Help choosing a new AR barrel

beltfed said:
I'd stick with a rifle length gas system- so a 20" will do. I'd go with a Krieger or other quality barrel in Wilde.
77 SMKs are a staple, but Bergers, Hornady and others work well too.
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This. No need to go longer as you aren't gaining anything from it. 1/7.78 Kreiger with a Wylde is how I'd go(and did). If you are going to spend upwards of $500 just get the prechambered Kreiger and be done with it. You won't find a more accurate barrel out there for an AR.
 
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luke s said:
Did you try shooting your ar with hand loads at 300 just to get a baseline?
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This is a fair question. My M&P 15 Sport has consistently put at least 5 of 10 shots in less than a 1/2 inch at 100 yds with 55 gr V-Max/24.5 gr W-748. It's so good it's the reason I'm considering another upper. If it can shoot 69 gr - 77 gr bullets as well I'm going to make that my "precision" rifle and either buy a Norinco 10.5 upper or assemble myself a 10.5" - 14.5" upper on the cheap.
 
I've been waiting 1 1/2 months for a barrel I ordered through Brownells. Waiting on US customs for the export licence. I'm giving them till the end of the month after which I will cancel and order an NEA barrel through SFRC.
 
Bought a NEA 18" barrel. Thought I would give it a thorough test, and write up a report here. One of the NEA shills kept hijacking the thread, so I gave up.
It is an OK barrel, nothing special. Under your budget.
Also have a 20" Armalite Barrel I bought from Wolverine this year. I would recommend it.
Longshot's advice is excellent; you aren't likely going to get a more accurate barrel.

If you don't want to keep the 14.5, selling it will offset the cost of a premium barrel. Carbine length barrels are more popular than rifle length ones.
 
Undergiver said:
I've been waiting 1 1/2 months for a barrel I ordered through Brownells. Waiting on US customs for the export licence. I'm giving them till the end of the month after which I will cancel and order an NEA barrel through SFRC.
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Do you mean that it's been shipped by Brownells and stuck at the border for a month and half? Because US Customs have nothing to do with export licences. Items like barrels are dealt by the Department of State (form DSP-83), whereas other parts (say shotgun parts/accessories) would be dealt by the Department of Commerce (form BIS-711).

I know that the export licenses system was down for some time last month, which caused delays for issuing them so that's probably why you haven't heard back from Brownells on it.

I applied for one w/ DoCommerce last week so I expect it to take a couple of weeks because of it.
 
BenL said:
Do you mean that it's been shipped by Brownells and stuck at the border for a month and half? Because US Customs have nothing to do with export licences. Items like barrels are dealt by the Department of State (form DSP-83), whereas other parts (say shotgun parts/accessories) would be dealt by the Department of Commerce (form BIS-711).

I know that the export licenses system was down for some time last month, which caused delays for issuing them so that's probably why you haven't heard back from Brownells on it.

I applied for one w/ DoCommerce last week so I expect it to take a couple of weeks because of it.
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Has not been shipped yet. This is the email I got from Sandy.

Export license for order #######XX.00 has been approved. Waiting on customs to lodge the export license, then we can ship.



Thanks,

Sandy
 
Undergiver said:
Has not been shipped yet. This is the email I got from Sandy.

Export license for order #######XX.00 has been approved. Waiting on customs to lodge the export license, then we can ship.

Thanks,

Sandy
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Ah ok, so you did get your export licence approved - thought you didn't have it yet.

I'd sure be following up with Sandy as I never had such a long wait after the licence was approved. That wait time is terrible!
 
http://www.theammosource.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14_192&products_id=3210

I took a chance on the NEA barrel. It seems to be of good quality. I am working up a good load still, but it likes 62gr and heavier so far with factory loads... being a 1:7 twist. They advertise as a polygonal rifled barrel, but I just cant see a difference. It doesn't look like a glock barrel really, but I am no expert on these matters. No chrome lining either, so I guess that is a little more accurate also.

I don't think there have been any complaints with the NEA barrels from anyone, so I gave it a shot once they lowered the price.

