building a 223 wylde ar 15. Do I want 5/8ths by 24 threads like ar performance recommends or do I want to use the standard 223 size.

Also in an 18 inch barrel is a 34 ounce barrel too light for great accuracy. Thinking about a rifle length black hole weaponry barrel. Or should I get a 37 ounce one from black hole weaponry or ar performance.

Standard 1/2-28 for .223

What barrel profiles are you comparing and what's the intended use?

I'm trying to build a sub 7 pound gun with a 16-18 inch pipe that I can shoot targets and hunt some pigs and coyotes with. I could possibly get into 3 gun at some point.

A scope that I could put on the gun could bring it up to 8 pounds and a full mag would bring the thing up to about 9 pounds. That's as heavy as I think that I can handle but I would like it lighter if possible.

I'm looking at the slim and light contours from black hole weaponry, as well as the 3 gun contours from ar15performance.com.

The light contour from black hole weaponry and the 3 gun barrel from ar15 performance weigh about 38 ounces. The slim 18 inch from b.h.w. weighs in at 34.5 ounces.

thanks eagle

These questions always need to start at the beginning.
What are you going to do with it, and how accurate does it need to be? Now the hard part, be honest. A floated pencil barrel might do ya. There are some light floated forearms that are not budget breakers. If you want top accuracy, you are gonna hafta carry it.


Going to be interesting to see what the PGC does with semi rifles. Betting it will be restrictive and convoluted. Also bet some manufacturers are dropping a lot of $$$ in Harrisburg.

Have had a quad rail RRA carbine for awhile. Some months back, I got a PSA pencil barreled, lightweight M-loc forearm upper, enhanced trigger magpul MOA lower. RRA certainly has better quality, but the PSA feels and handles much better. I can hit stuff with it, but haven't really benched it yet

My LaRue 16" PredatAR light weight continues to impress me. I pulled the 3.5-10 off it and stuck the 1-6 back on it for calling and it's just over 7 pounds.

Accuracy rivals my Noveske light weight that really isn't when compared to the LaRue. In fact it's lighter than my Colt pencil barrel.

If you are looking for an 18" ultra light sub moa barrel, here's your answer:

http://www.brownells.com/rifle-part...ight-contour-ar-15-barrel-prod85006.aspx

I shot 5/8" groups with one over Christmas.

I noticed that they also have a slightly heavier barrel option as well.

http://www.brownells.com/rifle-part...ylde-chrome-lined-barrels-prod54733.aspx

I thread everything 5/8-24 if the barrel allows, regardless of caliber.

is there a reason behind you choosing to use those threads.

79inpa - there is some logic in using larger than 1/2-28 threads for maximum accuracy, but it's not likely to be an issue outside of benchrest type matches. If that was my goal, I'd be looking at larger threads than 5/8ths, go as large as the barrel would allow.

Other than that, the only real reason for using non-standard threads is for commonality with other guns you own, IMO.

Also, if you're wanting to build a sub-7 lb 18" rifle, a heavy barrel is not what you want. You'd have to spend a lot on lightweight parts elsewhere on the rifle to make up for the weight of the barrels you've been asking about. Something like that lightweight Criterion barrel suggested above would be a much better choice if weight is important.

I could be wrong but I don't think BHW makes anything that really qualifies as a light weight barrel. The one you mentioned at 34 ounces is a good 10-12 ounces heavier than real light weight barrels.

My simple reason for choosing 5/8-24 threads is because I am lazy, and I dont have to swap my thread cap on my suppressor out as much that way.

Another, lesser, issue is that I feel that the larger the retained OD, the less likelihood of an accuracy issue rearing its head. That part, however, is most likely in my head.

would this work on a rifle gas 18 inch barrel?

are there adaptors to go from 5/8ths thread to 1/2 inch thread if I wanted to put a 223 suppressor on a gun with 5/8ths threads?

If you are going to buy, or already have, a suppressor with 1/2-28 threads...then get you r barrel threaded 1/2-28.

I have a .30 cal suppressor with interchangeable thread caps, which allows me change from 1/2 to 9/16 to 5/8 readily. I have found that its just easier to have everything threaded 5/8 to keep me from having to swap caps.

I also thread all mine 5/8" for using my suppressor by direct thread.

Don't choose a 5/8 threaded barrel if you intend to use a direct thread 223 suppressor.

I think you're making the choice more difficult than it should be. 1/2-28 is standard for 223/5.56 barrels, go with that unless you have some major reason not to.

thanks fellows. I got an 18 inch rifle length gas barrel in a slim profile with the black finish from black hole weaponry. The price wasn't too bad because they were having a 20 percent off sale for shot show that they were willing to extend till today because their website crashed yesterday. That said they did charge me 26 on shipping so it still cost me quite a bit.

Now I just need to decide on a gas block and tube for this beast.