AR Barrel Question

[otrman]

I'm getting ready to start my next AR build and have a question for those with a little more knowledge and experience than myself. Which barrel would you have on a rifle that you would depend on your life with?

1. Govmt. Profile, Mil-spec 4150 steel, 5.56 Nato chamber, M4 feed ramps, 1/7, chrome lined bore and chamber, HPT and MPI tested.

2. 410 stainless steel, Hbar profile w/flutes, 5.56 NATO Match Chambers (USMC SAM-R Chamber), 1/8, M4 feed ramps, HPT and MPI tested.

Would one be better than the other? Or is it just a preference in materials?

 

[ugaarguy]

Really just preference in weight from the bbl contour. Go with whichever will make the rifle balance how you like it.

 

[otrman]

Oh yes, forgot about that. The stainless barrel is 4 oz. heavier. Not a big difference but there none the less.

 

[kwelz]

No question. if we are talking about a barrel to defend on then it is option 1.
Option 2 is for Varmint rifles.

 

[Tirod]

The question is - have you stockpiled two or three thousand rounds of ammo loaded in magazines? And do you have full auto? If so, Door No. 1.

If you are planning on it saving your life, anything will do, as most encounters will be a few shots. There won't be zombie hordes attacking in an organized manner, and they won't be armed to any degree.

For a good look at what did work, check the LA riots. Most of the Korean shopkeepers did quite well with hunting rifles and small caliber handguns.

 

[Zerodefect]

those both sound fine.

For a defensive carbine and lower power optics go with the mil-spec chrome barrel.
For a SPR go with the 410SS.

410ss is pretty tough, I don't think it wears as quickly as run of the mill target SS barrels. So you can use 410ss barrels with carbines if you want.

 

[kwelz]

Zero, I agree and I don't While the SS barrel would be fine for many short term purposes, they don't have the long term durability in inclement environments. Now chances are this would never be an issue, however he did say he may need to rely on this to defend his life. And to me all possibilities should be considered.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

#1 will be a more handy profile due to weight and will probably have an advantage in reliable extraction when crazy hot (400F plus).

#2 is probably going to be very accurate and a tad heftier.

 

[W.E.G.]

I don't dig "flutes" on my barrel.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Both should be terrific. You're looking at Bravo Company options, aren't you?

I would probably go with #2 if its weight is acceptable, #1 if you want less weight. #2 will likely be more accurate and last very nearly as long, perhaps equally long or longer. The owner of ADCO Firearms (large Ohio dealer, big Rock River Arms seller) has posted on ar15.com about his AR with a 416 stainless barrel (from RRA) and how it's at something like 25,000 rounds and still going strong. YMMV but it's not as if the 410 SS is going to wear out in a couple of cases of ammo, not for AR15-type purposes.