Radical Firearms AR barrel

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Radical Firearms AR barrel (Page 1 of 4)

Posted: 11/28/2014 11:08:11 PM EDT

Anyone have any experience with this barrel or the barrel maker? It seems like a ridiculously low price for the specs listed.

Thanks

Posted: 11/28/2014 11:36:38 PM EDT

[#1]

Most likely from a Mossberg blank. They are surprisingly good barrels.

Posted: 11/29/2014 12:07:17 AM EDT

[#2]

Quote History

Quoted:
Most likely from a Mossberg blank. They are surprisingly good barrels.

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Aren't those blanks 1/9 though?

Posted: 11/29/2014 12:10:31 AM EDT

[#3]

Nope they are 1:7 and they shoot pretty well. I don't think they are chrome lined though are they?

Posted: 11/29/2014 12:39:02 AM EDT

[#4]

I have one of the 1x9 16" carbine gas radical barrels primary put on sale a few months back. I wanted a cheap Melonite barrel to run Wolf thru, at $70 it fit the bill! Barrel is nicely finished, clean cut rifling and chamber. Runs wolf like a champ but slightly over gassed with M193/SS109, an H buffer and enhanced spring solved that and it still runs wolf just fine. Accuracy is 3-5 MOA at 100yds on average, I shoot this upper for close range practice <50 for the most part so this is perfectly acceptable for a $70 barrel I bought to ware out to begin with

I have nearly 1k thru it now without one hiccup... 95% of this has been wolf 55gr.

I was so pleased with the first radical barrel I ordered the one you linked to build Mid length "beater" upper, I would have preferred 1x9 again since I'm shooting 55gr almost exclusively, the 1x7 will be fine given the intended purpose.

Posted: 11/29/2014 1:13:12 AM EDT

[#5]

I jumped on that. Melonited middy with good reviews, for half off. No brainer! I don't have a build for it lined up, but you will NEVER see a (decent) middy for that price again. Do it!

Posted: 11/29/2014 2:34:05 AM EDT

[#6]

I went fo it

hope it's decent, the low price almost scared me away but I'll roll the dice.

Posted: 11/29/2014 5:33:58 AM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:
I went fo it

hope it's decent, the low price almost scared me away but I'll roll the dice.

View Quote

I'm sure you'll be glad you did! With Mossberg carbine length melonited barrels (the cheapest previously) going for $100ish, $65 for a middy is a STEAL! Never EVER will you see these this cheap again.

Posted: 11/29/2014 9:14:24 AM EDT

[#8]

Haven't shot it yet, but I ordered their 16" carbine 1:7 two weeks ago, assembling the rifle tomorrow

Posted: 11/29/2014 10:41:26 AM EDT

[#9]

Ordered one for my daughters boyfriend. Avid shooter building his first AR. We also ordered a Tactical Machining receiver set for $77 and they are NOT blems. Not sure you'll see that again any time soon.

Posted: 11/29/2014 4:18:03 PM EDT

[#10]

Looking at the descriptions on their website it seems that they're using blanks from ER Shaw on everything I see

Posted: 11/29/2014 5:27:50 PM EDT

[#11]

I too had good experience with their 1/9 melonite barrel from this summer, so it's a no-brainer jumping on this deal.

Posted: 11/29/2014 5:42:03 PM EDT

[#12]

I jumped. Saw it on black friday and now I'm waiting for it. Melonite, 1/7, 4150V, all for $70? Yeah, that will do.

I'll come back and review it when I get it on a rifle.

ETA: And I really like the SOCOM contour.

Posted: 11/29/2014 6:13:28 PM EDT

[#13]

Screw it. I fent. Picked up two of them. Between these barrels, the Bushmaster uppers and lowers at Brownells and a few spare parts I had lying around, I'm into a complete build for like $350--and with good components, too! This is insane.

Posted: 11/29/2014 7:17:37 PM EDT

[#14]

I'd be willing to try one out if it came with a pinned FSB; of course I'd pay a bit more... I wouldn't worry about it OP, worst case your out what $70??? Best case you end up with a solid beater barrel...

Posted: 11/29/2014 9:57:44 PM EDT

[#15]

Just a note but Radical Firearms won't warranty their barrels unless you buy directly from them. BUT I have no doubt Primary Arms will take care of you if you have any problems. I just built a pistol with a Radical Firearms 10.5" barrel I bought from PA and it looks great but I haven't shot it yet. The only thing that might be a problem is that they melonite them after installing the barrel extension and they say they re-torque them afterwards but I've heard of a couple people who had them come apart with less than 30 ft-lbs

Posted: 11/29/2014 10:44:04 PM EDT

[#16]

I see that listed as a SOCOM profile, but isn't that an A2??? Thinking of getting a couple myself.

