Help choosing a new AR barrel

tactical_tech

tactical_tech

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Well the time has come throw some money at my spikes 14.5" AR. I've decided I want to upgrade the barrel and turn it more towards the precision side, I'll be reloading for it was well. Now for my questions.

What length barrel would be best? My current range the most I can get out to is 300yds but there is a range 45 min away that will be 600yds.

I've also been looking at the .223 wylde offerings. Is the wylde clambering worth pursuing? Everyone seems to say it's better for precision shooting but I can't seem to find any real proof of how much better.

I'd also like the barrel to have the threaded ended for a muzzle device. Preferably like to find a barrel that doesn't leave me waiting months to get it. I have already done some looking around for barrels in stock but have come up on the short side, especially in a .223 wylde. I did see IRUNGUNS has wilson combat barrels in stock but only in 5.56.

I've set my budget around the 400ish mark for a new barrel. Cheaper is always better but not if its at the expense of quality.

So help me spend my money. :D
 
Yikes...I'm a little tipsy but I'll do what I can given that no one else has weighed in.
  • You'll want maximum muzzle velocity if you're going for 600 yards. That means 20" or maybe longer, and with a 1:7" twist too for the heavier bullets you'll want to shoot. You don't want your bullets going subsonic before they hit the target.
  • 223 Wylde allows you to optimally shoot both .223 and 5.56 NATO ammo (from what I've read!). If you're planning on .223 only then you don't need it.
  • You probably don't need a muzzle device for precision shooting. They won't help and could possible hurt accuracy...although I suppose they could help protect the muzzle crown. If you want one for looks then go for it.
  • Are you sure you want just a barrel or would you be better off considering a compete upper?
 
That's kinda what thought about barrel length. I should clarify that probably 95% of my shooting will be done at the 300yd range.

I do have a line on a like new Alberta Tactical barrel in .223 Wilde that's a 16.5in. I'm assuming this barrel would have great accuracy at the 300yd range. Would it still create enough velocity to be usable at 600yd?

I've thought about just getting an upper but I would rather do the work myself and just replace the barrel and hand guard.
 
tactical_tech said:
That's kinda what thought about barrel length. I should clarify that probably 95% of my shooting will be done at the 300yd range.

I do have a line on a like new Alberta Tactical barrel in .223 Wilde that's a 16.5in. I'm assuming this barrel would have great accuracy at the 300yd range. Would it still create enough velocity to be usable at 600yd?

I've thought about just getting an upper but I would rather do the work myself and just replace the barrel and hand guard.
Click to expand...
You'd need to run your load through a ballistics program, but you're probably losing 200 or 300 ft/sec with that barrel length. Using an online ballistic calculator (www.handloads.com/calc/) using a bullet with a BC of 0.301 (the Sierra 69 gr Match King) and a starting muzzle velocity of 3000 fps (I have no idea if that's a safe load or not!) the remaining velocity at 600 yards is shown to be 1426 fps, and with a muzzle velocity of 2750 fps (which is my guess of what you could get with a 16.5" barrel and the same load) the bullet speed is still 1288fps , which is still supersonic. That's a lot of guesses since I don't know for sure what muzzle velocity you can get out of that barrel (or even if that website is correct or not!). So, it looks like it could work, although a 20" would work better—you'd for sure have better wind performance.
 
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.
 
So seems to be a consensus that 20in barrel in .223 would be ideal. I've thought about going to ATRS but from what I've looked on their website, a 20in barrel is going to be quite a bit above the 400ish mark, considering a 16in barrel is $550. I'll get in touch with them just in case though. Any other places anyone can think of to get one that won't be months of waiting?
 
You are not going to get a barrel out of ATRS for under $400.
With you budget you are looking at a pre-chambered unit. One Shot had brought in Ranier 'select' match - based on a shielen blank, but I believe they are sold out.
If I was in your shoes and looking for one straight away, I'd be tempted by an NEA one. I think SFRC has a few 18" ones based on their online info.
 
Time for a minor hijack...I guess I should add my opinion first though.

I'd go for the Wylde chamber if for no other reason than it's a good compromise. I'd take 5.56 over .223 if I had to choose between them...already made the mistake of trying to load a neck sized reload...didn't work out well, nothing like having a live round in the chamber that you have to use a hunk of wood and hammer to get it out. As for barrel length/twist, if your stuck with a 1 in 9, 20"-24" would be my choice for length. I have a 1 in 9 at 16" and I suspect I'm coming up short on FPS to fully stabilize 68/75/77 gr bullets. I haven't given up on them yet but I'd put money on the 69 gr SMK being the only quality bullet that my AR is going to shoot well. I'd go with a 1 in 8 twist if you have the option. It's ideal for 68 gr to 80 gr bullets in an 18" to 20" tube.

Hijack now...still applies to the thread though...

How about the alternatives to chroming the bore? I'm considering building an upper with a 10" - 14.5" 1 in 7 barrel. Any reason not to buy one from some of the other Canadian sources?

Also is the an alternate chamber like 300 Whisper/Blkout or 6.8 SPC in 7mm similar to 7mm Ingram. Just looking for something different to fiddle with...
 
redshooter said:
Time for a minor hijack...I guess I should add my opinion first though.

