Posted: 2/4/2014 7:57:14 PM EDT
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Looking to have one of my Ar's (colt 16 inch) re-barreled. I bought it used and I have personally fired 1000's of rounds, maybe into the 10's of 1000's out of it. It just don't hold very good groups anymore. Looking to have it re-barrelled. I posted in another section and it was suggested that I post here and ask if anyone knows a good smith that works on Ar's to do the re-barrel?
I live near Superior and would not be opposed to driving a short distance to have this done. I occasionally visit family around the central part of the state and get to the twin cities regularly. Can anyone suggest a good company or a smith that works on ar's? Thanks in advance. |
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I am located near Appleton, if you make it this far central.
Quoted:
Looking to have one of my Ar's (colt 16 inch) re-barreled. I bought it used and I have personally fired 1000's of rounds, maybe into the 10's of 1000's out of it. It just don't hold very good groups anymore. Looking to have it re-barrelled. I posted in another section and it was suggested that I post here and ask if anyone knows a good smith that works on Ar's to do the re-barrel? I live near Superior and would not be opposed to driving a short distance to have this done. I occasionally visit family around the central part of the state and get to the twin cities regularly. Can anyone suggest a good company or a smith that works on ar's? Thanks in advance. |
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Might it be your ammunition? In working with 1-12 twist (black and chrome lined bores) and 1-7 (chrome lined bores) for 20+ years, I have never experienced a group spread with the AR system. It always went from tight groups direct to keyholes. It was always a joke to keep a couple shot out M249 and 11.5" barrels for room clearing where the tumblers would be devastating, in theory...LOL
Elevation, temperature and bullet/ammo configuration have made group creep issues (usually elevation), but never spread issues. CRANE states the group (with sniper qualed shooter) should hold 7" or less at 100M. Ransom rest testing would be optimal but not cost effective. Milspec on the M4 barrel is 6K with hard use. I have never experienced one that gave out under 6K with hard use for that matter. I have had very few exposures to the 1-9 twist aside from being involved with it's M4 contour chase development. I'd hate for you to spend unnecessary $ if it can be avoided. Especially with what your time is worth and gas $. If you mail the upper and new barrel (with return shipping $) I will swap out your barrel for free. V OUT |
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I don't think that it's the ammo. I've fired close if not over 10000 rds though this upper and I bought the rifle used so there could be 20K rounds through it or more. I fired some 69 gr ammo that shoots less then 1/2 MOA in a varmit upper I have and it shot basket ball groups with it at 100 yards. No key holeing yet but I think it's just worn out.
Besides, I want to go with a 1/7 twist anyway. |
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Google Mike Bykowski. He's down in Milwaukee and quite well known on a national level in the High Power Competition circles. He may be way, way over qualified and (priced) for what you're after. What are you after anyway. If you want to just pick out a barrel you can come over to my house and I'll help you put it on. I have all the tools and have done it hundreds of times.
Re barreling an AR is not not rocket surgery. |
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Also are you willing to ship it to get it done? This. If there isn't some person locally that you trust, just strip the upper and ship it with the new barrel. You don't need to do anything crazy to ship an upper or barrel. I have to imagine there's SOMEONE up there though. I can't imagine anyone who has "gunsmith" near their name doesn't know how to re-barrel an AR. It's like asking a car mechanic if he knows how to change the oil in a car. |
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I'd be wary, I have run into more than 75% of barrels done locally without MoS2 (Molybdenum disulfide). Critical but $ saving if the assclown used grease or some other thought of suitable substitute.
Of the last group of 10: I had to cut the barrel nut because Kroil and heat didn't even work. The substitute acted like cement or rockset instead of the MoS2. Just get a receipt, and run the chance of being treated like everyone who has a $1.22 per gallon of Propane (C3H3) contract from March who has a contract owner who says, "screw it sue me". V OUT |
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I wouldn't mind shipping but if I could find someone that I could deliver in person, that would be preferred. I have no problem ordering a barrel or having someone sell me a quality, known maker barrel. I found a DD barrel that fit my needs in stock and can order it.
I believe I found a company in the twin cities that can do this for me. I want quality work done. I could take a class and do a rookie job myself but with as much as I'd swap out parts, paying the 400 dollars for a class and maybe 100-200 dollars in tools is a bit more then I'd want to spend. I may replace a barrel every 5 years or so. Can't really justify the cost to do one swap and don't shoot that many ar's out to make it worth while. Especially if I can find someone to do quality work for 50-75 dollars on a barrel swap. I'd likely never recoop my costs of tools/time/class money. If it is going to cost too much for someone to do it, I'll sell the colt (likely could get at least 900 for it locally) and buy another quality rifle to replace it. Hopefully this makes sense. Thanks for the help and offers. |
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Hopefully someone local pipes up. Barrel swap is one of those, "lets split a 6 pack of Snowdrift Vanilla Porter", jobs.
ETA: out of curiosity, what is your current setup? Fixed FSB, standard handguards, etc, and what are you trying to swap in, lowpro gas block, YHM free float rails, etc. |
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Quoted:
I wouldn't mind shipping but if I could find someone that I could deliver in person, that would be preferred. I have no problem ordering a barrel or having someone sell me a quality, known maker barrel. I found a DD barrel that fit my needs in stock and can order it. Quoted:
I wouldn't mind shipping but if I could find someone that I could deliver in person, that would be preferred. I have no problem ordering a barrel or having someone sell me a quality, known maker barrel. I found a DD barrel that fit my needs in stock and can order it. I never asked, but I suspect Midwest would do it. They'll sell you a barrel also. And ADCO does about anything you could want. Quoted:
I could take a class and do a rookie job myself but with as much as I'd swap out parts, paying the 400 dollars for a class and maybe 100-200 dollars in tools is a bit more then I'd want to spend. I may replace a barrel every 5 years or so. Can't really justify the cost to do one swap and don't shoot that many ar's out to make it worth while. It doesn't take a course to swap a barrel. Really, the only part that requires a gunsmith is with your FSB/Gas Block. If you buy a barrel without one then you need to pin it on, which requires tools and maybe a jig. Well, technically you wouldn't need to pin the gas block on if the barrel comes pre-dimpled, but I'm adverse to the concept of just relying on rokset and set screws. In either case, if you just buy a barrel with one on it already, you save yourself the effort. Of course, you're paying for a new FSB/gas block instead of reusing your old one.. but if you're going to drop $100 on a gunsmith to install your old one, it's a wash. So, if you buy a barrel with your FSB/GB installed, all you really need is a bench vice, an upper vice block, a barrel nut wrench, a torque wrench, a punch to knock the gas tube retaining pin out and some crap to lube the barrel nut. Oh, and possibly a torch to loosen the barrel nut. It's likely you can borrow all those tools from some car guy you know but the upper block and barrel wrench, and honestly a vice block and a barrel wrench aren't a bad idea to keep around and will only set you back like $75 . I'm not saying to do it or anything, just that if you're inclined to WANT to do it, it's not all that hard. I'm sure there's a write-up here somewhere in the armory about doing it. |
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Public Service Announcement:
Anyone who hasn't bought Brownell's version of the Reaction Rod (called the Barrel Extension Torque Tool) for barrel, muzzle device, and handgaurd work is wrong. It is inexpensive, and the bext tool yet I've seen for the job. Once you've used one you will wonder why the hell you didn't get one a long time ago. I just looked and it has gone up in price a few dollars since last year but is still below $40. HERE |