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Posted: 10/21/2019 7:54:54 PM EDT
While doing a bit of window shopping on your site today, I came across these very cool looking Expo arms chrome lined 10.3 SOCOM style profile barrels https://www.primaryarms.com/expo-arms-combat-series-556-chrome-lined-ar15-barrel-socom-carbine-10.3 .. Before I pull the trigger and buy one of these barrels , what else beyond the description can you tell me about them? The main thing I was wondering was who makes these barrels for Expo if Expo them selves does not make them? Thanks for your help and I hope to hear from you soon!
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Howdy curbo,
Expo Arms is a Primary Arms Private Label, with parts made in the US by various OEM Manufacturers. I can tell you that these barrels are coming from a top notch partner of ours, and I'd have no problem at all using one of these barrels personally on my next build. I haven't posted much, but I'm picky, and I'd run it. I know it doesn't fully answer your question, but it's the best I can do. I hope it helps! |
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Thank you Sir, I really appreciate the reply! I kinda figured you may have limited info do to confidentiality, but what info you did provide as well as you personally saying you would use this on your own SBR/pistol is good enough for me! I may be wrong , but this profile on a Mk18 like build is genius, and like the M4A1 SOCOM type profiles, a real tac driver! Thanks again, as well as thank you Primary Arms as a whole for being one of the best in the business!
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Happy to help curbo, and thanks for the kind words! Much appreciated!
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Our Expo Arms Combat Series 5.56 Chrome Lined AR-15 Barrel SOCOM Profile Carbine Length - 10.3" barrels feature a .070" gas port.
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And now you guys add a 11.5 SOCOM and 14.5 mid!!! You guys are killing me!!! ???? Seriously though, someone is doing their homework!! Will be ordering SOON!!
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I know these are chrome lined but have you guys at primary arms received any feedback on accuracy on these barrels?
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For $109.99 it's pretty hard to pass up trying the 11.5" and comparing it to my Colt 11.5".
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If the Expo has a gas port that's indexed at 12 o'clock it already beats my real-deal Colt HRT that doesn't
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Thanks for the photos. If you can update with groups when you have a chance, it would be greatly appreciated.
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Quoted:
@EHilderbrand You take the barrel out for a test run yet? View Quote I will report back soon. I think for $109 to $139 it's a buy. More to follow. |
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Weird it doesn't cycle if its .070 like the Colt. I didn't think to measure mine earlier.
I did measure the concentricity. It was viced but by no means scientific at all. It ranged from .144 to .149 around the threads. I would think that's pretty good, but I genuinely have no idea. The park is extra thick. No obvious thin spots or scrapes like I've seen on literally every single parked barrel I've come across. There's only one dimple, which I guess makes sense. Crown looks decent. Not the best I've seen, but far from the worst I've seen. The markings look really good. They're not top center, but they're in the same spot as the previous poster's. I also forgot to weigh it and PA doesn't list the weight, but it's hefty. The packaging totally reminded me of a condom. I won't complete this build for a couple months but just fit and finish I'm impressed for the cost. |
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So I bought this barrel and just shot it after putting my gun back together. I couldnt get mine to cycle nornal ammo nor my reloads but with my supressor it worked better. So im going to check my gas block alignment to make sure its straight. I read where the gas block hole on the barrel is 0.070 is that a normal size?
Any help or advice |
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Quoted:
So I bought this barrel and just shot it after putting my gun back together. I couldnt get mine to cycle nornal ammo nor my reloads but with my supressor it worked better. So im going to check my gas block alignment to make sure its straight. I read where the gas block hole on the barrel is 0.070 is that a normal size? Any help or advice View Quote Try some m193 or even Wolf gold. If you were trying something weak powered or steel case that could possibly cause issues Check the gas block alignment and also known bcg |
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If it's gassed at the Crane spec of 0.070" for 10.3" barrels - which is what they're saying they spec'd it at, then it is normal to have some weaker ammo not cycle unsuppressed. I ran into that with my DD 10.3" barrel.
Crane chose that gas port size because it was the best compromise of running military pressure ammo (M855, Mk262 etc.) reliably unsuppressed while not having issues with bolt bounce, and parts wear etc. from adding the suppressor. Mk18s and similarly spec'd barrels typically run very well suppressed, and will have occasional issues on weaker loaded ammo with out a can. So bear that in mind when using 10.3"-10.5" barrels. Sounds like PA wanted a good Mk18 crane spec barrel and that's what they got. |
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These barrels look nice, loving the small GP size.
