someguy2800
Member
I had a bear creek 16” midlength socom barrel. It was decent but not great maybe 1-1/2 to 2 moa.
The only Faxon barrel I have had is my 9mm which is really accurate. For a 9mm anyway.
My 2 new FAXON 5.56 AR-15 barrels are (too) overgassed ... sigh
- Thread starter GBExpat
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I had a bear creek 16” midlength socom barrel. It was decent but not great maybe 1-1/2 to 2 moa.
The only Faxon barrel I have had is my 9mm which is really accurate. For a 9mm anyway.
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GBExpat
Member
Standard 3oz carbine buffer.
Yes.
The A2 stock sports a standard 5oz buffer, btw.
Hopeful news ... thanks for sharing that.
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GBExpat
Member
More hopeful news ... Thanks, imashooter!
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GBExpat
Member
GOOD GRIEF! No wonder that 16" is so overgassed. They test it to assure function with a bone-dry phosphated bolt carrier + an H2 buffer ... and then they open up the port size a bit just to make sure.
MarshallDodge
Member
That's because the cheap customers like to use wolf and tula steel cased ammo. That stuff won't run in my midlength gas carbines and I'm fine with that because I make my own ammo for lessGOOD GRIEF! No wonder that 16" is so overgassed. They test it to assure function with a bone-dry phosphated bolt carrier + an H2 buffer ... and then they open up the port size a bit just to make sure.
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GBExpat
Member
AAaaaahhhh, yes ... filthy, gum-up-the-works ammo! Perhaps one of Faxon's considerations.
MarshallDodge
Member
It isn't so much filthy as it is underpowered.
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GBExpat
Member
Gotcha. I have never used the stuff myself, just read about how smelly & dirty it is.
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GBExpat
Member
From the webpage linked (my bold):
"Faxon created their gas port diameters by testing using a standard carbine. Specifically, we used a dry manganese phosphate carrier, an H2 buffer, and a military-specification spring. We then test-fired the weapon to ensure that it locked back with no lubrication and opened the port a bit further to account for adverse conditions. As a comparison, we always list our gas port diameter on each barrel's webpage."
That last part bothered me because I could not recall seeing port size listings on either of the Faxon site barrel webpages.
Quite frankly, if they listed port sizes ("Hmmm, that's interesting, they have taken the time to list the port sizes. I'd better research this before making any gas block decisions.") , I almost certainly would have looked into the reasoning for that and not been tripped up as I was.
I just checked the 2 Faxon barrel webpages in question and neither lists a port size. Perhaps this is something that they plan on doing in future or something that they used to do and discontinued for some reason.
Interestinger & Interestinger.
imashooter
Member
Neither of mine were listed within Faxon. Believe they were listed within specs / descript at JoeBob's.
Here's the 16": https://www.joeboboutfitters.com/Fa...com-5-56-Mid-Length-415-p/fax-15a58m16nsq.htm
Here's the 10.5" @ Brownell's: https://www.brownells.com/rifle-par...ar-15-5-56-gov-t-socom-barrels-prod95983.aspx
Other store:
Speaking of: I have a 8.5" PSA pistol. By the time I finished reading about everything that expressed / implied it wouldn't work without this, that, and the other, I about didn't want to fire it. Worked great with an A2 flash hider (came with it). I used the carbine buffer it came with, an H buffer, H2, H3 and a little stronger spring (JP). I could tell no difference firing it other than a slight difference in angle and distance of tossing the brass. I currently have the H3 in it for no particular reason. Anyhow, hope I don't eat crow on the 10.5" in a couple of days. But I have plenty of Texas Pete's extra hot, hot sauce if need.
In closing, I do appreciate everyone's experiences and opinions.
