Posted: 10/27/2014 10:48:21 PM EDT
|
Okie dokie,
I got sidetracked last year with family stuff, and earlier this year when MD re-interpreted their shitty AR law to add that AR lowers are OK, I decided to build an AR pistol, while I still could. Once again, I'm looking at doing a budget precision AR build. I'm still not sure as to whether I want a 16" or 18". I don't have access to anything over 200 yards currently, so I guess a 16" would be just fine. Any reason to go with an 18" over a 16"? Also, I don't reload (yet). Anyway, the barrels I'm looking at all seem to be within the same ballpark as far as pricing goes. There seems to be tons of new makers lately, but currently I'm looking at..... WOA (of course) Odin Works Lothar Walther CLE ThunderBolt LLC (aka Denny's) BHW ARP Thoughts? |
|
Quoted:
Okie dokie, I got sidetracked last year with family stuff, and earlier this year when MD re-interpreted their shitty AR law to add that AR lowers are OK, I decided to build an AR pistol, while I still could. Once again, I'm looking at doing a budget precision AR build. I'm still not sure as to whether I want a 16" or 18". I don't have access to anything over 200 yards currently, so I guess a 16" would be just fine. Any reason to go with an 18" over a 16"? Also, I don't reload (yet). Anyway, the barrels I'm looking at all seem to be within the same ballpark as far as pricing goes. There seems to be tons of new makers lately, but currently I'm looking at..... WOA (of course) Odin Works Lothar Walther CLE ThunderBolt LLC (aka Denny's) BHW ARP Thoughts? I know this isn't on your list OP, but I recently put a budget SPR AR type build together & used a DD 18" SW2 barrel. DD barrels are nice, and this one is super accurate, and price is really nice…. DD SW2 Barrel Hope this helps. |
|
Quoted:
Yeah, but if I'm going with an 18" barrel, I'd prefer a rifle length gas system. How about this one then? |
|
I went with a BHW 18" Rifle gas for my precision build. I've got 400 yards local, and I wanted the extra velocity. It isn't entirely necessary for that distance, but it doesn't hurt. Velocity was in the 2650 - 2675 range IIRC, running suppressed. That may change once I start reloading for it.
I haven't really tried for groups, as I haven't had much time to spend at the range, but that barrel appears to like factory Nosler 69gr ammo. I've got 1500 of those projectiles ready for loading, just waiting on my trimmer so I can finally start load development. The only issue of note was in the first 50 rounds, it failed to lock to the rear twice. I haven't worried about it too much, I was using one of my older 20rd magazines, and I expect things will loosen up. The poly rifling has been really easy to clean, not much copper shows up when using Sweets. The barrel was a pretty good deal at 260 with a free upper back in December. I just checked, and Surplus Ammo is still offering that free upper deal but they have the 18" Rifle gas down to 207.96.  I considered WOA as well, but the 18" Rifle was out of stock everywhere when I had the money. Another option to consider would be a 17.9" SPR from Compass Lake for 290.
