AR's with Bull Barrels - what's your opinion?
- Thread starter MyRoad
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RRA 16" Varmint A4
Yes it's front-heavy and yes it's got a heck of a report. But dang if it ain't a hoot to shoot, more accurate than me, and just plain cool. i did build a 20" "match" upper that is nicer to shoot free-hand. And that's the fun thing about the AR. Don't like something? change it out. Still don't like it? Sell off the parts on arfcom and try something else. But that RRA NM trigger is nice.
I do plenty well at 100-200 yards with it to take out any varmint bigger than a kitten (wait a minute, i would almost never shoot a kitten...in the back...almost never). In fact, it shoots way better than me and could handle a pretty bigX scope if you compensate right.
Yes it's front-heavy and yes it's got a heck of a report. But dang if it ain't a hoot to shoot, more accurate than me, and just plain cool. i did build a 20" "match" upper that is nicer to shoot free-hand. And that's the fun thing about the AR. Don't like something? change it out. Still don't like it? Sell off the parts on arfcom and try something else. But that RRA NM trigger is nice.
I do plenty well at 100-200 yards with it to take out any varmint bigger than a kitten (wait a minute, i would almost never shoot a kitten...in the back...almost never). In fact, it shoots way better than me and could handle a pretty bigX scope if you compensate right.
Zen21Tao
Member
Here's my critter slayer. I love it.
rbernie
Contributing Member
Thanks, but neither Bushy nor Oly show such offerings currently on their web sites...
Well, my RRA 20" Varmint A4 finally arrived, so I thought I'd revive this old thread rather than start a new one.
The guy at the gun store where I bought it was telling me that I should clean the barrel between each of the first ten rounds fired... standard "match barrel" break-in. That got me thinking.
The manual that came with mine appears to be standard issue Military (it says "Headquarters, Department of the Army / October 1998 - on the cover, and is full of useless (to me) information like how to destroy the manual rather than let it fall into enemy hands, and how to fire in full-auto vs. burst-auto, etc.). It doesn't discuss break in of stainless steel bull barrels, since those were not military issued.
I called Wilson Combat, since I believe they supplied the barrels, and they said there is no break-in procedure for their barrels, just shoot them. So, I think that's what I'll probably do.
Just curious if any of you preformed any break-in rituals?
Edit: Including a pic for those who feel nothing unphotographed exists...
The guy at the gun store where I bought it was telling me that I should clean the barrel between each of the first ten rounds fired... standard "match barrel" break-in. That got me thinking.
The manual that came with mine appears to be standard issue Military (it says "Headquarters, Department of the Army / October 1998 - on the cover, and is full of useless (to me) information like how to destroy the manual rather than let it fall into enemy hands, and how to fire in full-auto vs. burst-auto, etc.). It doesn't discuss break in of stainless steel bull barrels, since those were not military issued.
I called Wilson Combat, since I believe they supplied the barrels, and they said there is no break-in procedure for their barrels, just shoot them. So, I think that's what I'll probably do.
Just curious if any of you preformed any break-in rituals?
Edit: Including a pic for those who feel nothing unphotographed exists...
rbernie, I apologize.
I did not clarify my definition of standard weight in my previous post.
By standard weight I was referring to a barrel that holds to general Match dimensions of .750" to .875" rear of the handguards and .700" to .725" ahead of the gas block.
The gas block locating step is pretty standard at .750" on the majority of barrels.
These dimensions are generally accepted as "Heavy Barrel" dimensions but they are in no way considered as "Bull Barrel" dimensions.
Bull Barrels tend to run .975" to 1.5" behind the gas block and .750" from the gas block to the muzzle.
I suppose that you were intending to define by "standard barrel" dimensions a measurement of .625" to the rear of the gas block and .712" from the gas block to the muzzle.
If this is your definition of standard barrel then I regret that there are no mass production barrels in 24" length meeting these dimensions.
Olympic and Bushmaster do indeed still offer 24" barrels with the "heavy" barrel dimensions but these are not "Bull" barrels by any means.
I own a 24" Stainless Bushmaster barrel installed on an Evolution Gun Works A3 flat top upper.
The barrel is superb but for whatever reason, Bushmaster chose to discontinue this barrel dimension and now offers an "Extra Heavy" 24" Varminteer barrel which holds dimensions very close to what most folks would call a "Bull barrel".
The Olympic barrel is dimensioned at .880" behind the gas block and .725" from the gas block to the muzzle.
It is constructed of stainless steel finished in a matte gray-black parkarized type finish.
I did not clarify my definition of standard weight in my previous post.
By standard weight I was referring to a barrel that holds to general Match dimensions of .750" to .875" rear of the handguards and .700" to .725" ahead of the gas block.
The gas block locating step is pretty standard at .750" on the majority of barrels.
These dimensions are generally accepted as "Heavy Barrel" dimensions but they are in no way considered as "Bull Barrel" dimensions.
Bull Barrels tend to run .975" to 1.5" behind the gas block and .750" from the gas block to the muzzle.
I suppose that you were intending to define by "standard barrel" dimensions a measurement of .625" to the rear of the gas block and .712" from the gas block to the muzzle.
If this is your definition of standard barrel then I regret that there are no mass production barrels in 24" length meeting these dimensions.
Olympic and Bushmaster do indeed still offer 24" barrels with the "heavy" barrel dimensions but these are not "Bull" barrels by any means.
I own a 24" Stainless Bushmaster barrel installed on an Evolution Gun Works A3 flat top upper.
The barrel is superb but for whatever reason, Bushmaster chose to discontinue this barrel dimension and now offers an "Extra Heavy" 24" Varminteer barrel which holds dimensions very close to what most folks would call a "Bull barrel".
The Olympic barrel is dimensioned at .880" behind the gas block and .725" from the gas block to the muzzle.
It is constructed of stainless steel finished in a matte gray-black parkarized type finish.
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