Ar15 barrel recommendation

Try a white oak armament

AR performance

If you want chrome lined, get a Green Mountain barrel. I am still very pleased with mine after several thousand rounds. For a general use barrel I don't think spending more will get you more. http://www.gmriflebarrel.com/gm-m8-16-mid-length-gas-system-5-56-nato/

I reviewed my 20" green mountain barrel a couple years ago. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=746070

Try a white oak armament

Click to expand...

I don't get this recommendation. The price is over his budget, the profiles are heavy and it offers zero upgrade for his intended use. Precision barrels have their place, when there is a need and several other performance issues are addressed first (optic, trigger, ammo and a rest). If any one of those things are lacking, along with not using it as intended, it is just wasted potential and $$$.

Black Hole Weaponry.

White Oak Armament.

They built me a mack daddy 16" .3"MOA upper.

Chef Jeff,
To be a contrarian here-I would worry less about the name on the barrel and more about other factors--absent a defective barrel, most AR barrels will easily shoot 1-3 MOA at 100 yds. For self defense that is more than adequate as it would be rare to have a self defense shooting at distances greater than 25 yds and I can pretty much guarantee that self defense shootings will not occur similarly to punching holes at the target range using a benchrest. Likewise, unless you are doing small varmint hunting at long range, that same level of accuracy should serve well at most hunting w/ a .223 caliber within the 100-200 yard range.

The nice thing about AR's is that you have a lot of choice at very attractive price points and it is relatively easy to change out a non performing barrel with standard AR assembly tools. So unless you are planning a trip to the sandbox, hunting in a jungle, or figure a Red Dawn type scenario, you will probably do fine with whatever you choose under $200.

IMHO, in the end, figure out how you are going to use the rifle most frequently--asking yourself such questions as what is your comfortable carry weight and for how long, are you using iron sights or not, do you want a threaded barrel, would you like to be able to install a bayonet, do you want a military look, does the seller have a good return policy and good reputation, are you worried about resale value, how much are you willing to risk making a mistake of getting a barrel that is not optimum for what you are using it for, and so on.

Here is a pretty good link to an unbiased look at barrel considerations that is not brand specific.

http://neverenuffammo.com/ar15-basics-choosing-a-barrel/

While over your 200 bucks mark....

I really like the on the rifle balance of the BCM Enhanced Fluted LtWt barrels.

It is very noticeable compared to conventional barrel profiles. ( To me at least )

I also prefer a Mid-Length gas system over carbine length, softer shooting.

http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-16-Mid-Barrel-ENHANCED-LIGHT-WEIGHT-FLUTED-p/bcm-brl-mid-16-elw-f-std.htm

Do buy from a reputable dealer/manufacturer. I built an upper for a buddy with a newer out-of-the-woodwork manufacturer and the extension starting turning when I torqued the brake. Turn the gas tube in all.
I use lothar walther and WOA barrels mostly, but even bergara makes a decent CM barrel for around $150 if you want a lightweight plinker.

BCM all the way.

I'm cheap, and on a budget, and have run barrels from DPMS and currently have an Anderson on my rifle, and an unknown US Contract barrel on my pistol.

They are accurate, probably more so than my own meager skills allow for.

If you're stuck on faster twists, I'd also say check out WOA. If 1:9 works for you, this would be tough to beat for the money:

http://www.jsesurplus.com/WilsonArms16Midlength1x9ChromeLinedBarrelStripped.aspx

Personally, I like 1:9, since I mostly shoot M193 or 50 & 55 gr polymer tipped stuff. 1:8 is fine too, but I have never found a need for 1:7. 1:8 & 1:9 have always stabilized heavier pills just fine IME, including M855.

Wilson Arms makes barrels for a lot of other manufacturers. If you buy one stamped w/ their name they are cheap and shoot well. I have three of them. While not a match barrel they are close enough to MOA w/ cheap ammo. W/ hand loads they are right at MOA.

AR barrels are plentiful, and everyone has their favorites.

I like Criterion, available through Brownells. Built 3 with them, and i have yet to PERSONALLY find a load that isn't acceptably accurate through them.

Other barrel I've used was a Daniel Defense Lightweight profile. It worked pretty well too, not quite as accurate as the Criterions, but noticeably lighter, and i wouldnt hesitate to recommend them, as well.

If you just need a defensive carbine barrel. Don't spend big $$$.

Mas Defense 16" gov't middy. (only $120 IIRC)
BCM Standard middy.
BCM ultra light weight

I wanted a rifle so I bought a Delton kit from Midway. I was planning to switch out the barrel to a higher priced target barrel. Turns out it shoots sub MOA with any ammo. I am not sure but I have heard their barrels are made by Mossberg. I know.

The correct answer for your question is a new question:
Which will be the use of the ar 15?
Which kind of ammo you plan to use?
Once you answer yourself this. Then you will have a better idea of which barrel to buy.
AR 15 is a very nice gun. You have many many options for each part accordong to your personal needs. You will be able to personalize your gun to a level that very few guns have.

From what I have read, Del-ton buys blanks from Mossberg and turns them in-house. This is from their Industry forum on ARFCOM.

My opinion is that because the OP said "home defense" that becomes the primary function. MOA accuracy is meaningless. A 5.56 chamber that will feed, fire and eject the crappiest ammo you can find is what is needed.

You want the rifle to be short and light with whatever friggen gas system is available. With a flashlight.

Next, don't ever expect you'll have time to put ear protection on. That's is simply a foolish expectation. It's also pretty dicey to think your eardrums will survive lighting off a round or two in your house. So, the next thing to consider very strongly is getting yourself licensed for a suppressor. Never take it off the home defense rifle.

Take a defensive pistol and defensive carbine class or two while you're waiting for your paperwork to come through.

Somewhere down the road, buy a different upper if you decide you want precision.

Another option is a 9mm carbine, your hearing is still gonna suffer but nowhere near as bad as from a 5.56 round.

Study differences in penetration between various rifle and handgun rounds. Consider handloading to optimize a cartridge for your situation.

Learn the liabilities associated with shooting into your neighbors house. If you actually get some training you're likely to come away with the guideline "every miss will cost you a million bucks in liability".

Then make your trade offs for a best fit defensive firearm. Get the training, learn the correct methods, repeat endlessly for muscle memory. If you actually take the defensive aspect of firearms seriously.

Faxon barrel's from AIM are an amazing deal, with the included PINNED gas block. I like LaRue barrels (on sale for about $200 a few times a year). PSA CHF barrels have been great too. Then again, the accuracy gap for me, between most AR barrels is pretty slim. My el-cheapo Ptac 1:9 barrel shoots nearly as well for me as my LaRue PredatAR. Anything better than 1.5-2 moa, with cheap ammo, makes my manties tingle.

I have two Faxon barrels, and they are great. The Gunner profile is just the ticket for a nice light good handling home defense rifle.

It's really odd that several people recommended a heavy stainless match barrel like a WOA for a home defense AR. Pretty much the exact opposite of what is called for.