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Posted: 8/17/2026 5:41:52 PM EDT
| I'm needing a barrel that can reach out and be 1 MOA accuracy with match ammo or tested hand loads. I was looking at the Centurion Arms barrel or the Criterion barrels. I would like to make this your typical SHTF type setup so no pencil barrel but also would like it to be balanced and light as realistically possible (no super heavy barrel). |
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I really like Lothar Walther, this is what I’m shooting on my 14.5 https://www.lothar-walther.com/ar15-std-w-mid-l-life-hd-coated-5-56x45nato-twist-8-od-098-l-145-special-rifle-steel-lw19/wuar-556-145-10cn |
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Originally Posted By raverill: I really like Lothar Walther, this is what I’m shooting on my 14.5 https://www.lothar-walther.com/ar15-std-w-mid-l-life-hd-coated-5-56x45nato-twist-8-od-098-l-145-special-rifle-steel-lw19/wuar-556-145-10cn Never heard of them. What made you go with them? Love your avatar btw 
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Originally Posted By Turbo30cal: Never heard of them. What made you go with them? Love your avatar btw Ha thanks! Lothar Walther is the American operation of Lothar Walther (Germany) and the brother of Carl Walther. They were more of a competition barrel manufacturer, but have been making AR barrels for over 2 decades. |
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Originally Posted By raverill: Ha thanks! Lothar Walther is the American operation of Lothar Walther (Germany) and the brother of Carl Walther. They were more of a competition barrel manufacturer, but have been making AR barrels for over 2 decades. Any accuracy to report from your setup? |
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I forget our resident accuracy reporters screen name but he does thorough reviews, see below: https://www.ar15.com/forums/ar-15/Observations-on-the-Accuracy-of-a-20-Lothar-Walther-AR-15-Barrel/118-769056/? |
| I love Daniel Defense chrome lined barrels. Almost all my 5.56 barrels are DD 1-7" barrels. I have a DD 6.8 midlength and it is the cats meow. The YHM 6.8 is a damn good one also. Both of the 6.8's are chrome lined also. |
I hated going to weddings. All the grandmas would poke me and say "You're next". They stopped that when I started doing it to them at funerals.
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Sic semper evello mortem tyrannis
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| Don't ignore pencil profile barrels. They can still be plenty accurate and a lot more wieldy. They may heat up a little faster but they cool off faster too. Also, if you have an accurate one that averages say 1 moa, once it heats up it may still be 2 moa which is still acceptable for a shtf rifle. |
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Originally Posted By Teller_Ulam: Don't ignore pencil profile barrels. They can still be plenty accurate and a lot more wieldy. They may heat up a little faster but they cool off faster too. Also, if you have an accurate one that averages say 1 moa, once it heats up it may still be 2 moa which is still acceptable for a shtf rifle. Which ones are you thinking? |
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Originally Posted By Turbo30cal: Sorry, I don't really know how to answer that past an AR barrel that is threaded.  Was curious if you specifically wanted the military M4 profile, but sounds you are not specifically looking for that. I used a 14.5 centurion mid weight barrel on a build and was very pleased with the accuracy. |
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Originally Posted By Turbo30cal: Which ones are you thinking? Seems like there's fewer around now. Theres more 16" pencil profiles offerd than 14.5. I've always like the Noveske 14.5 chf Skinny barrel the best. I have them in a bunch of rifles. Sometimes you can get a good one from Faxon that shoots great. Brownells offers some that I think may be made by BA, but I'm not sure. No experience with them. |
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Originally Posted By Turbo30cal: Which ones are you thinking? |
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Originally Posted By spyderboy03: There is the BCM ELW (I've got a 14.5 arriving tomorrow for a build) and the Spike's CHF pencil barrel that is made by FN. I think Spike's has it in stock. I was going to get it but got the BCM for $200 on tacswap. Originally Posted By spyderboy03: Originally Posted By Turbo30cal: Which ones are you thinking? I like BCM for most duty type stuff but if someone is asking for a precision-first barrel I wouldn't recommend a BCM. |
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Originally Posted By King_Mud: I like BCM for most duty type stuff but if someone is asking for a precision-first barrel I wouldn't recommend a BCM. |
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IMO Centurion's Midweight CHF bbl's are about as rugged and durable as you can get. Same specs when they used FN but they have said they haven't used them in years. -Midweight profile(.740 in front and behind the gas journal) ~30oz -twice as thick chrome lining -machine gun steel -tapered bore -gas block index notch/pinned in place It's pretty accurate for me and I'm not that great of a shot lol. I was able to manage this 7 round group with 223MKD, a 14.5 Centurion Midweight CHF and my TA31RCO. Probably would've been a hole in one but I was vertical stringing my shots for awhile. Best bbl I've ever owned and it's perfectly gassed. Attached File |
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another vote for LW... I've owned a lot of barrels and high end has sucked, low end has been great, and in between. Much of it is luck of the draw with the some producing more quality barrels but everyone produces duds. The one company I've yet to have any accuracy issues with; LW |
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Criterion will be the most likely to give you 1 MOA small sample size groups for an affordable barrel. Their nitride stainless steel barrels have shot incredibly well for me, and others. Mine rivals a 16" Bartlein for the most accurate 5.56 AR in my collection.. Sample size of one, but I just put a Colt 14.5" SOCOM profile barrel on a 6920, it's pretty impressive for a sub $300 barrel. Geiselle have been solid for me as well. Preston Moore on youtube is a great channel to watch for answers. |
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Originally Posted By raverill: Ha thanks! Lothar Walther is the American operation of Lothar Walther (Germany) and the brother of Carl Walther. They were more of a competition barrel manufacturer, but have been making AR barrels for over 2 decades. I have a Spike's Lothar Walther barrel that I waited for a long time during the 2010s. They don't offer that barrel anymore. It is a 18" barrel kinda of a heavy barrel design. But it does shot tight. I haven't shot it in couple of years. |
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