They need to get CMT to make some of their Expo "combat" handguards in different lengths. 10.5" and 11.5" if anyone's paying attention would be nice. |
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Quoted:
These barrels look nice, loving the small GP size. They need to get CMT to make some of their Expo "combat" handguards in different lengths. 10.5" and 11.5" if anyone's paying attention would be nice. View Quote |
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Quoted:
I agree on the rails.. That is a really good deal for the CMT oem rail View Quote Solid design and a very similar lock up to SLR. Forward Controls is using CMT HDX for the base of their rails, pretty telling. Come on PA you can do it, need more lengths and I'd be all over them. Ya'll are heading in the right direction with this Expo brand. Could start throwing together rifles and uppers; and be right there with BCM, SOLGW, Sionics etc. Seem to be sourcing parts from the same manufacturers, proper GP sizes etc. |
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@EHilderbrand
Thanks for the update man. I am ordering on this month for sure. Makes sense what you posted about the port sizing and your results. I dont shoot much steel cased, so not expecting issues with weaker powered ammo. Will fit my needs perfect. I might have missed it, but what buffer are you running? for those wanting to shoot steel case with this barrel i am guessing a carbine buffer may run with it |
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@everready73
I should have pointed that out, but it has an H2 buffer in it and a standard Colt carbine spring. I had meant to throw an H buffer in the bag that day and had forgotten to. Next trip out I'll try it with some Wolf and an H buffer and I bet it'll cycle. I did receive my Specwar 556K the day I made the post, so it'll be interesting to see how it does with a true 5.56 caliber suppressor on it. I think once it settles in, it'll be a shooter. |
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My thoughts are the same on the buffer
H2 seems to be correct for your application though. I could see some buying this barrel because of cost and shooting steel case with it. They will prob be running a carbine buffer anyway with lower cost build, so should be ok i am guessing |
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So make sure to feed it 5.56 pressure ammo is my take away. I may be wrong, but I thought that was the consensus for the Colt SOCOM as well.
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Quoted: So I’m SUUUUUPER late on this, just came across this thread again, after looking something else up. I ordered the expo arms 10.3” barrel, and right off the bat, I’ll say I had feeding issues. The first day I took it out to test it, it was running great through the zeroing process, and then about 4/5 mags through it, then as we were about to pack it up, i figured I would finish off a mag we had there that wasn’t full, maybe 15-20 rounds loaded. That’s when the issue started, which was baffling since It was fine up until then. For some reason, the “teeth” on the feed ramps began to grab and mar rounds, which was causing them to get hung up. Reading that some of you had no problem, I would probably chalk it up to a lemon, but figured I would put it out there. For the price, I would still say, go ahead and give it a shot, it was a small test bed for me, that didn't work out, but if I were in need for another 10.3” I would probably try one out again. Ammo that day was 55gr Wolf Gold. Wish I would’ve saved pictures of the rounds themselves, they were pretty significantly marred. https://imgur.com/a/xPB0ofu View Quote This would be a magazine problem. Your feed geometry is off. It can also happen with an out of spec bolt catch, but seeing as it was only one magazine that did it, I think you already have your culprit. If it was an out of spec barrel extension it would have happened every time. I had a 1st generation Pmag that did this after the spine cracked. |
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Maybe, had it been 1 mag, but I tried that mag with my Larue and didn't have issues, and I tried a different mag with the Expo, and it still happened. Granted, I wasn’t actually shooting it, just hand cycling, without babying it, and rounds would still get hung up.
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Hand cycling is never a reliable way to tell. Unless your barrel extension or barrel nut came loose, this could only be a magazine, bolt catch, or lower issue.
I'll bet you a dime if you go shoot it again with one of the original magazines it functions fine. Definitely check your barrel for any play first. |
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I've been running a Expo 14.5 middy for about a month. 500 rds and so far I can't see a difference between it and my BCM, COLT, and DD barrels. They all pretty much group the same.
I'm impressed. |
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Glad I noticed this thread. Ordered one today, I’ll open up the gas port to .080 or so before installing.
