Wilson Combat or Faxon barrel?

COREY

COREY

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I was hoping for some opinions for the CGN community.

I wanted to swap out my 18" barrel on my AR with a 16" barrel of a bit better quality that is also lighter than the 2.2 lbs I have now. I have been looking at the Wilson Combat stainless fluted barrel from Beetle Outdoors and the Faxon Arms Flame cut barrel from CCTSupplies. The Wilson barrel is a 1/9 twist, but I never plan to shoot anything over 75 grains, while the Faxon is 1/7. The Faxon is ~1.65 lbs while the Wilson is 1.9 lbs. The Wilson is about $85 more plus taxes. The Wilson is in stock where the Faxon needs to be ordered in and could take a few months, although I did not plan to swap barrels until January or February. The Faxon is melonited stainless, while the Wilson is straight stainless.

The cost is a point, but I am not sure how much. The weight savings is really nice on the Faxon, but there is not that much info out on them. Which way would you guys go?
 
wilson, nothing that leaves their assembly line goes without inspection.No batch testing, they have a tremendous reputation to maintain.
 
Faxon are apparently decent barrels used by a few known manufacturers, but they are certainly on the cheap end of things at $150 USD. Wilson is a name everyone seem to respect. I had been looking at a faxon barrel but if price was similar to a Wilson unit I'd buy the Wilson for sure.
 
Does anyone have any other quality barrels they would recommend in the $375-$450 price range (without gas system installed)? The price of the Wilson does not bother me nearly as much as only taking 2 ounces off the weight of the gun by swapping barrels, while a Faxon is 7 1/2 ounces lighter than what I have now.
 
I had looked at those, but I have everything to set up a mid length gas system in the basement, and I like the recoil impulse of the mid length over the carbine system.
 
COREY said:
Does anyone have any other quality barrels they would recommend in the $375-$450 price range (without gas system installed)? The price of the Wilson does not bother me nearly as much as only taking 2 ounces off the weight of the gun by swapping barrels, while a Faxon is 7 1/2 ounces lighter than what I have now.
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What is the actual issue you are trying to overcome?
Is it the actual weight that you have an issue with, or simply the balance of the rifle ?
I have a Noveske Afghan with a 14.5" SS barrel that weighs 2lbs. (32oz.).
With a CTR buttstock the rifle was nose heavy. By adding a heavier UBR buttstock the rifle feels perfectly balanced even though it is now heavier than it was before.

Even if the weight of the Wilson Combat barrel is the same as your existing barrel the barrel being 2" shorter will bring the balance point of the rifle rearwards.
 
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My AR is around 10lbs right now and is muzzle heavy; I was hoping for closer to 9 lbs. I find it tiring shooting it standing after a bit (I am 170 lbs and not very muscular). I swapped optics to save 1 ounce; that was more to have a 1-6 power scope (don't like red dots). I am waiting for the Aero Precision Ultralight mounts to come back in (will save 5 ounces there). I considered swapping the Magpul ACS stock, but I thought it would make it feel even more muzzle heavy). I have a Larue FUG that I will be taking off for either a lighter forgrip, or a light hand stop.

The NEA barrel I have shoots alright (quite well when you consider the price), but I was also hoping for a tad more accuracy also.
 
COREY said:
My AR is around 10lbs right now and is muzzle heavy; I was hoping for closer to 9 lbs. I find it tiring shooting it standing after a bit (I am 170 lbs and not very muscular). I swapped optics to save 1 ounce; that was more to have a 1-6 power scope (don't like red dots). I am waiting for the Aero Precision Ultralight mounts to come back in (will save 5 ounces there). I considered swapping the Magpul ACS stock, but I thought it would make it feel even more muzzle heavy). I have a Larue FUG that I will be taking off for either a lighter forgrip, or a light hand stop.

The NEA barrel I have shoots alright (quite well when you consider the price), but I was also hoping for a tad more accuracy also.
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The ACS stock has 2 battery and 1 accessory compartments.
Throw some weight in there to see if a more balanced rifle feels better.
 
I ended up ordering a Wilson barrel from Beetle Outdoors (15% off).

bought a White Oaks Recce barrel that I thought was 16", but it ended up being 14.5" so it did not quite fit my forend. If anyone is looking for a 14 1/2" middy barrel I now have one for sale. I thought about building another upper, but thought my wife may skin me alive :).

I had asked NEA what the barrel I had weighed; they told me 2.1 lbs. When I took it off it came in a 2 lbs 7 ounces, so the Wilson at 31 ounces is still quite a bit lighter. When I get a chance to really try it out, I will let you know how it feels and shoots.
 
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