Here's the 16": https://www.joeboboutfitters.com/Fa...com-5-56-Mid-Length-415-p/fax-15a58m16nsq.htm
Here's the 10.5" @ Brownell's: https://www.brownells.com/rifle-par...ar-15-5-56-gov-t-socom-barrels-prod95983.aspx
Other store:
- Barrel Material: 4150 CMV Steel
- Barrel Type: Button Rifled
- Barrel Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Barrel Twist: 1:8
- Barrel Length: 10.5"
- Barrel Profile: Light
- Barrel Gas System: Carbine
- Inside Finish: QPQ Nitride
- Outside Finish: QPQ Nitride
- Muzzle Thread: 1/2-28 TPI (Threads Per Inch
- Gas Block Diameter: .750"
- Gas Hole Diameter: .080"
- Gas Block Journal Length: 1.1"
- Barrel Extension: M4
- Weight: 1.10 lbs
- Magnetic Particle Inspected!
- 11-degree Target Crown
Speaking of: I have a 8.5" PSA pistol. By the time I finished reading about everything that expressed / implied it wouldn't work without this, that, and the other, I about didn't want to fire it. Worked great with an A2 flash hider (came with it). I used the carbine buffer it came with, an H buffer, H2, H3 and a little stronger spring (JP). I could tell no difference firing it other than a slight difference in angle and distance of tossing the brass. I currently have the H3 in it for no particular reason. Anyhow, hope I don't eat crow on the 10.5" in a couple of days. But I have plenty of Texas Pete's extra hot, hot sauce if need.
In closing, I do appreciate everyone's experiences and opinions.
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GBExpat
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Oh, yeah! I still think that I am going to be very satisfied with the performance of both of my Faxon barrels once I get the AGBs installed & configured.
BTW, Neither Brownell's nor AR15Discounts lists port sizes in their respective webpage descriptions either.
carbine85
Member
What's the big deal with over gassing? It's better than under gassed. Military type rifles are usually over gassed. A lot of your top end rifles come with adjustable gas systems.
Faxon makes a good barrel. I have (2) 7.62 x39, 9mm and a 5.56 Faxon barrels and no regrets.
On my AR47 I'm running an adjustable gas block, muzzle break and H2 buffer. It's a snappy
little rifle but it's never malfunctioned with over 1000 rounds down the pipe.
Faxon makes a good barrel. I have (2) 7.62 x39, 9mm and a 5.56 Faxon barrels and no regrets.
On my AR47 I'm running an adjustable gas block, muzzle break and H2 buffer. It's a snappy
little rifle but it's never malfunctioned with over 1000 rounds down the pipe.
someguy2800
Member
The joe bob page linked lists the port size as .081” which is within the normal port sizes that a mid length 16” barrel would come with. Perhaps you should try some different ammo.
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GBExpat
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Did you even read the OP?
carbine85
Member
Yes, I did read your post and all the others. Your problem isn't because the rifle is over gassed. You may have a chamber problem and I'm sure Faxon will take care of that.
My point was when you build any rifle from a selection of parts you will most likely need to tune that rifle. I have built dozens of AKs and ARs over the last 20 years so I know a few things about dialing them in.
A lot of manufacturers that sell barrels use larger gas ports to ensure that you have enough gas for all ammo.
They also don't know whose recoil spring, Buffer or gas block you are going to use.
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GBExpat
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Faxon responded:
"GBExpat",
Thank you for taking the time to contact us and we sincerely apologize for the issues you are seeing.
Without having the barrels back here to know for sure, my initial thoughts are that there are residual salt deposits left over in your chambers from the nitriding process and they are causing drag between the case and the chamber wall.
Our 16" mid-length barrels have .081" gas ports, which is well within the industry standard for port sizes. We do size our gas ports slightly larger than what would be "mil-spec", but that is due to the variability in power of commercial ammo offerings. It is fairly unlikely that your gas ports are both oversized as they are from different lots, however we are more than happy to bring both your barrels back and take an in depth look at them.
If that works for you, please provide the below info:
Name
Preferred shipping address
Phone #
Email address you would like a return label sent
If you have any questions in the mean time please don't hesitate to ask!
Thanks,
Pat
Faxon Firearms
"GBExpat",
Thank you for taking the time to contact us and we sincerely apologize for the issues you are seeing.
Without having the barrels back here to know for sure, my initial thoughts are that there are residual salt deposits left over in your chambers from the nitriding process and they are causing drag between the case and the chamber wall.
