AR 15 barrel brand

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Megawatt maker

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Ok..looking for some input from folks who have built a lot of ARs.

I've built some..almost all my lowers I've built from stripped receivers, and I've built a few stripped uppers from scratch also.

I've used PSA and Ballisic advantage barrels..and both have proven to be just fine.

I want to try someone else's for my next build.

Looking at Odin works,
Faxon,
Radical, or maybe
Rosco.

I'd really like a Kreiger, but the wait time...OMG!

Anyone try any of those?
 
I've got a couple Faxon's, a Larue, and a White Oak Armament (my OEM barrels are Colts).

The WOA is an outstanding barrel, cost is about the same as Krieger and when I ordered mine I had it in a couple weeks, and that was after adding fluting and bead blast.

My Faxons have been pretty good, sub MOA with good bullets and load development, just under 1.5MOA with FMJ and some load development. My Larue PredatAR is more accurate than either of my Faxon's, but it cost more and had a longer wait.
 
troy fairweather said:
What are you using the gun for.
Click to expand...
600 yard target. General screwing around. I live in one of the few states that doesn't allow us to use semi for hunting big game, and I'm 50 years old, so my days of playing Wolverine are past me now...lol.

Just target shooting really. No clubs around me do 3 gun..or much of anything else.
 
Megawatt maker said:
600 yard target. General screwing around. I live in one of the few states that doesn't allow us to use semi for hunting big game, and I'm 50 years old, so my days of playing Wolverine are past me now...lol.

Just target shooting really. No clubs around me do 3 gun..or much of anything else.
Click to expand...

This was my solution to your "problem":

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5 at 100
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3 at 307 (the 3rd shot broke the bolt off)
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White Oak Armament 18" SPR profiled barrel with fluting and matched bolt
Geissele SD-E trigger
Aero Precision Upper/Lower
SLR FF rail
SLR Titanium AGB
Vortex PST 4-16X Gen 1
Magpul UBR Stock (storage removed)
Magpul Bipod

This setup get's 1/2MOA with 77 Sierra OTMs and sub MOA with Nosler BTs. I've taken it out to 600+ yards on steel and it holds with my precision rifle setup in .223.
 
Kreiger, check with Brownell’s. I have no idea about lead time today, it’s been several years since I got mine from Brownell’s.
 
Megawatt maker said:
and I'm 50 years old, so my days of playing Wolverine are past me now...lol.
Click to expand...

my guess is your days of playing wolverine are in the future. But the above mentioned WOA are excellent. Also look for krieger and other top barrels at retailers like bugholes

Wilsons (chambered by compass lake and woa) worked just as good as more expensive barrels for me. Ymmv.
 
I have a buddy who put a 6.5 Creedmoor krieger barrel on his AR10 and its a 1/2 MOA gun all day.

I have never seen a Kreiger Barrel that didn’t shoot.

Thats my two cents on the one barrel maker i am familiar with out of those mentioned.
 
I am interested in this thread!
I have only used the same brands as you, but am rebuilding a rifle with the SAME ideas in mind. I am looking to focus on keeping it as light as possible while being 20"


What length of barrel are you interested in OP?

Do you have a specific barrel profile you want or want to avoid?


I was going to suggest looking at X-caliber.
I am considering them personally although with no experience.
 
JayZee said:
I am interested in this thread!
I have only used the same brands as you, but am rebuilding a rifle with the SAME ideas in mind. I am looking to focus on keeping it as light as possible while being 20"


What length of barrel are you interested in OP?

Do you have a specific barrel profile you want or want to avoid?


I was going to suggest looking at X-caliber.
I am considering them personally although with no experience.
Click to expand...
I have 2 16", a 20", and a 24" bull barrel.
I ordered an 18" Odin Works 3 gun profile. I looked through one at the local Sportmans warehouse and compared it to a few others they had in stock. Wilson was sweet, but the Odin, it just looked nicer. Shiny, well finished, nice...VERY...nice threads. I was going to buy it, but its on line for cheaper.

I have a Timney cartridge trigger, Anderson upper and lower, Toolcraft Nickel Boron BCG, Rise antiwalk pins, Magpul MOE grip, PSA custom ambi charging handle, Wilson combat gas tube, FAB defense GL buttstock, Lantac dragon muzzle break. 15" Midwest M lok handguard.

Just waiting for the barrel, Ambi selector, and ambi mag release to come in and I'll put her together.
 
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There are several questions I think you need to answer. First is how much do you want to spend? What is the main purpose of your build? How important is weight to your end goal. I built me last AR using a Faxon 18" gunner profile barrel. It is one of the lighter weight barrels under $200. It provides good accuracy with good loads. I don't think though that it is the most accurate barrel available but most were more expensive and heavier. I would do another build with Faxon because they make very good lightweight barrels for a good price.
 
In my experience Faxon and Ballistic Advantage are about the same and very good. White Oak and Krieger are better.
I had an X Caliber AR10 barrel in 243 that showed promise but sold it before I really wrang it out when I switched to 6mm Creed.
I also followed Harrison Bean from AR Precision down a road less traveled with a 224 Valkyrie barrel and would highly recommend them.
 
