Same price, which choice: WOA 16” SPR vs Criterion Hybrid

[white_rushin]

I’m in the process of accurizing one of my setups for precision work. I saw Brownells has two that stood out.

Criterion Hybrid 16” 223 Wylde for $236.99

White Oak Armament 16” SPR 223 Wylde for $237.99 with BF code

For context this would be something I’d like to be sub-MOA if possible. I’d be putting a can and WML on this as well so it wouldn’t purely be a bench/prone gun.

I see pretty high praise for the WOA 416R SPR option but wanted to do my due diligence before I rule out the Criterion Hybrid. I know it’s Chrome Lined, so I didn’t know if I’d end up with a 1.3-1.5 MOA limit on something like that.

CRITERION BARRELS INC AR-15/M16 223 WYLDE CHROME LINED BARRELS | Brownells

Check out CRITERION BARRELS INC AR-15/M16 223 WYLDE CHROME LINED BARRELS | Brownells available Online at Brownells Today and many more Rifle Barrels & Parts products are available in our Gun Parts Department.

www.brownells.com

WHITE OAK ARMAMENT 16" Mid-Length Carbine Barrel SKU: 100009769 | Brownells

Check out WHITE OAK ARMAMENT 16" Mid-Length Carbine Barrel SKU: 100009769 | Brownells available Online at Brownells Today and many more Rifle Barrels & Parts products are available in our Gun Parts Department.

www.brownells.com

 

[BCP]

Of those two white oak but I'd want to order it from somebody that would bead blast it I hate bare shiny stainless

 

[white_rushin]

Of those two white oak but I'd want to order it from somebody that would bead blast it I hate bare shiny stainless

I have a 15” handguard so I’m not super concerned by that but I could always find a local precision smith out here to do that.

I’m curious how much of a trade-off in pure accuracy you get going from the WOA SS to Criterion Hybrid CL

 

[supercorndogs]

Probably going to vary barrel to barrel. I have had pretty luck with both. My chrome lined criterion even shoots pretty well.

 

[BCP]

My white oaks always shot good enough, I'd make up a handload and get 5rds into ~3/4" sometimes better without too much effort

Green Mountain can shoot just as well as white oak, they do a couple extra steps like honing/lapping/the barrels just look a bit cleaner than other budget class ones

Criterion was a mixed bag for my m1a barrel shot well but a couple AR15 ones were meh 1.2-1.5"

Or spend a little more for centurion, noveske, especially since they're on sale right now

Like:

Noveske Recon Barrel AR-15 5.56x45mm NATO Medium Contour 1 7 Twist 16

Noveske's Stainless Steel AR-15 Match Barrels feature their exclusive 5.56 Match Mod 0 Chamber, designed to offer outstanding accuracy with both...

www.midwayusa.com

If you buy that white oak for 237 and then spend another 20-30 bead blasting it, another 40-50 for gas block and tube, you are less than 100$ difference

 

[BCP]

Ooh here you go:

Seekins Precision AR15 .223/5.56 16" 1:8" 1/2"x28 Threaded SS M4 Barrel 0010120017-F

FREE SHIPPING on Seekins Precision AR15 .223/5.56 16" 1:8" 1/2"x28 Threaded SS M4 Barrel 0010120017-F

www.eurooptic.com

 

[enichols]

Of those two white oak but I'd want to order it from somebody that would bead blast it I hate bare shiny stainless

If you order a SS barrel directly from White Oak you can request that they bead blast it for you before shipping out. They do it for like $2/inch of barrel.

 

[white_rushin]

Thanks for all the recommendations and suggestions.

 

[white_rushin]

I ended up going with the WOA 16” SPR. Might as well fully commit to the precision build!

 

[TonyTheTiger]

I would definitely pick the Hybrid just to get the RLGS.

 

[white_rushin]

I would definitely pick the Hybrid just to get the RLGS.

The hybrid at Brownells is actually mid length if that makes a difference

 

[TonyTheTiger]

The hybrid at Brownells is actually mid length if that makes a difference

Ah, yeah nevermind then. They make a RLGS 16" hybrid but clearly this is not that.

 

[DHDeal]

Ah, yeah nevermind then. They make a RLGS 16" hybrid but clearly this is not that.

This particular version came back in stock from Criterion a few weeks back and I ordered one. I've only shot it twice (3 times in about an hour) and it started out shooting under a minute. 77 SMK, 24.2 Re15, CCI 450, and Winchester brass (after the first 100 rounds) shoots .750" for 5 off of a bi-pod.

It is as smooth as a lapped cut rifled barrel and the cleanest drilled gas port I've ever seen (and I've looked at a lot of them).

The cycling of the action is hilarious. It feels like it is slow motion but it cycles and locks back.

I wanted to try a RLGS 16" 223 for the hell of it and I am glad I did. It wasn't the price OP listed from Brownells though.

 

[Changed]

Of those two white oak but I'd want to order it from somebody that would bead blast it I hate bare shiny stainless

White Oak blasted a couple of mine for $35

 

[white_rushin]

This particular version came back in stock from Criterion a few weeks back and I ordered one. I've only shot it twice (3 times in about an hour) and it started out shooting under a minute. 77 SMK, 24.2 Re15, CCI 450, and Winchester brass (after the first 100 rounds) shoots .750" for 5 off of a bi-pod.

It is as smooth as a lapped cut rifled barrel and the cleanest drilled gas port I've ever seen (and I've looked at a lot of them).

The cycling of the action is hilarious. It feels like it is slow motion but it cycles and locks back.

I wanted to try a RLGS 16" 223 for the hell of it and I am glad I did. It wasn't the price OP listed from Brownells though.

That’s pretty remarkable. It sounds like at the end of the day both are going to be high quality. It’s hard to choose between the two!

 

[Cascade Hemi]

That’s pretty remarkable. It sounds like at the end of the day both are going to be high quality. It’s hard to choose between the two!

RLGS pretty close to Brownells price:

Criterion Barrels 16" .223 Wylde Hybrid Phosphate/Chrome-Lined Rifle Length Barrel

Our most popular configuration, the Hybrid contour is a mid-weight barrel that offers a perfect balance between weight and intelligently distributed | Barrels, Upper Parts, AR-15 Barrels, Black Friday Deals, Excluded from Codes | Black Friday, Clearance, MAP-CART Criterion Barrels 16" .223 Wylde...

ar15discounts.com

 

[TonyTheTiger]

The cycling of the action is hilarious. It feels like it is slow motion but it cycles and locks back.

I wanted to try a RLGS 16" 223 for the hell of it and I am glad I did.

A new convert to the dark side. Excellent.

 

[DHDeal]

Nah. I'm typically an Intermediate type of guy but was feeling a little subconscious lately. In my defense, I also went Carbine +1 on a 10.3" Bartlein (or Craddock did)....

No doubt it is a soft shooting rifle. Hard to describe if you haven't run one. I was aware you like a long gas system....