I was curious how some of the bigger name barrels compare to one another quality wise... Colt, Bushmaster, RRA (DPMS?) and others...
I have a 16" colt on a colt M4 upper, and I am thinking of getting a second upper with a M4 14.5" barrel... I saw a nice sounding RRA M4 barrel on the equipment exchange, and was wondering how it stacks up quality wise... The Colt barrels are getting a little too expensive for my wallet....

Dave

Anyone?

Well Dave, I'll try, since you lowered your standards to "anyone."

I believe that most of the parts suppliers like RRA, DPMS, the kit companies, as well as Bushmaster, Armalite etc. all use Wilson barrels.  I think that only OlyArms and Colt actually make their own.  

The only big feature difference is whether they come chrome-lined or not.  I believe Bushy and Colts are chromed, the rest aren't except by special order (tho I think RRA makes a M4 that's chromed.)

One might find Q/A checks could differ from one supplier to another and catch a quality problem here or there.  but I don't read many complaints about barrels around here.  

Except for high-end target barrels, there's prolly not much difference between 'em, again, mostly because they come from one source.

[Maybe some hot-head with an axe to grind will flame me on this and you'll get the [b]REAL[/b] answer!]

C_M

A friend of mine Grant, built an SPR with a RRA stainless bbl. That thing shoots great.

I'm sure you could spend more, but do you need to?

Colt and Bushmaster use 4150 steel which is mil-spec.  All others are 4140 steel.

[img]http://photos.ar15.com/ImageGallery/IG_LoadImage.asp?iImageUnq=3425[/img]

Maybe someone could explain the difference, in relationship to bbl life and accuracy, in 4150 and 4140 steel?  Nevermind, I just saw this in a diff post here.  Difference it % carbon in bbl and does not make much if any difference in bbl quality, or so I read on the internet.....

CMMG sells a DPMS 14.5" chrome bore and chamber M4 barrel made of 4150 steel. price i think was $225