.
Everything I can find seems to compromise on one or more of my criteria.

This Lilja looks like the closest thing I can find, but I'll have to accept the 1/8 twist, which should be fine for 77gr pills, but I'd prefer 1/7. Also, it's a premium.

https://riflebarrels.com/shop/drop-in-barrels/ar/ar15/223/223-8-ar740-20/

What else is there?

 

[dgheriani]

Why not a fluted SAM-R from Craddock?

 

[Cascade Hemi]

X-Caliber lightweight profile

 

[Bakwa]

Why not a fluted SAM-R from Craddock?

That's another one I've considered.
I really prefer no fluting.
I have an outdated irrational fear of fluting messing with barrel harmonics in a negative way. That and aesthetically I don't like it.
This one may have my attention though, considering the fluting will be under the HG and I know Craddock's tend to shoot.

 

[Bakwa]

X-Caliber lightweight profile

X-Caliber hasn't really been on my radar with regards to AR barrels. I'll have to look into them a bit more. Thanks!

 

[MitchK]

I’ve been happy with my BCM SS 20”

 

[drewthebrave]

White Oak SPR 20"

White Oak 20-inch SPR Barrels

White Oak 20-inch SPR Barrels Our ever-popular 18" SPR barrel is now available in a 20" version! We have redeisgned our traditional 20" barrel to incorporate it into the SPR family by adding the Ops Inc step to the muzzle. We start with the same match

www.whiteoakarmament.com

Their 18" barrel is right at your limit of 2 lbs, 12 oz, so this 20" would be slightly heavier. Their fluting on the 18" saves ~5 oz, so that should bring it back under your weight target.

Green Mountain makes a 20" barrel that comes in at 2.05 oz. I'm not sure this would qualify as "match grade", but they're generally considered to be a good barrel maker for the money.

https://www.gmriflebarrel.com/GMRBItem.aspx?Item=GM-M16&ReturnURL=/military-barrels/ar-15-/-m16-/-m4-rifle-barrels&Category=2756c0ce-174b-46fb-bc11-6723e893d5ea

 

[Bakwa]

I’ve been happy with my BCM SS 20”

I've looked at them. I've heard good and bad things. Wish I had more definitive evidence.

 

[Bakwa]

White Oak SPR 20"

White Oak 20-inch SPR Barrels

White Oak 20-inch SPR Barrels Our ever-popular 18" SPR barrel is now available in a 20" version! We have redeisgned our traditional 20" barrel to incorporate it into the SPR family by adding the Ops Inc step to the muzzle. We start with the same match

www.whiteoakarmament.com

Their 18" barrel is right at your limit of 2 lbs, 12 oz, so this 20" would be slightly heavier. Their fluting on the 18" saves ~5 oz, so that should bring it back under your weight target.

Green Mountain makes a 20" barrel that comes in at 2.05 oz. I'm not sure this would qualify as "match grade", but they're generally considered to be a good barrel maker for the money.

https://www.gmriflebarrel.com/GMRBItem.aspx?Item=GM-M16&ReturnURL=/military-barrels/ar-15-/-m16-/-m4-rifle-barrels&Category=2756c0ce-174b-46fb-bc11-6723e893d5ea

Thanks for the recommendations.

A WOA would fit the bill perfectly if it made weight without needing to be fluted. A may end up going with a fluted craddock or woa anyways if I can't find something else. I'm just trying to avoid fluting.

The GM barrel is a good lead. But gov profile might be too light. I know, I'm looking for the Goldilocks barrel. Nothing else will do though.

Cheers

 

[357Max]

Proof cut rifled.

20" .750 GB 1/7
Part number shown. It's right at 3lbs though.

 

[dgheriani]

Thanks for the recommendations.

A WOA would fit the bill perfectly if it made weight without needing to be fluted. A may end up going with a fluted craddock or woa anyways if I can't find something else. I'm just trying to avoid fluting.

The GM barrel is a good lead. But gov profile might be too light. I know, I'm looking for the Goldilocks barrel. Nothing else will do though.

Cheers

Honestly a fluted Craddock or WOA seems like the answer. Gives you the profile you want at the weight you want. You'll never see the flutes...

 

[Cascade Hemi]

X-Caliber hasn't really been on my radar with regards to AR barrels. I'll have to look into them a bit more. Thanks!

They should be. Semi custom, hand lapped, button'd. On sale right now under $400. I have a bunch of the barrels mentioned in this thread.

 

[357Max]

@Bakwa - These are apparently not easy to find in stock.

Here you go.

Mile High

I wouldn't mind trying one of these Satern Cut rifled barrels myself. Heard good things and decent price. might be a few extra ounces.

 

[357Max]

Proof is the easy button IMO, but here's another often overlooked option. Don't hear much about these.
The profile comes in a little under your weight requirement @ 2.553lbs.
Std. stock is 8T, but can be ordered in 7

 

[sinister]

Lothar-Walthers are very good in my experience, both the .223s and 308s.

 

[NCgreentick]

Fulton Armory has a medium weight Criterion but it is 1:8.

 

[Bakwa]

Proof is the easy button IMO, but here's another often overlooked option. Don't hear much about these.
The profile comes in a little under your weight requirement @ 2.553lbs.
Std. stock is 8T, but can be ordered in 7
View attachment 8530503
View attachment 8530504

Lothar-Walthers are very good in my experience, both the .223s and 308s.

I've forgotten about Lothar-Walther. They're an OG.
That might be exactly what I'm looking for.

 

[TonyTheTiger]

Just go custom. I've been very happy with X Caliber, in the past I've had great McGowens but heard some scary things lately. Mos-Tek is high on my list these days, and they'd be happy to do a +1" or +2" RLGS on that 20" like I would want.