|
|
Quoted:
I went with a BHW 18" Rifle gas for my precision build. I've got 400 yards local, and I wanted the extra velocity. It isn't entirely necessary for that distance, but it doesn't hurt. Velocity was in the 2650 - 2675 range IIRC, running suppressed. That may change once I start reloading for it. I haven't really tried for groups, as I haven't had much time to spend at the range, but that barrel appears to like factory Nosler 69gr ammo. I've got 1500 of those projectiles ready for loading, just waiting on my trimmer so I can finally start load development. The only issue of note was in the first 50 rounds, it failed to lock to the rear twice. I haven't worried about it too much, I was using one of my older 20rd magazines, and I expect things will loosen up. The poly rifling has been really easy to clean, not much copper shows up when using Sweets. The barrel was a pretty good deal at 260 with a free upper back in December. I just checked, and Surplus Ammo is still offering that free upper deal but they have the 18" Rifle gas down to 207.96. I considered WOA as well, but the 18" Rifle was out of stock everywhere when I had the money. Another option to consider would be a 17.9" SPR from Compass Lake for 290.Those are three of my candidates. |
|
Criterion makes awesome barrels for the money. In stock here
So does WOA though. If you want to stick with 5.56 chamber instead of 223 Wylde, don't forget about Wilson Combat 
And go with the 18"! |
|
+1 on the Rainier Arms Match™ .223 Wylde Barrel - 18 SPR
I have their 16" Mid in that same family and get sub MOA groups with it. Wish I would have gotten the 18" but they were out of stock and I didn't want to wait.   My next rifle build will get my current barrel and i will replace it with the Rainier Arms Match™ .223 Wylde Barrel - 18 SPR or the Rainier Arms UltraMatch™ .223 Wylde Barrel - 18 SPR
|
|
Quoted:
Criterion makes awesome barrels for the money. In stock here So does WOA though. If you want to stick with 5.56 chamber instead of 223 Wylde, don't forget about Wilson Combat
And go with the 18"! Wilson combat makes a amazing barrel. Just wish mine would shoot the 77SMK . |
|
Quoted:
Criterion makes awesome barrels for the money. In stock here So does WOA though. If you want to stick with 5.56 chamber instead of 223 Wylde, don't forget about Wilson Combat
And go with the 18"! Came here to post this. I have the 20" and I am going to buy another for a second precision project. With curio and relic discount they are like 259 or something. Plus brownells almost always offers free shipping on purchases of that amount. |
|
Quoted:
I've got a WOA 16in and shoot it regularly out to 700. Velocity isn't going to be an issue, any of the mention barrels should treat you fine OP Yeah, at this point, I'll (hopefully) pounce on whatever comes up first or catches my eye. 'Nother question; 1:7 or 1:8? |
|
Quoted:
Aren't Lothar barrels over $300? For a budget stainless barrel, I'm looking for something around $250-$275 WOA makes great barrels for the money Unless things have changed, WOA doesn't make barrels. They sell Barrels, turned by CLE, from blanks by whoever |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
I've got a WOA 16in and shoot it regularly out to 700. Velocity isn't going to be an issue, any of the mention barrels should treat you fine OP Yeah, at this point, I'll (hopefully) pounce on whatever comes up first or catches my eye. 'Nother question; 1:7 or 1:8? 1/7 all the way. Even if your shooting blasting ammo at cqb range it'll still stabilize it enough and then you able to take advantage of the really heavy stuff at range. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I've got a WOA 16in and shoot it regularly out to 700. Velocity isn't going to be an issue, any of the mention barrels should treat you fine OP Yeah, at this point, I'll (hopefully) pounce on whatever comes up first or catches my eye. 'Nother question; 1:7 or 1:8? 1/7 all the way. Even if your shooting blasting ammo at cqb range it'll still stabilize it enough and then you able to take advantage of the really heavy stuff at range. 1:7.7 ... FTW You won't need to shoot anything over 80gr.
|
|
Quoted: Quoted: I've got a WOA 16in and shoot it regularly out to 700. Velocity isn't going to be an issue, any of the mention barrels should treat you fine OP Yeah, at this point, I'll (hopefully) pounce on whatever comes up first or catches my eye. 'Nother question; 1:7 or 1:8? 1:8 gets my vote. |
|
Doesn't get much better than this for this price...also comes with a free upper receiver..
http://www.surplusammo.com/blackhole-weaponry-ar-15-18-rifle-length-stainless-steel-5-56-1-8-poly-barrel/ 5 shot group from 770 yards with BHW barrel...this was the first 5 shots fired this day. About an moa 5 shot group even with the flyer caused by the wind. 
|
|
Check these guys out... http://ar15performance.com/inc/sdetail/11562/18272 If I was building another SPR type rifle I would get this barrel.
If you read around you will see everyone loves these barrels. I currently have one in 6.8 but have not finished putting that rifle together. I currently have a Lothar Walther barrel from Spikes tactical that is 18" 1:8 Polygonal and it is fast...very fast. |
|
Quoted:
rainier match barrels have a 100% money back gurantee that it shoots MOA or less no other barrel has that gurantee. 1/7 vs 1/8 twist dosent matter. This is true... I've been quite happy with the 2 BHW barrels as well as my WOA... all shoot under an inch. |