I get the “socom” spec stuff but the reality is civilians shoot civilian rounds. Wolf gold is my go-to. |
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Update: barrel came with a .065 gas port hole. Opened it up to .077, took 90 second of my life, no big. Overall barrel looks great!
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I’ve had a 10.3 and 11.5 for a few months now. They’ve both been great. I probably have 2500 or so rounds through the 10.3. Half wolf and Tula steel, half M855. So far I guess I’ve been lucky. I’ve not had a single FTF/FTE. Running a Geissele gas block, BCM upper, Surefire WarComp, and Geissele BCG. All rounds have been unsuppressed. Ejection has been reliable at 1530-1600 with steel, about 1500-1530 with M855
I don’t really shoot for groups so I can‘T give anyine an MOA number. I run the 10.3 with a PRO and it does everything I want it to do on 8” and 10” steel out to 100 yards. Performance is on par with my DD, Colt, BCM, and every other barrel I own. Believe I paid like $120 for mine with a military discount and that’s an excellent price for a barrel like this. I’d buy two more of either of these over buying any high dollar Melonite/Nitride coated barrel any day of the week. If not having a CHF barrel isn’t a big deal to you, I’d buy this over just about any other button rifled barrel out there. |
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I have one of these barrel. I think I will just open my gas port size up a tiny bit. I mostly shoot fiocchi .223 55gr for cheap reliable fun. That ammo always runs in everything I have but I occasionally get weird off brand stuff as well or a mix match 5.56 stuff. I need it to cycle every brass cased round I put in there. I don’t shoot steel, never have in anything but a commie gun.
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@PA_Marc
Any eta on the 16" Expo Barrels? Been checking for a few weeks now and they have been out of stock. |
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Ran a few hundred through mine today. Brought some Federal .223 to test out and ejection was about 4:00. Even with a 4.3 ounce buffer it ran great. Dare I say it, one of the better shooting 10.3/5 guns I've ever shot. I see why they chose this gas port diameter.
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Quoted: Glad I noticed this thread. Ordered one today, I’ll open up the gas port to .080 or so before installing. I get the “socom” spec stuff but the reality is civilians shoot civilian rounds. Wolf gold is my go-to. View Quote Word is Wolf Gold is Taiwanese equivalent to M193. Running it through my Chronograph verifies that claim. Within 20fps of M193 spec velocities. |
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Quoted: @olds442tyguy @everready73 I apologize for the delay in writing about this as I haven't had time to shoot, and with all this shit going on, as we all know, life is hectic. Anyhow, I was able to get out this past weekend and finally give this barrel a chance. I ran it suppressed and unsuppressed. Suppressor is a Specwar 762, but I will have a Specwar 556K any day now. First and foremost, I do believe the gas port may be a hair undersized, closer to .068 - I do not own pin gauges, but I was able to use a caliper and it seemed to fluctuate between .068-.069 I fired roughly 200rds through it this weekend. I shot Aguila 5.56, Wolf Steel Case .223, and Winchester Q3340 .223 which is a 62gr open tip bullet that apparantly DHS or some other government entity used for training. It has purple casings. Kind of cool. Aguila - cycles the rifle with and without a suppressor. Wolf Steel Case .223 - Multiple Failures to feed without a suppressor. With the suppressor mounted, I fired 60 or so rounds back to back without a single issue. Winchester Q3340 - Zero issues suppressed, zero issues without. As far as accuracy is concerned, I zeroed it at 25yds just to get it on paper and get everything lined up. I shot rougly 1-1/4" groups and I wasn't even shooting for any form of accuracy, my goal was to obtain a rough zero of the irons and EOTech. We have an 8" round at 230 yds at my club, and with the rough zero I connected on the first shot fired with irons, and first shot fired with the EOTech once I had them zeroed. The next time I get out, I will paper it at 100 as that is how I zero all of my rifles. I suspect it will shoot as good as the Colt HRT barrel based on what I've seen thus far. I like it, I think for the money it's an absolute steal, particularly for someone that cannot find one of the Colt barrels. I also think once the gas port sees some erosion, the rifle will be able to cycle Wolf steel cased .223 if that's what you choose to shoot. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49742668798_73cdbc1526_b.jpg View Quote What exact rail is that? I have the original 9.5 geissele rail. I like that extended picatinny underneath. |
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