Overall I think the NEA guns are overpriced by about $200 as a unit.. but $229 for the barrel is ok. I was unimpressed however with the fact that the barrel arrived with surface rust on the barrel extension. It had been inadequately greased, presumably, and then not wrapped well enough for storage. I contacted SFRC, who directed me to NEA, who seemed like they didn't particularly give a crap. Since it burnished off with 0000 steel wool, leaving only discolouration I just moved on. I did spend at least 30 minutes with a stainless dental pick scraping rust from the extension keyways (or whatever they are called.. barrel side lugs?)

Long story short, it is a good barrel at an ok price if you insist they inspect it before it ships.. Whether it is NEA or SFRC who does it. Unless of course you are just opposed to buying NEA on principle. I see a few guys here that have a very strong dislike for them..

to each their own, this is my .02 cents
 
luke s said:
Did you try shooting your ar with hand loads at 300 just to get a baseline?
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I haven't done any development with the barrel I have now, I planned on doing some to get a before level of accuracy, then compare it to a match barrel.

How would you guys rate a noveske barrel against something like a ATRS barrel. I talked to a sponsor the other day and they said the noveske barrel comes with the gas block,tube and a matched bolt. Now to me for 599, that sounds pretty good as long as the accuracy is there which I'm sure it will be.
 
BenL said:
A Noveske barrel would be an excellent option IMO.
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Would it be comparable to a ATRS barrel? They quoted $550 for a custom barrel in .223 wylde, but about 6-8 weeks if they have a blank on stock.

So I'm thinking if they would be comparable quality/accuracy and for $50 more I can get the noveske with matched bolt,gas block,tube, and nut. Kinda makes it an easy decision.
 
tactical_tech said:
Would it be comparable to a ATRS barrel? They quoted $550 for a custom barrel in .223 wylde, but about 6-8 weeks if they have a blank on stock.

So I'm thinking if they would be comparable quality/accuracy and for $50 more I can get the noveske with matched bolt,gas block,tube, and nut. Kinda makes it an easy decision.
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I think you've already answered your own question about going with the Noveske :)
 
beltfed said:
Noveski is way overpriced.
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Care to expand on that? I'm not very well versed on barrel manufactures and their quality hence why I'm asking here.

However their barrels seem to get stellar reviews and be capable of excellent accuracy. So for a SS match barrel with a matching bolt,gas block,tube and nut for 600 seems like not a bad deal to me. I could be wrong though. Alberta tactical quoted me 550 just for the barrel, now I know it will be a custom made barrel but I don't know if the 6-8 week wait and increased cost will gain me any difference in accuracy. Like I said I could very well be wrong, I'm still learning.
 
Talk to Mysticplayer. He got me a prechambered Kreiger in just a few months. It comes with the chamber cut with whatever reamer you like(.223, 5.56, or Wylde) the barrel extension on it, a gas block and the hole drilled for the gas system. Just add a gas tube, fit it up and off you go. None of the factory barrels will touch it. If I remember correctly it was about the $550 mark. Yes it took a couple months to get but it was well worth the wait. Buy once and you won't be second guessing whether or not you got the right barrel.
 
Longshot said:
Talk to Mysticplayer. He got me a prechambered Kreiger in just a few months. It comes with the chamber cut with whatever reamer you like(.223, 5.56, or Wylde) the barrel extension on it, a gas block and the hole drilled for the gas system. Just add a gas tube, fit it up and off you go. None of the factory barrels will touch it. If I remember correctly it was about the $550 mark. Yes it took a couple months to get but it was well worth the wait. Buy once and you won't be second guessing whether or not you got the right barrel.
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I may do that, I'm not opposed to waiting if it's worth it. Is mysticplayer a user on CGN? I did a search but nothing came up.
 
tactical_tech said:
Care to expand on that?
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Noveski uses Pac-Nor barrels and ATRS uses Lilja (they may offer others too), which are both exceptionally good barrel manufacturers well known for quality.
Krieger are commonly (and arguably) known as the gold standard as far as precision barrels are concerned.
I don't see the attraction in either paying a premium for the name 'Noveski', or the need to pay extra for machining, when studies have shown that pre-chambered barrels shoot just as well as custom fitted counterparts (at least as far as ARs go).

I would support ATRS (and have) before Noveski, but you can get a pre-chambered unit from Lilja too.
 
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