Before the "need" jokes start..yes, I'm aware that I don't need a new barrel...I guess I can say "should I want a new barrel?" I've recently built a AR pistol for close up fun so I decided to re-purpose my rifle for longer shooting. Today I purchased a Vortex HP 3-12x42 scope and I'm debating if my current barrel setup is ideal.
Current setup:
-Rock River Arms Entry Tactical
-16" 1:9 twist HBAR barrel, carbine length gas (non-chrome lined)
-non-free float handguard, A2 sightpost
Now...I'm not talking about a 1000yd shooter here...I'm going to bench this fella at 100-300yds. I gotta say..this guy is a shooter...I've had great luck with it and it eats anything I run in it. No matter what, I'm going to have to drop that sightpost for a different gas block and get a different handguard. I'm not the biggest fan of the feel of a bipod that close to the magwell, I'd like to go with at least a 12" free float...unless I go with a new barrel in which case, I'll go longer. After redoing this AR with a new gas block and handguard...keeping a less than ideal barrel seemed kind of silly. So...
Doing some reading, I'd really like to go to a 18" .223 wylde stainless barrel...you know, because. I really don't want to go 20" just in case I do indeed have to lug this guy so I thinking an 18" may work well. A 1:8 twist seems to be a nice happy medium...where I may shoot some 70+gr from time to time...I need to be able to remain in the real world where I'm going to be shooting either 55gr ammo 80% of the time and 69gr match 20% of the time. A 1:8 seems good for this.
Now...it seems that Nordic, Rainier, Odin, and Seekins, come up over and over and seem to be within my "$325-w-gas block" range.
So...thoughts? is the 1:9 16" perfectly fine for 1-300yds? Is it probably a good idea doing a barrel swap? If so...223 wylde 18" a good option?
As usual...any advice is welcome...