What's your favorite AR barrel.
- Thread starter aSilk_Suit007
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I’ve got an older Alexander arms bull upper in 6.5 Grendel like I have shot the crap out of. It’s my go to ar for coyotes. Another AA gun I have I love for bench shooting. But my fav barrel is on a cheap ass psa 7.5 inch upper in 300 blackout. It’s not precision but it’s my favorite. With subs and suppressed it’s a hoot to shoot
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I sure did and shoots great, you might also want to ask Schneider who has been supplying our Marines with barrels as well. Might want to check your facts buddy!!
Some of those brands are button rifled. That is a list from 100 shooters, not everyone.
I have a DD 18” rifle length S2W that shoots extremely well considering it can be had under $250 new. Runs well hot and was easy to tune loads for.
You do realize that the PRS is a bit of a self licking ice cream cone? I mean just about every discipline is a bit of circle jerk, they tend to ebb and flow with what’s trending. If you forced those top 100 PRS shooters to run button barrels, I doubt the standing would shift much. There can be a lot more that goes into making barrels than just the way the rifling is made, take JP for example, they use button barrels but I don’t think you’ll find too many complaints. Same goes for hammer forged barrels.
Well, as far as AR-15's go, if ya wanna be like Mike, Compass Lake will machine a Bartlein blank if you have the coin for it; they'll do a Kreiger too. Both are cut rifled.
MM
+1
Gotta love the "because all the top dogs use one" window lickers who can't articulate any technical knowledge on why some material or process is better than the other.
Self licking ice cream cone........LOL, perfect.
Yep, cut rifling offers some benefits, such as the stated twist rate is often more accurate than what a button rifled barrel may state, simply because of the nature of button rifling. Aside from that, if your bullet is stable from the barrel, and it's a quality barrel to begin with, a button rifled barrel can be just as accurate as a cut rifled barrel. Saying something isn't good because the top 100 PRS shooter doesn't use it is a fallacy. Spend your money on what you want or what you can afford and be happy.
I guess I’m wrong, in order to be “somebody” you have to be part of the PRS crew, and in the top 100 to boot. My bad. Guess I better throw away my PVA Rock Creek barrel and buy a Bartlein because all the big dogs run them.
Here is a brief shake down of the pros and cons of the various rifling methods. I'm sure it's common knowledge to most of you but some may find it helpful and a little more enlightening than the " What the Pros Use" shake down.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAAegQIBBAB&usg=AOvVaw2NfyBSCwmgpp-DjbjGVWLr
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAAegQIBBAB&usg=AOvVaw2NfyBSCwmgpp-DjbjGVWLr
Compass Lake does not offer RC barrels at all & Craddock only offers RC button rifles barrels for an AR; no idea about Keystone.
I'd be willing to bet that in terms of absolute straightness, button rifled barrels are the least straight due to the stress relieving after rifling, especially in lighter contours...............but I have not seen A-B data to support that. But lotsa production barrels get straightened.
Just sayin'.
MM
No doubt stress relief can induce out of straightness conditions. But people who know what they're doing can get them straight within a few (1 - 5) thousands.
To many records have been set and broken with button rifled barrels to overlook them or dismiss them, the same can be said about cut rifled barrels.
So the best answer is buy a quality barrel either button or cut rifling in the contour and required twist for the job and enjoy, I know there are some that can shoot well enough to tell the difference between different match barrels but not to many and I'm not one of them.
So the best answer is buy a quality barrel either button or cut rifling in the contour and required twist for the job and enjoy, I know there are some that can shoot well enough to tell the difference between different match barrels but not to many and I'm not one of them.
That's true. Lilja barrels (both bolt & AR) are buttoned as are Hart, & are truly great barrels. Douglas' best non-straightened barrels can also be very, very good.
MM
I’m a huge fan of the stainless steel proof research barrel. I easily make hits out to 400yds with factory ammo.
I always sell mine as soon as I see what the pros are using.. 
Actually, I don't. WOA for many years. 18" SPR, Vewy vewy accurate!
Actually, I don't. WOA for many years. 18" SPR, Vewy vewy accurate!
Also have Krieger, Bartlein, and Rock Creek cut barrels on bolt guns but my Schneider 7.5 P button is the most accurate of them all !
I don't know what my favorite AR barrel is, because I buy them from the builder, not the barrel maker. I have a pair of Stag Model 6 Super Varminters, and a 16" Franken15 built with a Stag Model 3 barrel.
Best I can gather from internet searches, at least some of these three may be McGowan.
They work well.
Greg
Best I can gather from internet searches, at least some of these three may be McGowan.
They work well.
Greg
Dontchaknow that only 10 shot groups count........................
(Nice shooting, though)
MM
I had CLE spin a Krieger blank into a SPR profile 18” barrel for my Mk12 Mod 0 clone.
That barrel has spoiled me as far as accuracy,
if CLE would do me a similar barrel in 6.5 Grendel, I’d be a happy man. For a while, at least...
Accuracy, no difference. See various reviews and comparison tests I've done here on the Hide. I've tested hundreds of barrels from all the big and small names over the years.
First off, your quoting PRS bolt gun stats/info in the semi auto section. Doesnt apply to this discussion.
Second, the button vs cut has to do with barrel life, has Jack shit to do with accuracy. I've tested PVA Rock button prototype for them that is being used on the John Hancock. It hammers. I've tested Keystone Accuracy green mountain barrels for them in 6.5x47L. They shoot LIGHTS OUT. Buttons just generally crap out earlier than a cut rifled.
The top PRS guys typically use what their sponsor gives them. They also want the longest life out of them before spinning on a new barrel and having to recheck load data.
I always say, safe queen with minimal round per year button will do you just fine and be just as accurate. PRS style shooting, 10rd strings in 90sec week after week. Get a cut rifled barrel.
20" WOA SDM Fluted (Wilson) 1:7 223 Wylde
77smk - 23.6g 8208XBR - 1xLC - 205M
20" Rainier Ultramatch (Shilen) 223 Wylde 1:8
73 ELD-M - 23.4g 8208XBR - 3xLC - 205
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Now back on topic. I've always liked WOA's, Keystone Krieger's are great and Rainier (shilen) Ultramatch barrels.
Rainier doesn't use Shilen blanks anymore and actually just sent me a package with their new MOD2 Ultramatch barrels in 223 Wylde, 300blk, 224V and 6.5cm to test/review. I'm really looking forward to testing these. Keep an eye out for those reviews soon!
Rainier doesn't use Shilen blanks anymore and actually just sent me a package with their new MOD2 Ultramatch barrels in 223 Wylde, 300blk, 224V and 6.5cm to test/review. I'm really looking forward to testing these. Keep an eye out for those reviews soon!
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And if you didnt get the email, WOA is running a one day only sale today, 9/19 on their 18" SPR barrels, both standard SPR and fluted SPR at a huge discount. Cant beat that deal
https://www.whiteoakarmament.com/sh...QA&jobid=1dfa649b-0bbf-4b63-98fa-f8a496c81a77
$195 non fluted
$255 fluted
https://www.whiteoakarmament.com/sh...QA&jobid=1dfa649b-0bbf-4b63-98fa-f8a496c81a77
$195 non fluted
$255 fluted
My Satern cut rifle 6.5G is the best, .33MOA consistent with the right handloads, it's amazing. But getting one is like pulling teeth and takes years unless he has one in stock. So I only have the one unfortunately and it took around 3 years to get. May go with Krieger in the future, I understand their cut rifle barrels are good.
Lilja makes the navy's recce barrel. 16", probably one of the best button rifle barrels. Haven't shot this rifle yet, so can't comment, same for the 11.5" Grendel barrel I got from 'em. They're not cheap and have a good reputation FWIW.
Another I haven't shot yet is a Brownell's .223 Wylde 5R 1-8 twist stainless heavy profile barrel, it was $250 or so on sale. Just built it from parts I had. I expect it to do good though, subMOA, or I'm gonna sell it. Not putting a less than great barrel in an otherwise very nice rifle.
I too use Noveske as a "go to" but for SBR's. They make a tough as hell barrel and it's fairly accurate. They ain't cheap either, but are generally 1MOA barrels, some do even better. The LMT 14.5 M4 barrels are about 1-1.5 MOA. So is the AAC 16" .300 BLK pencil barrel.
I think that covers the ones I have. The new SR25's have a nice cut rifle barrel, so do the SR15's, not sue of the mfg. on these but they're subMOA with FGMM and better with the right handloads.
If I could get any it'd be the Satern, that is IF I could get what I needed.
Lilja makes the navy's recce barrel. 16", probably one of the best button rifle barrels. Haven't shot this rifle yet, so can't comment, same for the 11.5" Grendel barrel I got from 'em. They're not cheap and have a good reputation FWIW.
Another I haven't shot yet is a Brownell's .223 Wylde 5R 1-8 twist stainless heavy profile barrel, it was $250 or so on sale. Just built it from parts I had. I expect it to do good though, subMOA, or I'm gonna sell it. Not putting a less than great barrel in an otherwise very nice rifle.
I too use Noveske as a "go to" but for SBR's. They make a tough as hell barrel and it's fairly accurate. They ain't cheap either, but are generally 1MOA barrels, some do even better. The LMT 14.5 M4 barrels are about 1-1.5 MOA. So is the AAC 16" .300 BLK pencil barrel.
I think that covers the ones I have. The new SR25's have a nice cut rifle barrel, so do the SR15's, not sue of the mfg. on these but they're subMOA with FGMM and better with the right handloads.
If I could get any it'd be the Satern, that is IF I could get what I needed.
Do you know who's barrels those are now? I've heard Rock Creek button, but have not seen that positively confirmed yet.
Thanks.
MM
I have 2 LaRue barrels and 4 JP. I'm a huge fan of both but I'm really impressed with JP.
