I'm mulling over the build after next.  I'd like something that is accurate, but still suitable for SHTF use.  I have a couple questions:

1.  What is the long-term reliability of a stainless match barrel with a Wylde or 5.56 match chamber?  I know it won't last as long as a chrome lined barrel, but once it's broken in will it feed and eject reliably enough for a SHTF scenario?  I assume so, since the SEAL Recon Rifle and SPR use stainless steel match barrels with appropriate chambers.

2.  Is the Accuracy Speaks single stage trigger suitable for SHTF use?  How is it's long-term durability compared to a USGI trigger?

3.  While I'm at it, who makes the most accurate chrome-lined barrels (i.e. most uniform chrome plating)?  I've read Rock Island arsenal pumped chrome through the barrel during the plating process to maximize uniformity.  Does anyone do that  to AR barrels?

My never-been-shot-at, kayboard-commando opinion.

Edit: I misread you post, so most of below means nothing.

a) Go chrome for SHTF.  The loss of accuracy will not factor in for the situation.  Though, maybe you could chrome-moly the bore and chrome plate the chamber.

SHTF is not percision target shooting at 600 yards.

b) Single stage is more reliable and simpler.  Again, the accuracy you get from a 2 stage over a single stage won't be a factor in SHTF.  

SHTF is can you hit a 1 foot by 2 foot (man) size target at 250 meters tops, not a 1 inch orange circle at 400.

Quoted: I'm mulling over the build after next.  I'd like something that is accurate, but still suitable for SHTF use.  I have a couple questions: 1.  What is the long-term reliability of a stainless match barrel with a Wylde or 5.56 match chamber?  I know it won't last as long as a chrome lined barrel, but once it's broken in will it feed and eject reliably enough for a SHTF scenario?  I assume so, since the SEAL Recon Rifle and SPR use stainless steel match barrels with appropriate chambers. 3.  Is the Accuracy Speaks single stage trigger suitable for SHTF use?  How is it's long-term durability compared to a USGI trigger?

Actually from what I've read and been told Stainless last WAAAAY longer than chrome lined plus is WAAAY more accurate (setting aside that this is obviously a "match" barrel your referring to). Stickman has an Olyarms stainless 16'' or maybe its an 14.5'' that he told me out shoots most of his other barrels. I'd buy one from them if they made a ss barrel that was anodized to match the rest of my gun but their catalog doesnt show it....anyways, so i believe a ss bbl is going to hold up much much longer and will be a very nice very reliable barrel. Maybe Stick can tell you all about it.

If I had my choice of Wylde or 5.56 I would choose a match 5.56 because you can shoot any ammo with no worries. Wylde makes up a lot for .223 but its not 5.56, if it was it wouldnt be called wylde. And you dont know what types of ammo you might run into or will be available.

Stock triggers a highly recommended for SHTF or high stress use. The military/police do not use anything but stock triggers unless they are using sniper weapon systems. I believe the stock trigger is 11 lbs or around that and so there is not much of a chance of accidently discharging. Match triggers are not nearly as reliable as stock triggers and are not recommended. If you want reliability especially in life or death situations, dont build a nice gun and be foiled by a match trigger. Keep the standard trigger, many guys on this board can shoot submoa groups with stock triggers.  IMO, build you a KISS rifle with the parts you find to be highly reliable and quality and train/shoot with that rifle until you are fully proficiant with the build. In situations like what your referring to, I wonder about guys who constanty change around their weapons both adding and taking away and customizing yet have not trained with these weapons. In high stress you'd be suprised how things change whether your a equipment snob or not.

Anyways, [Reading Rainbow]But don't take my word for it[/Reading Rainbow]

Good luck in yer struggles!

Stainless barrels WILL wear out faster than chrome-moly. Stainless is softer than 4140 and wears accordingly. On the other hand, you won't need another barrel until after 10,000rds+ of use, so that is almost a moot point. I would get a 5.56 chamber for that extra layer of reliability. You can shoot plenty of 5.56 through the Wylde chamber, but the NATO chamber is supposed to be looser for better extraction.

I would stick to the standard trigger for a SHTF-type rifle. With a carbine and a stainless barrel, you can be accurate out to 400yds, easy, with a stock trigger (which generally breaks at around 8-9lbs, not 11).

Hope this helps a little.

WIZZO

I guess I should have mentioned that I have an A1 style rifle with a USGI pencil barrel and will soon have another.  Those will be my primary SHTF weapons.  I can shoot my A1 style rifle as well as can be expected with XM193 (~2MOA dispersion per the Ammo Oracle, IIRC) with the iron sights.

I want to build a tack driver that is still suitable for (secondary) tactical or SHTF use - i.e., not a race gun, but rather something more like an SPR (but not an SPR clone).  A more accurate gun is a more interesting gun.  This will also be my "ultimate" build (at least until the next one )

Can anyone with long-term Accuracy Speaks trigger experience tell me how they hold up over time?

I'm still looking at barrels - Krieger, Douglas, Pac Nor, Wilson.  It's got to be good, but it's only got to shoot as well as I do.  Wilson or the OA barrel mentioned above would probably be fine.

Quoted: Stainless barrels WILL wear out faster than chrome-moly. Stainless is softer than 4140 and wears accordingly. On the other hand, you won't need another barrel until after 10,000rds+ of use, so that is almost a moot point. I would get a 5.56 chamber for that extra layer of reliability. You can shoot plenty of 5.56 through the Wylde chamber, but the NATO chamber is supposed to be looser for better extraction. I would stick to the standard trigger for a SHTF-type rifle. With a carbine and a stainless barrel, you can be accurate out to 400yds, easy, with a stock trigger (which generally breaks at around 8-9lbs, not 11). Hope this helps a little. WIZZO

Thanks for clearing me up bro.  Interesting about stainless, but ya 10,000 haha moot indeed.

Stickman needs to hurry up and find this thread, I want to know how he got that ss barrel anodized anyhow.

Wear-resistance is NOT proportional to hardness in different materials.  They may be related when talking about the same material heat-treated to different hardnesses, but you cannot make a generalization that one material of a certain hardness will be more or less wear resistant than a different material at a different hardness.  Another factor is throat erosion, which will more than likely cause accuracy to fall off long before the lands and groves wear out.  I would talk to a barrel manufacturer like Wilson that makes stainless and chrome lined for a definative answer.