I'd go for the Wylde chamber if for no other reason than it's a good compromise. I'd take 5.56 over .223 if I had to choose between them...already made the mistake of trying to load a neck sized reload...didn't work out well, nothing like having a live round in the chamber that you have to use a hunk of wood and hammer to get it out. As for barrel length/twist, if your stuck with a 1 in 9, 20"-24" would be my choice for length. I have a 1 in 9 at 16" and I suspect I'm coming up short on FPS to fully stabilize 68/75/77 gr bullets. I haven't given up on them yet but I'd put money on the 69 gr SMK being the only quality bullet that my AR is going to shoot well. I'd go with a 1 in 8 twist if you have the option. It's ideal for 68 gr to 80 gr bullets in an 18" to 20" tube.

Hijack now...still applies to the thread though...

How about the alternatives to chroming the bore? I'm considering building an upper with a 10" - 14.5" 1 in 7 barrel. Any reason not to buy one from some of the other Canadian sources?

Also is the an alternate chamber like 300 Whisper/Blkout or 6.8 SPC in 7mm similar to 7mm Ingram. Just looking for something different to fiddle with...
Click to expand...

I could sell you my 14.5" barrel off my current AR if you're interested? Or even the whole upper.
 
So far, what Beltfed said x 2 on the Rainier Arms select match barrel. If OST are in fact out of stock, I would just import one myself if I were in your shoes.

Re NEA barrels: Misanthropist holds the Caramilk (not Caramel!) secret as to the source of their barrels and from what I got in previous discussions, they are very good barrels, enough that we'd be quite surprised as to their exact source.

Your barrel and trigger are the two key pieces anyways, so better budget for a trigger upgrade as well if it hasn't already been done.

Good luck in your build!
 
Have to say that I'm not impressed with my Rainier Arms Ultramatch 16" so far. 400 rounds used up, 4 types of bullets from 55 grain to 77 grain, and 4 different powders - 10 round groups no better than 2 MOA.

Before I get nuked, the AR has a Giessele SSAE trigger and I shoot in the 0.4 and below range with my bolt gun.
 
BenL said:
So far, what Beltfed said x 2 on the Rainier Arms select match barrel. If OST are in fact out of stock, I would just import one myself if I were in your shoes.

Re NEA barrels: Misanthropist holds the Caramilk (not Caramel!) secret as to the source of their barrels and from what I got in previous discussions, they are very good barrels, enough that we'd be quite surprised as to their exact source.

Your barrel and trigger are the two key pieces anyways, so better budget for a trigger upgrade as well if it hasn't already been done.

Good luck in your build!
Click to expand...

I've got some emails out to a few different places regarding availability of barrels, OST is one of them. I'll have a look into NEA as well, I was not aware of that there was a carame...I mean caramilk secret to them, they might be an option as well.

As for importing a barrel, I'm not opposed to this at all. However is that something I can do myself or will I have to go through a third part, like IRUNGUNS etc?

Trigger upgrade is in the plans as well. I plan on turning this into a winter project.
 
I'd just do some load development with the barrel you have. Shooting to 300 accurately is easy with a decent 14.5 inch barrel. Spikes makes good stuff and considering you don't actually need hitting power from a range only gun as long as it's still supersonic you're fine. Having to dial up a few more clicks is a lot cheaper than a new barrel.

If you don't get the accuracy you're looking for then for $400 or less I'd look here
http://oneshottactical.com/collections/firearm-parts/barrels

Specifically
http://oneshottactical.com/collecti...ier-arms-select-5-56mm-fluted-barrel-16-black

If you are willing to spend $400 then maybe stretch that a little further to afford a custom built barrel with a hand fitted bolt from somewhere like Mystic, Herron, or ATRS.
 
cr5 said:
I'd just do some load development with the barrel you have. Shooting to 300 accurately is easy with a decent 14.5 inch barrel. Spikes makes good stuff and considering you don't actually need hitting power from a range only gun as long as it's still supersonic you're fine. Having to dial up a few more clicks is a lot cheaper than a new barrel.

If you don't get the accuracy you're looking for then for $400 or less I'd look here
http://oneshottactical.com/collections/firearm-parts/barrels

Specifically
http://oneshottactical.com/collecti...ier-arms-select-5-56mm-fluted-barrel-16-black

If you are willing to spend $400 then maybe stretch that a little further to afford a custom built barrel with a hand fitted bolt from somewhere like Mystic, Herron, or ATRS.
Click to expand...

Honestly I planned on doing some development with the AR as it is now just as a before comparison. I'm sure that I could get fairly decent out of the 14.5 barrel as is, but I have this disease where I just can't leave things as they are lol. Now after more research I'm beginning to realize the 400 budget may be on the low side.

I seen that a sponsor has noveske 18" SPR barrels in stock for 599. I have a question about the chamber, it's listed as noveske match mod 0. Now from the googling I did it seems to be a clambering unique to noveske, that is accurate as a .223 wylde but handles full auto mag dumps with 5.56 ball ammo. Is this a correct assumption?

So say I've decided to raise the budget, would I be better off with something like the noveske or get a custom clambering matched to a bolt from somewhere like ATRS?
 
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