Posted: 11/29/2014 11:48:44 PM EDT

[#17]

Now that I look at it, it does appear to be an M4 profile, not a SOCOM profile. I don't really care, but that is slightly annoying.

Posted: 11/30/2014 12:25:00 AM EDT

[#18]

Barrel contours are muddy IMHO... seems each manufacture has a slightly different take. I THINK, a true SOCOM would have the launcher cut like an M4 but lighter under the hand guard than an M4. To my eye, this barrel looks to be closer to an A2 profile but lighter, somewhere in between a LW/pencil barrel and A2 profile.

Posted: 11/30/2014 1:42:16 AM EDT

[#19]

I bought a 10.5" and a 7.5" upper. Can't wait!

Posted: 11/30/2014 1:58:24 AM EDT

[#20]

I'm unclear on the SOCOM profile, I do see other barrels with a similar profile being advertised as such, but isn't there another type with M203 cuts and ring?

Posted: 11/30/2014 2:42:27 AM EDT

[#21]

The SOCOM profile barrels that are now the M4A1 barrels are heavy under the handguard with flats cut into them for the launcher mount. At least that's my understanding. I've been seeing barrels advertised all over that say "SOCOM profile," but aren't any standard profile that I know anything about.

Posted: 11/30/2014 3:27:27 AM EDT

[#22]

Yep, definitely closer to A2 profile. I'm having a bad day, this migraine sucks.

Posted: 11/30/2014 6:21:46 PM EDT

[#23]

At that price, I had to get one.

Posted: 12/4/2014 7:21:19 PM EDT

[#24]

My barrels showed up today. I know you really can't tell anything about the quality or accuracy of a barrel by its looks, but it's a nice looking barrel. I should have it built next week, and I'll post up an accuracy review.

Posted: 12/4/2014 7:43:06 PM EDT

[#25]

Mine showed up today also, I bought it just because it was cheap don't know how soon I'm going to build it tho.

Posted: 12/4/2014 7:57:15 PM EDT

[#26]

Hot off the fedex truck...

Posted: 12/4/2014 8:23:41 PM EDT

[#27]

Quote History

Quoted:
Hot off the fedex truck...

http://i.imgur.com/awXof3N.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/MYWc1qU.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/s6L74g9.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/GGPBe6y.jpg

View Quote

Thanks for sharing. Is it just the pics or it that barrel blued???

Posted: 12/4/2014 8:59:15 PM EDT

[#28]

Quote History

Quoted:

Thanks for sharing. Is it just the pics or it that barrel blued???

View Quote

Supposed to be melonite, color looks the same as my blued Howa barrel, much blacker than a parkerized barrel. Doesn't look like the tennifer on my Glock either.

Posted: 12/4/2014 9:19:03 PM EDT

[#29]

Have you guys that got one of these run an oiled (or solvent soaked) patch through the barrel? I did and got all sorts of weird brown stuff on the patch. And then patch after patch after patch of brown stuff. I'm wondering if it's a protective coating or if my barrel has some stuff on it that's not supposed to be there.

Posted: 12/4/2014 9:59:09 PM EDT

[#30]

Quote History

Quoted:
Have you guys that got one of these run an oiled (or solvent soaked) patch through the barrel? I did and got all sorts of weird brown stuff on the patch. And then patch after patch after patch of brown stuff. I'm wondering if it's a protective coating or if my barrel has some stuff on it that's not supposed to be there.

View Quote

Yep, same thing. Ran a bunch of patches through with Butch's Bore Shine, patches still had light brown but I'm not going to try for any better. It is also in the barrel extension but it seemed to wipe out with some q-tips so I don't think it's rust.

Posted: 12/5/2014 1:16:50 AM EDT

[#31]

Mine doesn't look so good. Worst chamber I've seen in a melonited barrel.

Those pics are AFTER cleaning (as best I could) with bore and chamber brush and about a dozen patches. Could NOT get that chamber clean. It looks like a bare bore with surface rust (but probably isn't).
The outside looks like previous posters pics. But the chamber on mine....

Posted: 12/5/2014 8:16:46 AM EDT

[#32]

I just looked at mine. While it's still covered in the brown stuff that the other posters' chamber is, mine is smooth and very well machined.

Posted: 12/5/2014 8:48:08 AM EDT

[#33]

Could it be the cutting fluid from when they machined it?

