Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Who makes an accurate 16" lightweight barrel?

Just be aware of the caveats on the headspace being tight that I mentioned...........................

They do it that way intentionally.

MM

A barrel not yet mentioned is X-Caliber, They make a lightweight and I have been impressed with their quality.
They can be a bit spendy but they have a sale a couple times a year. Love my WOA's but none of them are lightweights

I have had four ARP barrels and they have all shot well. My 16 inch scout is 28 ounces and shoots several loads of great.

Ballistic advantage has been great for my builds

Also like faxon

Montanaman.

Im confused about Wilson headspace and your info. Not doubting or calling you out. But do you mind to clarify

This is from their FAQ’s section

“Our AR barrels are individually headspaced to a master USGI bolt to .002-003” tolerance. They will work with any quality USGI “Mil-Spec” parkerized bolt without headspacing. Plating or other finishes may add tolerances that decrease headspace. To check headspace properly you must follow the manufacturers recommendations on gauge use. With a clean chamber remove the ejector and extractor from your bolt. Do not slam headspace gauges in your chamber using spring tension or excessive force. Use only gravity or hand pressure to gauge check your chambers.”

There's nothing to be confused about.

Two different WC barrels & 6 different bolts from Radian, Faxon, RCA, RTB, Geiselle & AO..............all "mil-spec" bolts from very reputable sources, with either a phosphate or nitrided surface. ( I actually bought 2 additional bolts hoping one would fit)

None of the bolts would close on a 1.4636" Forster Go gauge; this is a minimum HS gauge & measure at "zero" with an RCBS 223/5.56 gauge.

This means that in practice, they are not exactly delivering barrels that they say they are delivering with .002-.003" of HS.

However, there are manufacturing tolerances on bolts that can, & do, affect HS, but given the bolts tested & measured as being within spec for bolt dimensions, my conclusion is that Wilson barrels at very tight on their barrel / extension HS dimensions.

If a bolt in a given barrel / extension will not close on a Go gauge, it is also very likely that it will not close on all brands of new factory ammo & that is a problem, IMO. YMMV

Various brands of ammo will typically measure from around minus .003-4", max to as little as zero, as measured in reference to a 1.4636 HS dimension. (However, having said that, as an AR bolt slams closed it will generally crush fit rounds that are around .002" too long, if that situation is OK with you; it is not OK with me as a steady diet routine. (I have ammo from 7 or 8 manufacturers & some would close, some would not.)

So I selected the phosphate bolt that was the closest to closing on the Go gauge, (would not close on a minus .001" gauge, but would close on a minus .002" gauge), & stoned & measured each bolt lug to get the bolt to close on the Go gauge.

I have built probably 25+ guns, with a variety of barrels & I have never had any other barrel from any other manufacturer that I could not get a bolt to fit, almost all w/o sorting bolts.

With 2 WC barrels, both were tight on HS to the point that I would not use them as is & WC will not provide a matched bolt...................I called & offered to buy one, they said they don't sell matched bolts & barrels.

The barrels are fine otherwise & once HS'ed correctly, shoot just fine.

MM

Thanks for the clarification!

Guess I won’t be buying that barrel and dealing with that lol

Lots of other high quality barrels without that to deal with

Ya know, that's what I like about White Oak - I've never had a barrel from them that wasn't dead-nuts on headspace. And what seems to be a perfect compromise between tightness and reliability. I've had a lot of barrels from other smiths that were finicky, some so finicky that I ended up running a reamer into them.

FWIW Rock River has been very uniform in their match barrel headspace too, but they are looser than WOA chambers.

I agree completely on WOA, also on the barrels I've gotten from Paul Craddock (who used to work for Holliger at WOA).

And in addition, they will both provide a fitted bolt, if you choose to buy one from them.

Both also are easy to talk to & very helpful & accomodating; WC's customer service & attitude leave a lot to be desired in comparison.

MM

+1 for AR15Performance.com I have numerous barrels by H and they are all shooters and light weight.

Take a look at Black River Tactical barrels. They do a very nice job!

I run a 18 inch 1-7 twist GM barrel on my service rifle. Been running it since 2018 last year I ran a 224 Valkyrie most of the season for AR tactical class. But shot my service rifle handful of time in xtc matches. The barrel still shooting fine, the 3 bullets it will not shoot are 68gr hornady bthp, 69gr nosler bthp and 75gr hornady bthp. It will shoot 55gr nosler ballistic tips, 69gr smk, 77gr smk and 75gr eld-m (single load)

He makes a phenomenal barrel. I have two of his 224 Valkyrie barrels and run the red rocket in them. My daughter got her master designation using one of his barrel in a 224 Valkyrie and the red rocket load.

I picked up one their barrels 18inch 5.56 chamber holt chit that thing shoots 77smk very well. As long as the shooter knows how to read wind it will hold the 10ring at 600yds all day long.

Haven't read all the replies, because I don't really have time. But here is what I have and I love it. I have not shot it for groups, but I'm sure it would do very well. The Ballistic Advantage barrels are typically spoken highly of.

https://www.ballisticadvantage.com/...r-15-barrel-w-lo-pro-premium-series.html

Ballistic Advantage is playing barrel roulette................win some, lose some, IMO.

Depends on how picky you are & what your expectations are, I guess.

MM

I've had great luck with the Faxon Gunner 16" barrel its a lightweight profile and the quality for me has been topnotch. I actually have 4 of the Faxon lightweight barrel. 3 -18" and a 16". All are 1:8 twist. seem to shoot a variety of loads well.
Let me know if you need some pictures of it. I can always send you some.
Jerod

Compass lake Engineering, WOA or Criterion in about that order. If you want a chrome lined barrel than Criterion.

Go remeasure the OAL and measure Ogive on some those loaded 75gr BTHP. Guarantee most will be off .010 from others. I never seen are more inconsistent bullet in my life. You will literally have two piles of bullets after you measure the ogive. Save yourself alot of heartache and spring for some 69gr smk and give that barrel another try. Anyhow after you measure those 75’s You probably see why your accuracy went to chit. One of the chittiest bullet I ever tried were the 68gr hornady bthp. Followed by nosler 77gr bthp the ppu 75gr bthp is better than that and they are very inconsistent when it comes oal as well..