Our 16" mid-length barrels have .081" gas ports, which is well within the industry standard for port sizes. We do size our gas ports slightly larger than what would be "mil-spec", but that is due to the variability in power of commercial ammo offerings. It is fairly unlikely that your gas ports are both oversized as they are from different lots, however we are more than happy to bring both your barrels back and take an in depth look at them.
If that works for you, please provide the below info:
Name
Preferred shipping address
Phone #
Email address you would like a return label sent
If you have any questions in the mean time please don't hesitate to ask!
Thanks,
Pat
Faxon Firearms
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GBExpat
Member
My response:
Hi, Pat. Thank you for the quick response.
I have a pair of adjustable gas blocks inbound that should be here by EOW.
My plan is to install one on the 16" barrel to determine if dialing down the gas is all that is required to correct the issue.
If that works with the 16" I will duplicate the effort with the 20" to confirm the "fix". <fingers crossed>
Once I reach a natural end to this little project, whether with 2 functioning-properly Faxon-barreled ARs or dead in the water again somewhere along the way, I will reconnect with you.
Thank you for your kind assistance with this.
"GBExpat"
Hi, Pat. Thank you for the quick response.
I have a pair of adjustable gas blocks inbound that should be here by EOW.
My plan is to install one on the 16" barrel to determine if dialing down the gas is all that is required to correct the issue.
If that works with the 16" I will duplicate the effort with the 20" to confirm the "fix". <fingers crossed>
Once I reach a natural end to this little project, whether with 2 functioning-properly Faxon-barreled ARs or dead in the water again somewhere along the way, I will reconnect with you.
Thank you for your kind assistance with this.
"GBExpat"
carbine85
Member
Sounds like Faxon agrees with my statements. I would send them back to Faaxon and let them clean it up or replace the barrels. After you get them back install your adjustable blocks and tune from there.
imashooter
Member
Please use the white font. The blue and red is a bit difficult to read. Thanks.
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GBExpat
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I think that you meant to type black font.
badkarmamib
Member
I am guessing that he is running the black background, in which case yes, the red and blue ARE hard to see. On the earth tones, it shows up great.I think that you meant to type black font.
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GBExpat
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??? I had no idea that anyone would choose a black background ... which probably has something to do will all the years I spent looking at green characters on black background.
I shall leave it at the default (on my screen, black) as imashooter would prefer.
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GBExpat
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New Faxon response:
Hi "GBExpat",
An adjustable gas block will definitely cure the issue if it is over gassed. I am not convinced that you have an over gas situation though. I think it more likely the barrels have rough chambers causing the extraction issues. If you forward the info Pat asked for above we will be happy to bring the barrel back and have them checked.
Thanks,
Mark
Customer Service
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They sound like nice folks.
Hi "GBExpat",
An adjustable gas block will definitely cure the issue if it is over gassed. I am not convinced that you have an over gas situation though. I think it more likely the barrels have rough chambers causing the extraction issues. If you forward the info Pat asked for above we will be happy to bring the barrel back and have them checked.
Thanks,
Mark
Customer Service
======================
They sound like nice folks.
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GBExpat
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Well, I have an AdjGB installed on the 16", ready to test, but some ugly-looking weather is about to descend upon us ... so, I will plan on doing this tomorrow.
Getting the original GB off was surprisingly difficult. One of the two set screws just would not release. Bummer. I finally got it, though. BTW, I had mounted those set screws with zero thread locker, since I was still in project-mode. Odd.
The new AGBs are the 3-screw clamp-on style which I like much better.
I also had to mod the FFHandguard to allow allen wrench access for the side-mounted locking screw on these ABGs, but that alteration process went very smoothly.
Getting the original GB off was surprisingly difficult. One of the two set screws just would not release. Bummer. I finally got it, though. BTW, I had mounted those set screws with zero thread locker, since I was still in project-mode. Odd.
The new AGBs are the 3-screw clamp-on style which I like much better.
I also had to mod the FFHandguard to allow allen wrench access for the side-mounted locking screw on these ABGs, but that alteration process went very smoothly.
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