Posted: 12/5/2014 9:15:21 AM EDT

[#34]

damn, back to a high price

Posted: 12/5/2014 7:34:12 PM EDT

[#35]

All Melonite Barrels are typically "dirty" initially. A dozen or so patches run through and take it out and shoot it.

Posted: 12/5/2014 7:51:21 PM EDT

[#36]

Quote History

Quoted:
Could it be the cutting fluid from when they machined it?

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Could be. All my barrels whether it's Spikes, PSA's CHF, or Green Mountain manufactured, they come with brown shit in the chamber area and a light coating of gunk in the barrel. I run a Hoppe's bore snake down it a dozen times and a chamber brush and all is well. The brown shit in these barrels looks a little excessive but nothing to worry about.

Posted: 12/6/2014 12:11:39 PM EDT

[#37]

Ours looks pretty good. It does need to be cleaned as all gun parts do before assembly...

Posted: 12/6/2014 12:34:38 PM EDT

[#38]

I installed my 16" 1:7 mid-length SOCOM profile barrel on Thursday. First swab was pretty brown. By the time I got to the fifth swab, it was clean. The chamber looks really good. No brown buildup beforehand. I cannot wait to get this to the range next week.

Posted: 12/6/2014 12:47:34 PM EDT

[#39]

Quote History

Quoted:
I installed my 16" 1:7 mid-length SOCOM profile barrel on Thursday. First swab was pretty brown. By the time I got to the fifth swab, it was clean. The chamber looks really good. No brown buildup beforehand. I cannot wait to get this to the range next week.

<a href="http://s100.photobucket.com/user/jamesrea_2006/media/Weapons%202014/008_zpsc8922e94.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m8/jamesrea_2006/Weapons%202014/008_zpsc8922e94.jpg</a>

View Quote

Please let us know how the range time went. Did you do a headspace check on the barrel?

Your build looks really nice!

Posted: 12/6/2014 12:52:43 PM EDT

[#40]

Quote History

Quoted:

Please let us know how the range time went. Did you do a headspace check on the barrel?

Your build looks really nice!

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
I installed my 16" 1:7 mid-length SOCOM profile barrel on Thursday. First swab was pretty brown. By the time I got to the fifth swab, it was clean. The chamber looks really good. No brown buildup beforehand. I cannot wait to get this to the range next week.

<a href="http://s100.photobucket.com/user/jamesrea_2006/media/Weapons%202014/008_zpsc8922e94.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m8/jamesrea_2006/Weapons%202014/008_zpsc8922e94.jpg</a>

Please let us know how the range time went. Did you do a headspace check on the barrel?

Your build looks really nice!

I have never bothered doing headspace checks on any of the ARs I have built and there has been a few dozen. In ten years, I have never had a problem.

Posted: 12/6/2014 1:23:57 PM EDT

[#41]

Quote History

Quoted:
I installed my 16" 1:7 mid-length SOCOM profile barrel on Thursday. First swab was pretty brown. By the time I got to the fifth swab, it was clean. The chamber looks really good. No brown buildup beforehand. I cannot wait to get this to the range next week.

<a href="http://s100.photobucket.com/user/jamesrea_2006/media/Weapons%202014/008_zpsc8922e94.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m8/jamesrea_2006/Weapons%202014/008_zpsc8922e94.jpg</a>

View Quote

Very nice! MI M-Lok, LaRue, billet and is that an ACT? Very similar to a build I have underway.

Please let us know how it shoots.

Posted: 12/6/2014 2:39:15 PM EDT

[#42]

Quote History

Quoted:

Very nice! MI M-Lok, LaRue, billet and is that an ACT? Very similar to a build I have underway.

Please let us know how it shoots.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
I installed my 16" 1:7 mid-length SOCOM profile barrel on Thursday. First swab was pretty brown. By the time I got to the fifth swab, it was clean. The chamber looks really good. No brown buildup beforehand. I cannot wait to get this to the range next week.

<a href="http://s100.photobucket.com/user/jamesrea_2006/media/Weapons%202014/008_zpsc8922e94.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m8/jamesrea_2006/Weapons%202014/008_zpsc8922e94.jpg</a>

Very nice! MI M-Lok, LaRue, billet and is that an ACT? Very similar to a build I have underway.

Please let us know how it shoots.

Not an ALG ACT. Just a SS trigger. I am hoping to win one of the new LaRue 2-stage triggers. If I do, it will go into it. If I do not win one, then I will most likely put an ACT in it.

Posted: 12/6/2014 4:00:07 PM EDT

[#43]

I also could not resist the price on PA, mine will be here next week. I hope it works out.

