AR Sponsor
Posted: 11/5/2024 8:31:38 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Visigothic][Edited]
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The common denominator seems to be the barrels and myself but I know myself better than the barrel. Any barrel can be made to shoot with hand loads. I'm on my 3rd and 4th XYZ brand barrel with matching factory head spaced bolt and carrier and I'm not impressed yet. barrel #1 went through 8 different factory loads best group 4"@100 it was deemed defective by the maker and replaced barrel #2 " 1st replacement" had the gas blk pin hole drill off center ( this might have been a warning sign) Barrel #3 "2nd replacement" $300 = 12.5" R416 1in7 SS matching factory head spaced bolt and carrier : BCM upper and charging handle , face lapped and squared, BBl nut timed @ 60' lbs, gas blk spring pinned with set screw @ 8" lbs (w/blu TL), Rugged 3 chamber compensator shimmed @ 8-12' lbs (hotlocked). gas tube alignment checks out, built with very careful attention to detail. Using LaRue trigger, Leupold MK4 1.5x-5x LPVO, sand bags, 150lbs shooting bench Best group 3" @100 yds no stringing just all over the place, no consistency . 63 gr 55 gr various makes from known manufactures. $100+ spent on testing so far same results. One can easily spend the price of a barrel just trying to find a good factory load. Here we go again ........? I know they are a stand up bunch with years of experience at a prior well known AR builder but this is getting old. I have better things to do than spend hours disassembling and reassembling uppers much less spending time at the range wasting ammo buying different ammo etc.. I've even spoken to the owner, a nice guy but...Is it time to cut losses and run despite there life time warranty and buy another barrel from another maker? i.e. LaRue , Criterion, or get White Oak to cut one down for me? I also have a 10.5" #4 ( I bought along with the replacement $300, I thought surely what are the odds of bad luck again ) It too is not living up to the reputation. My White Oak barrels are out performing these 2 by half the group size all things being equal. I would expect 1.5" @ 100 with some form of factory ammo that's not $3 a round. Any advice or should I change my name to Karen or move on ? |
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It seems like some barrels are good across many different types/weights of ammo and some other lower end or mid grade barrels are good with a few types/weights of ammo. Just my 2 cents. I've been extremely happy with my Criterion core barrel. A bit expensive but I'd buy another if I shot this one out. |
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These both set me back a pretty penny from a very reputable parts maker. Seem to have good reviews online but not a lot of reviews in gen. Again I might be better off starting over. 3rd time +1 is a charm, bad luck charm that is. I just can't believe out of 4 barrels one was drilled wrong , 1 awful and 2 are mediocre at best. Ive built too many ARs that shoot well. As much as I hate to admit it it's probably the barrels. Has been names, associative relationships and "worked for XYZ" mean nothing if the product doesn't perform. I have wonder if they use their grade "A" barrels for their own builds giving them the accuracy reputation and the 2nds get sold out as parts. Gezzzzz |
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