I have everything together for my 300 BLK upper except for the barrel. I backordered the 8" barrel and have been excited for it to get here so I can put everything together.

He did make it sound like it was a bad batch. I have other 5.56 SBRs and I know there is a difference in velocity, but not in accuracy based on a short barrel. I just don't want to drop $360 on a barrel just to have it keyhole.

Noveske is as good as it gets in my opinion. Honorable mention to Larue LW barrels. They are amazing too.

Each of the above that I have owned or shot were more than impressive. Definitely superior to my abilities.


ETA- My first SBR, in the works, is going to be a Noveske 8" with NSR rail and MUR upper. I expect it to be perfect.

bbl length has no correlation with accuracy .. never has and never will .. buy elsewhere to avoid sending your money to ignorant dealers.

Please don't think my 'run' comment above was directed at Noveske, it wasn't. It was directed at your dealer.
I really can't imagine Noveske or any other major barrel maker releasing an entire bad batch of anything. Not saying
it is impossible, just very unlikely to happen. I don't think your dealer is being honest, or doesn't know what he is talking about.
Could be wrong...but if you don't have that warm fuzzy feeling (not talking of drunken piss down your leg either), seek
from elsewhere.

I can be of a little help.

Yes, two above nailed it.

The 300 AAC Blkt round was developed for a short barrel (in the 9" range - don't remember the exact measurement), all or the vast majority of the propellant (gun powder)
it burnt and converted to expanding gases inside that short length. By comparison a 5.56/.223 has a narrower volume length and will generally not have used up the propellant by 16".

If you do the calculations, the volume between .308 and .223 in the same length barrels are hugely different with the .308 having somewhere around two (2) times the volume.
Greater volume generally = greater/faster burn times in the barrel.

Formula:

pi × r 2 × h

(for .223) 3.14159 x .1115 squared x 16" = 0.62491
(for .308) 3.14159 x .154 squared x 16" = 1.19209

1.19209 / 0.62491 = 1.90764 times the volume in the same length

So in the same barrel length, the 300 AAC will be at max velocity before the .223/5.56 given all else as equals.
Since the 300 AAC gets to speed in a shorter length, you can run it from a shorter barrel.

For 'accuracy calculations, you will need to take this into account along with everything else that affects accuracy,
wind, barometric pressure, altitude, wind speed and direction, bullet weight, powder used, metallurgy of barrels, lock type etc, et al ad nauseum...
Barrel length can effect accuracy, but really only peripherally, other more direct influences rule the day.

You can have a nice, bent 24" in bull barrel that won't hit shit at 500M sitting next to a cheap, but straight 10" barrel hitting the bull every round.

I get the powder burn theory and that is why this round can be optimal for a shorter barrel. And that there are many factors that determine accuracy as stated above (very well articulated response and informative)
ok... so dumb it down to a simple question will help me understand:
a 16" or 20" barrel is no more accurate than an 8" or 10" barrel? Is this true? Both length barrels will have roughly the same grouping at 50, 100, 150, and 200 yards? (assuming same conditions/control group like).

well i dont understand it, but thanks. maybe it's because i was misinformed that 'a longer barrel equals better accuracy'. so that is a false statement? i'm hard headed.

It is a lot to learn about Accuracy. If you google it you will find a lot of info and many opinions on it.

What accuracy boils down to is consistancy. If the barrel has consistant harmonics and the bullet travels at a consistant speed and you shoot consistanly you can get accuracy from almost any gun.

There is also a movement to shorter barrels are more accurate due to the stiffness of them comapred to a longer one.

YMMV

MAHA