Posted: 12/6/2014 9:44:09 PM EDT

[#44]

I'm wishing I got two at that price.

Posted: 12/6/2014 9:57:33 PM EDT

[#45]

Quote History

Quoted:

Not an ALG ACT. Just a SS trigger. I am hoping to win one of the new LaRue 2-stage triggers. If I do, it will go into it. If I do not win one, then I will most likely put an ACT in it.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
I installed my 16" 1:7 mid-length SOCOM profile barrel on Thursday. First swab was pretty brown. By the time I got to the fifth swab, it was clean. The chamber looks really good. No brown buildup beforehand. I cannot wait to get this to the range next week.

<a href="http://s100.photobucket.com/user/jamesrea_2006/media/Weapons%202014/008_zpsc8922e94.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m8/jamesrea_2006/Weapons%202014/008_zpsc8922e94.jpg</a>

Very nice! MI M-Lok, LaRue, billet and is that an ACT? Very similar to a build I have underway.

Please let us know how it shoots.

Not an ALG ACT. Just a SS trigger. I am hoping to win one of the new LaRue 2-stage triggers. If I do, it will go into it. If I do not win one, then I will most likely put an ACT in it.

Good luck on the LaRue, but don't win the one I'm trying to win!

Posted: 12/7/2014 12:52:16 AM EDT

[#46]

'm

Quote History

Quoted:
I installed my 16" 1:7 mid-length SOCOM profile barrel on Thursday. First swab was pretty brown. By the time I got to the fifth swab, it was clean. The chamber looks really good. No brown buildup beforehand. I cannot wait to get this to the range next week.

<a href="http://s100.photobucket.com/user/jamesrea_2006/media/Weapons%202014/008_zpsc8922e94.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m8/jamesrea_2006/Weapons%202014/008_zpsc8922e94.jpg</a>

View Quote

I'll put in another request for a range report. I don't plan on using mine in a build for while. When I do, it'll be close to what you've got.

Posted: 12/7/2014 3:02:22 AM EDT

[#47]

I received minre yesterday. Looks good, cleaned up nice, just need to shoot it. Was a deal, should have bought 2.

Posted: 12/7/2014 3:03:13 PM EDT

[#48]

Well, another good purchase! I put a little over 300rds thru my Mid length radical barrel today, mostly Wolf 55gr and some M193/SS109 without issue. The barrel gas port is much like the carbine gas version, maybe slightly over gassed with M193/ss109 but runs smooth with either a carbine buffer/spring or an H buffer/enhanced spring(little smother). Wolf runs smooth with the H buffer/enhanced spring as well.
Accuracy.... I was not having my best day

I sighted in at 50yds, groups were in the 2-4 inch range BUT most of this was me! I shot my dedicated 22lr and 10.5 equally poorly and I KNOW they shoot better when I'm on my game...it was just one of those days. Still, 2-4 inches at 50yds is not bad with a RDS and cheap ammo, when you factor in I built this upper to run wolf until the rifling is gone and will be shooting mostly under 50 yds close quarter drills even if the accuracy is no better it's still perfectly acceptable for the given purpose IMHO.

Overall, for a $65 barrel it's a steal, I should have bought 2

Posted: 12/7/2014 8:57:34 PM EDT

[#49]

Good to hear it shot fairly good without any issues.

Posted: 12/7/2014 11:50:59 PM EDT

[#50]

Quote History

Quoted:
Well, another good purchase! I put a little over 300rds thru my Mid length radical barrel today, mostly Wolf 55gr and some M193/SS109 without issue. The barrel gas port is much like the carbine gas version, maybe slightly over gassed with M193/ss109 but runs smooth with either a carbine buffer/spring or an H buffer/enhanced spring(little smother). Wolf runs smooth with the H buffer/enhanced spring as well.
Accuracy.... I was not having my best day

I sighted in at 50yds, groups were in the 2-4 inch range BUT most of this was me! I shot my dedicated 22lr and 10.5 equally poorly and I KNOW they shoot better when I'm on my game...it was just one of those days. Still, 2-4 inches at 50yds is not bad with a RDS and cheap ammo, when you factor in I built this upper to run wolf until the rifling is gone and will be shooting mostly under 50 yds close quarter drills even if the accuracy is no better it's still perfectly acceptable for the given purpose IMHO.

Overall, for a $65 barrel it's a steal, I should have bought 2

View Quote

Mine won't run Wolf 55gr.

ETA: Won't run == Short stroking after 4 - 5 rounds. IMI and ZQI run great!

Perhaps another couple hundred NATO spec rounds will fix it up...

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Radical Firearms AR barrel (Page 1 of 4)

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