Where do you get your barrels from?

[Catskillkid]

Tried doing a search and couldn't find this so I'm posting it here.

So I'm thinking about starting another AR build and was wondering where you all got your barrels from? Personally for me (at least for this build) I'd be interested in a quality barrel AKA not too concerned about price.

For the record, I've used Stag before and was fairly happy with the results. Also have used Columbia River Arms/Blackhole Weaponry and have been less so. Again, just my personal experience.

 

[dsdmmat]

See if Eddie has any BHW barrels left @Eddie Gunks.

 

[That_FNG]

Odin works or green mountain

 

[Justincase]

I was wondering the same thing. I was leaning toward a stainless Lothar Walther 223 wylde

 

[FrankenCub]

I'm looking into a 6.8 upper now. Thinking either an AR Performance or Bison Armory.

 

[Podmonkey]

Ballistic Advantage and Faxon both offer a high quality product at a reasonable price. I like their medium light profiles.
Daniel Defense makes an outstanding barrel if you want durable CHF, chrome lined construction.

 

[FrankenCub]

Ballistic Advantage and Faxxon both offer a high quality product at a reasonable price. I like their medium light profiles.

I've got a BA barrel on my AR, shoots great and was quite cheap inexpensive.

 

[Podmonkey]

I've got a BA barrel on my AR, shoots great and was quite cheap inexpensive.

They are definitely not budget barrels. I think they are top of the class in the mid range segment. I like that they both have just about every configuration covered, such as 14.5" with mid length gas. I think they should add the 18", intermediate length gas that the top tier guys are doing.

 

[FrankenCub]

They are definitely not budget barrels. I think they are top of the class in the mid range segment. I like that they both have just about every configuration covered, such as 14.5" with mid length gas. I think they should add the 18", intermediate length gas that the top tier guys are doing.

I called it inexpensive because I got it on sale from Primary Arms, think I paid $89 for it lol. It's definitely a quality barrel.
I was just looking at Primary Arms again a few minutes ago to see if they had one in 6.8 but they don't

 

[Podmonkey]

I called it inexpensive because I got it on sale from Primary Arms, think I paid $89 for it lol. It's definitely a quality barrel.
I was just looking at Primary Arms again a few minutes ago to see if they had one in 6.8 but they don't

$89?! Which did you get? I got the BA Hanson performance barrel. It was $220. Still a good value.
@Catskillkid, you said you wouldn't mind spending a little extra, The Daniel Defense barrels are very good, very accurate despite CHF and chrome lining supposedly comprising accuracy potential. They range from about $290 to around $370 depending on what length, profile and options (gas block, front sight base ect) you want. My DD rifle shoots very well, especially since DD does more practical "rack/duty" grade stuff.

 

[FrankenCub]

$89?! Which did you get? I got the BA Hanson performance barrel. It was $220. Still a good value.
@Catskillkid, you said you wouldn't mind spending a little extra, The Daniel Defense barrels are very good, very accurate despite CHF and chrome lining supposedly comprising accuracy potential. They range from about $290 to around $370 depending on what length, profile and options (gas block, front sight base ect) you want. My DD rifle shoots very well, especially since DD does more practical "rack/duty" grade stuff.

Nice thing about PA, you can see your past order history! Unfortunately it shows discontinued with that particular barrel, it was bundled with a gas tube and gas block. It's a regular gov profile 1:7 twist 5.56
I think it was this one Ballistic Advantage Modern Series 16" 5.56 NATO Government Contour 1:7 Nitride AR-15 Barrel - Mid-Length - 1/2x28 BABL556015M

The only 6.8 barrels they have are Bear Creek and Black Rain, haven't heard anything good about either brands.

 

[Eddie Gunks]

The only 6.8 barrels they have are Bear Creek and Black Rain, haven't heard anything good about either brands.

This is a 3 shot group at 100 with a 12 inch 6.8 bear creek barrel. We cut it down from 16 to use deer hunting in pistol only counties!

1 inch squares. Cheap PPU ammo as well. Whodathunk?

We expected low performance. I think we got very lucky!

 

[togmaster]

I was wondering the same thing. I was leaning toward a stainless Lothar Walther 223 wylde

Only thin stopping me from going with a Lothar Walther is the price.

 

[FrankenCub]

This is a 3 shot group at 100 with a 12 inch 6.8 bear creek barrel. We cut it down from 16 to use deer hunting in pistol only counties!

1 inch squares. Cheap PPU ammo as well. Whodathunk?

We expected low performance. I think we got very lucky!

That IS a nice group! Some I seen were like 4" groups, and a lot of complaints.
Not sure I want to risk throwing away $70 on something that could group nice, or be way out there. I'm sure PA would be happy to take it back for credit though. Bison has a few on the 6.8 forum for a good price that they can't sell for retail for various reasons. Customer trade in for a shorter barrel, slight staining on the extension, customer not happy with the accuracy (would probably pass on that one).

 

[JamieZ]

About Lilja Precision Rifle Barrels - Lilja

 

[Podmonkey]

Look at this crazy thing:


DRACOS – StraightJacket® Barrel System

Falkor Defense offers them as an up option.
Don't know of they do non threaded versions.

 

[dsdmmat]

I have used McGowen barrels, Green Mountain barrels, KAK industry, Craddock Precision, Krieger, Wilson barrels and Hart barrels all with good results.

 

[Curmudgeon]

Barrels? This place in Texas called LaRue.

In translation "the regret".

 

[ArmedCorgi]

Look at this crazy thing:
View attachment 35573

DRACOS – StraightJacket® Barrel System

Falkor Defense offers them as an up option.
Don't know of they do non threaded versions.

Those start at $850!

 

[Podmonkey]

Those start at $850!

Yeth. However.....
If they will really (which I doubt) replace a shot out barrel for free it would mitigate the cost.
The Proof Research carbon fiber barrels cost somewhat more.

 

[meketrefe]

The best barrels I have are Krieger and Lothar Walter.
I also have other high end barrels but those above have been the most consistent shooters no matter what other technologies
they advertise.
I have been unlucky with dpms, black hole weaponry and douglas budget barrels.
It doesn't mean all budget barrels are bad but if you want something super consistent from the get go then the Krieger and LW are
very hard to beat and not excesivelly expensive depending on what caliber.
White Oak also make match winning barrels.

 

[meketrefe]

Those wrapped barrels look cool but they are totally unnecessary.
A simple sleeve cooler/dissipator will do the same or better and cost one fraction of that.
The "cold bore" is just such a BS marketing term for a caliber and use like this.

 

[Podmonkey]

Those wrapped barrels look cool but they are totally unnecessary.
A simple sleeve cooler/dissipator will do the same or better and cost one fraction of that.
The "cold bore" is just such a BS marketing term for a caliber and use like this.

View attachment 35576

I think the other part of it is to give bull barrel rigidity without the weight.

 

[meketrefe]

I think the other part of it is to give bull barrel rigidity without the weight.

There is no proof that a press fit sleeve with epoxy is more rigid than other barrels with large shanks and deep flutes as well
as any other methods to sleeveing the barrels like by fine threading of clamping.

All unproven claims the above is a better system. It might look cooler but not necessarily better. Expensive too.

The navy seals who look for top innovation ordered custom deep fluted barrels from lilja. As simple as that as soon as the shank is
large and the minimum diameter is kept around .750 head of the block that has been the point of failure for M4 barrels when pushed
to the limit in torture tests. I made the medium profile like that that is not as light as the M4 but light enough to be super accurate and reliable and it doesn't make a darn difference.
The best innovation in barrels is the finishing at this point. Specially when submited to extreme conditions of humidity and salt.

The market is so saturated with products that in order to differentiate themselves the snake oil salesman are popping all over the place.

 

[Podmonkey]

There is no proof that a press fit sleeve with epoxy is more rigid than other barrels with large shanks and deep flutes as well
as any other methods to sleeveing the barrels like by fine threading of clamping.

All unproven claims the above is a better system. It might look cooler but not necessarily better. Expensive too.

The navy seals who look for top innovation ordered custom deep fluted barrels from lilja. As simple as that as soon as the shank is
large and the minimum diameter is kept around .750 head of the block that has been the point of failure for M4 barrels when pushed
to the limit in torture tests. I made the medium profile like that that is not as light as the M4 but light enough to be super accurate and reliable and it doesn't make a darn difference.
The best innovation in barrels is the finishing at this point. Specially when submited to extreme conditions of humidity and salt.

The market is so saturated with products that in order to differentiate themselves the snake oil salesman are popping all over the place.

Well I'm not exactly running out the door to buy one.
If I should ever find myself in the blessed position to be able to afford a $6,000 Falkor AR though, may as well go whole hog and spring for that fancy barrel too. I mean you can't spend that much and only half pimp it.
The type of shooting I do, the barrels I have are just fine.