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Posted: 8/10/2017 11:56:47 PM EDT
| Good evening everyone, I need some assistance with picking a barrel. I was leaning toward the 16inch Faxon Gunner Barrel, with the gas block already pinned. But Aim has been out of stock for a while. Then I started looking at the Ballistic Advantage 16" 5.56 BA Hanson Midlength AR 15 Barrel w/ Lo Pro, Performance Series which is about $30 more then the Faxon. My other choice would be to just get an unpinned barrel and add the gas block my self unpinned for the time being. I would greatly appreciate any advice. Thanks |
| I just got my 16 inch ba Hanson barrel in the mail. Everything quality wise looks amazing and shipping only took a few days. I got it when they had the free upper reciver deal going on. Im not sure but I think if you order over 175$ now you will get a free vg6 muzzle device of your choice when you put in a certain code. It's on their website. |
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Faxon Gunner gets my vote due to the profile, I love mine.
BA also makes an awesome barrel, cannot go wrong with either one. But it is worth it to get the pinned block IMO(from either MFR) eta: also Granite Ridge outfitters, and I think Monmouth reloading? are doing 25% off BA barrels right now(both are site sponsors) |
| I have both. BA in the 16" Hanson mid-length with the .625" gas block journal and the Faxon 11.5' Gunner with the .625" journal. My best shots at a 100 yards with the BA is just over .40' with 25 grains of H335 and the hornady 55 grain FMJ. The only thing that I wish I would have done differently was not get the .625 gas journal. You are very limited on the selection of adjustable gas blocks. |
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Thank you everyone for your feedback, I think I am going to go with this barrel since I'm starting to get a bit antsy waiting for Aim to get the Faxons back in stock.
16" 5.56 BA Hanson Midlength AR 15 Barrel w/ Lo Pro, Performance Series $180 from Manmoth or Granite, thanks for that tip. Now a little more help with the puzzle device, I really like the Surefire Warden blast diffuser. Has anyone used it or would you just recommend something simple for first build. This is primarily for sport, maybe some hunting and home defense!!! Thanks |
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Thank you everyone for your feedback, I think I am going to go with this barrel since I'm starting to get a bit antsy waiting for Aim to get the Faxons back in stock. 16" 5.56 BA Hanson Midlength AR 15 Barrel w/ Lo Pro, Performance Series $180 from Manmoth or Granite, thanks for that tip. Now a little more help with the puzzle device, I really like the Surefire Warden blast diffuser. Has anyone used it or would you just recommend something simple for first build. This is primarily for sport, maybe some hunting and home defense!!! Thanks Actually the very best is a suppressor, but I doubt you're ready for that. |
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That smooths out the recoil a good bit doesn't it? I personally run an 18" Gunner on my personal builds that are not SBRs. |
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I built 3 AR's in the past 3months using Green Mountain barrels, 2 were 16" SS, mid length gas 1:8 twist, mid weight and the other was 18" SS, rifle length gas, 1:8 twist, mid weight. All 3 barrels have no issues feeding various types of ammo and got sub 1" groups @ 100yds first time out, after 300rds I'm seeing 5/8-3/4" groups depending on ammo.
I just ordered a McGowen barrel for a 6.5Gendel build, 18" SS HBAR profile, rifle length gas, 1:9 twist. If you have the time to wait and the money McGowen makes a great barrel that you can have built to you spec's. |
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Thank you guys for all of your help, I went ahead and went with the BA 16 Hansen barrel with the pinned gas block. On a funny note, I received the barrel today and got an e mail from Aim surplus saying they had the Faxon 16in gunner barrel back in stock! Let me know what you think of her so far. Optics and muzzle device left. I believe I am going to go with the AFAB Hybrid. I like the Surefire but a bit pricey for me, my wife is already starting to cut me off!!! New baby on the way!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4383/36503872521_50030091d9_k.jpg20170817_134956 by leon, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4374/35832765293_d196d79e28_k.jpg20170817_135002 by leon, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4415/36503871391_3b02e6cfd6_k.jpg20170817_135008 by leon, on Flickr |
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Quoted:
I built 3 AR's in the past 3months using Green Mountain barrels, 2 were 16" SS, mid length gas 1:8 twist, mid weight and the other was 18" SS, rifle length gas, 1:8 twist, mid weight. All 3 barrels have no issues feeding various types of ammo and got sub 1" groups @ 100yds first time out, after 300rds I'm seeing 5/8-3/4" groups depending on ammo. I just ordered a McGowen barrel for a 6.5Gendel build, 18" SS HBAR profile, rifle length gas, 1:9 twist. If you have the time to wait and the money McGowen makes a great barrel that you can have built to you spec's. Also, regarding pinned gas blocks, they may make sense with GI type front sight/gas block components, where the rifle is thrown around in vehicles and dropped on rocks, but not for the typical lo-pro BG or even one with a folding front sight. For most civilian purposes, a common clamp-on or set screw gas block is perfectly adequate and more practical insofar as taking on and off. Just my opinion, of course. - CW |
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