Skeptic13 said:
There are several questions I think you need to answer. First is how much do you want to spend? What is the main purpose of your build? How important is weight to your end goal. I built me last AR using a Faxon 18" gunner profile barrel. It is one of the lighter weight barrels under $200. It provides good accuracy with good loads. I don't think though that it is the most accurate barrel available but most were more expensive and heavier. I would do another build with Faxon because they make very good lightweight barrels for a good price.
Click to expand...
My budget isn't much of an issue. Im going all in on this build...premium parts. Its going to be for target use, general fun, not any kind of competition.
Weight is no factor either, not planning on taking it into combat, but if Russian paratroopers start dropping, I'm sure it will still do the job..lol.

I've ordered an Odin works 18" 1in8 twist 3 gun profile.

I selected it because I got to look at one in the flesh at Sportsmans and compared it to others brands they had in stock. It was most impressive. Wilson Combat barrel they had was very temping as well, it was a toss up because both just screamed good quality. I found the same barrel from Odin works directly for 50 bucks cheaper...and I don't mind a few days wait for it.

The Odin, and the Wilson, both had just fantastic bores, on par with my Krieger...but the only results that matter is how it will print on paper at 100 yards.

I'll follow up with that once the build is complete.
 
I had a 9 inch faxon barrel that would print about one moa with 300 blackout. I have a Wilson combat 11 inch 300 Hammer barrel that appears to be at most one moa. I also have a 16 in Grendel barrel from ballistic advantage that I have been a little disappointed with. It's not terrible, but not really submoa. It's about 1.5. if I was buying again I'd probably get a Wilson combat or a faxon. But these are not half MOA guns like I think the op is looking for
 
I used a Odin Works barrel and BCG in my last AR-10 build, in 6.5CM. I was pretty impressed with the quality and finish of the barrel, and it went together well enough. I have used BA barrels in the past with good results... in fact, I have one setting on the bench right now to go into my brother's AR-15.
 
I’ve been building these since 2005, & built more ARs than most. I’ve used so many different barrels I can’t even remember them all. But for the last 5 years I’ve been using Ballistic Advantage exclusively.

But I think we have different agendas. While I’ve no problem sticking shots out to 500, 600yds., that is not really the intended roll of my ARs. For distance/target shooting, I go to my custom bench rifle in 260 Rem. My ARs, I want MOA or better, but I’m not looking for 1/4” from them. As I want longevity, toughness, & ability to shoot anything! It sounds like you want more accuracy from your AR. In which case, I would certainly recommend a top shelf barrel. Kreiger, Bartlein, etc. IfI was looking for extreme accuracy, this would be my choice.
https://craddockprecision.com/223-wylde-bartlein-barrel/

Again though, as I don’t have money to burn, barrels of this caliber(as in quality), are reserved for my bench rifle.
 
David Hoback said:
I’ve been building these since 2005, & built more ARs than most. I’ve used so many different barrels I can’t even remember them all. But for the last 5 years I’ve been using Ballistic Advantage exclusively.

But I think we have different agendas. While I’ve no problem sticking shots out to 500, 600yds., that is not really the intended roll of my ARs. For distance/target shooting, I go to my custom bench rifle in 260 Rem. My ARs, I want MOA or better, but I’m not looking for 1/4” from them. As I want longevity, toughness, & ability to shoot anything! It sounds like you want more accuracy from your AR. In which case, I would certainly recommend a top shelf barrel. Kreiger, Bartlein, etc. IfI was looking for extreme accuracy, this would be my choice.
https://craddockprecision.com/223-wylde-bartlein-barrel/

Again though, as I don’t have money to burn, barrels of this caliber(as in quality), are reserved for my bench rifle.
Click to expand...
I built one so far using a Ballistic Advantage premium line 24 inch bull barrel. 1-8 twist.
Overall, while it does alright, I'm not overly impressed with it. Its finicky with ammo. Hates 77 grain anything...absolutely hates 55 g. It does pretty good with 68g Hornady hpbt match..and a little less better with 69 SMKs.

Its why I'm looking to try someone else's barrels.

I'll report back on how the Odin does
 
Megawatt maker said:
I built one so far using a Ballistic Advantage premium line 24 inch bull barrel. 1-8 twist.
Overall, while it does alright, I'm not overly impressed with it. Its finicky with ammo. Hates 77 grain anything...absolutely hates 55 g. It does pretty good with 68g Hornady hpbt match..and a little less better with 69 SMKs.
Click to expand...
Oddly my 12.5" ballistic advantage 1 in 7 twist NATO chamber is not only pretty accurate it gets over 2500 fps with IMI 77gr.
 
Megawatt maker said:
I built one so far using a Ballistic Advantage premium line 24 inch bull barrel. 1-8 twist.
Overall, while it does alright, I'm not overly impressed with it. Its finicky with ammo. Hates 77 grain anything...absolutely hates 55 g. It does pretty good with 68g Hornady hpbt match..and a little less better with 69 SMKs.

Its why I'm looking to try someone else's barrels.

I'll report back on how the Odin does
Click to expand...

I think you misread a bit of what I said. I said I’ve been using Ballistic Advantage ONLY, for several years, but offered I believe we(you & I) have different uses for our AR’s. So I didn’t recommend a BA barrel for you. I instead put out you be looking at top shelf barrels.

The Odin Works is much like BA barrels. Same for Faxon. In fact, you should in all honesty, check Who makes the barrels for Odin Works. I strongly encourage this.
 
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