Budget AR barrel question

DasJager

DasJager

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
42   0   0
I'm looking at getting a new barrel for my AR and wondering if anyone has any experience with both NEA and S&J barrels. The NEA is about $175 and the S&J is a bit more at around $240. Does one shoot any better than the other or should I just go with the cheaper of the two? Specs are pretty much the same: 1/7 twist, M4 feed ramps, etc...all the standard stuff these days. Both are carbine length gas do to barrel length (12.5" and 11.5", respectively).

And before someone mentions it, yes I would prefer to have a Noveske or DD or something along those lines but their just over my budget - wife would kill me.

Thanks
 
Aero....from IRUNGUNS
I have both an S&J and an NEA. Both 10.5" and both really over gassed with the NEA being the worst of the 2.
Now I've added a JP adjustable gas block which was another $75 which solved that.
For the rest of the barrel specs, S&J has the proper GOV profile, decent gas nitride finish in and out as well as the barrel ext. Crown and threading were also done right. So other then the over gassing its a very nice barrel. I lucked out and got it for $170 when OST had stock.
NEA barrel....well its heavy profile if you want that, the gas block junction is cut too short so your gas block with overhang, the ARC finish they use is terrible looking, and the barrel extension is in the white with no finish, the crown on mine was crooked and needed to be redone, and the threads were rough and needed to be chased. It shot OK after working on it.....but still looks like hell.
The S&J shoots better, and I will be keeping it. The NEA will probably get sold soon as it offers no benefit over the S&J and is much heavier to boot.
 
Last edited:
I have not tried NEA barrels, but I have tried their 10/22 chassis and their ar barrel nuts and handguards. I was not at all impressed with quality and spec. The rails aren't anywhere close to spec at all.

I have a 10.5" S&J barrel. I can't get it to shoot less than 7-8" at 100yds with a 24x scope. So..... IMHO don't get either of them. Save your pennies and buy a DD barrel for 100$ more.

Unless you want a 10.5 S&J, cheap....
 
I don't have any particular knowledge of the S&J that doesn't come from direct competitors who would have had a vested interest in me thinking it wasn't any good. So I can't/won't comment there.

I will say that the NEA barrel was, at the time that I was doing some work for NEA, my favourite thing about the gun. I do not know whether the accuracy of mine was statistically representative, but the company that built the blanks at that time was very good. I also do not know if they still use that company (although I have no reason to think they've switched) and I can't speak to any of their current processes after the blank is cut to size - i.e. if they're using fresh chamber reamers or not. The raw materials they were working with were very good.


I do like the information in the stamp on the AP barrels.

On the basis of my current information I'd probably feel similarly about all 3. They're all, as far as I can tell, nitrided in a relatively similar way. I've had good performance out of my NEA so I'd probably lean that way just because I've had a positive experience with that barrel. I understand why others might feel differently.

Service barrels isn't rocket science, at any rate. I wouldn't get too hung up on it.
 
AERO barrels are currently in stock at Saskatoon Gunworks?

I was looking at them yesterday for my build. My wife's Aero COP with a 7.5" barrel can hit a 4" gong at 100 without issues. I haven't zeroed it at 100" just at 50 with an strike fire red dot and my wife hits the 4" gong with nearly every round at 100m.
 
eatredmeat157 said:
I have not tried NEA barrels, but I have tried their 10/22 chassis and their ar barrel nuts and handguards. I was not at all impressed with quality and spec. The rails aren't anywhere close to spec at all.

I have a 10.5" S&J barrel. I can't get it to shoot less than 7-8" at 100yds with a 24x scope. So..... IMHO don't get either of them. Save your pennies and buy a DD barrel for 100$ more.

Unless you want a 10.5 S&J, cheap....
Click to expand...

Try different ammo. I had a similar experience with MFS ammo...it was key-holeing...not very accurate at all.

There's no way you should have a 7 - 8" group at 100 yards with a scope of that magnification. If something is that wrong with the barrel, the first thing I would do is check to see if there are any 45 degree bends in it!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom