Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Choosing a barrel

I'm about 3/4's of the way through my AR build and my next step will probably be the barrel. This rifle will be used for target shooting and some predator hunting so I need a barrel that can handle a lot of rounds, be accurate and take some abuse as well.

I was thinking a 16" barrel would be about the right length but since I'm new to the AR world, what else do I need to consider and who, in your opinion, makes a good solid barrel that fits the above qualifications?

Shilen copy and paste



http://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/barrel-parts/rifle-barrels/ar-15-m16-match-barrel-bolt-set-prod26660.aspx?avs|Make_3=AR-15/M4

WOA SDM 20" fluted



I've done a couple of 16" uppers, and a couple of 20" uppers. By far my favorite in terms of accuracy, balance and muzzle blast is the WOA SDM.

If you want accuracy, forget chrome lined tubes and face the fact you'll wear out the barrel at some point.

How much do you want to set aside for your barrel?

This

I have 2 BHW barrels and both have been very accurate. I have a third in 7.62 on order now for my AR1o build.

BHW?

Black Hole Weaponry, I think.

yep................

Want to keep the cost under $400 for barrel and flash hider. Thinking seriously about the WOA ADM 16" with a 1/7 twist rate.

Should I be running any kind of muzzle device on this rig? Dont' really want to go through all the hassle of a tax stamp to get a suppressor.

Check out the barrels by Frank White at Compass Lake Engineering.

My first question is usually "how heavy a rifle do you want" I run a lot of lightweight barrels but I have had some heavy ones and they all shoot good. Look at an 18" stainless rifle length barrel, perhaps marked 3gun barrel, or an SPR, this could go on forever...

Those button barrels handle the accuracy part, but not the longevity part. If you want longevity, you are talking cut rifled, hammer forged, or nitrided.

What makes a cut rifled or CHF barrel last longer than a button rifled barrel and how much of a difference are we talking?

Keep in mind, if you can afford to burn out a barrel, you can afford to replace it.

I'll let a metallurgist answer the why. I just know they do.

Compared to a button rifled barrel, it seems like you get about 2/3 more life with cut rifling and a little more with hammer forging. Add chrome lining and it doubles the life. Nitriding? The jury is still out on that, but from the limited reports I've heard it's about triple the life of a plain button barrel depending upon if you started out with a buttoned, cut or HF barrel and if it was stainless or carbon steel with the edge going to carbon.


I agree with that, but it depends upon how much you shoot and how often you want the disruption of swapping barrels. I shoot mostly button barrels and just plan on getting a new barrel every year.

Keep in mind that "worn out" is relative to your expectations and a chrome-lined barrel may not even meet you initial expectations.

I'm looking forward to a metallurgist stumbling upon this thread. Never heard claims that big before.

Oops.

I've heard that chrome lined barrels are not as accurate as a non chrome lined one, is this true? I'm still up in the air on which barrel to buy and am now leaning towards a Rainier Arms barrel.

Also looking at the MI Gen 2 SS 12" handguard to it, anyone have one of these and if so, how do you like it?

Ive installed at least 10 MI hand guards on rifles. Everything from 6 in all the way up. Awesome price and high quality. I wouldn't put too much thought in a barrel on a carbine. Even the best barrel will shot about 3/4 @100 yards. Ive done a few Shilen and Kreiger and they are good but your limited with a semi auto. Too many moving parts. Spend the money on optics and trigger.

Thanks for the info bhoges. I've already bought the trigger (Geiselle) so i'm good there. My dealer is working on a barrel for me as we speak.

Whats your thoughts on a flash hider/comp/suppressor? Other than looking cool, I don't really see a need for any of them for what most of us do with these rifles.