Posted: 11/28/2015 3:21:19 AM EDT
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I am collecting parts for a build and need a recommendation on a barrel. I would like it to be a .223 or .223 Wylde, thinking about 18 inch, SS and want it to be a tack driver . Money is no object when it comes to the cost of the barrel. Just looking for accuracy, longevity, quality, etc that you would find in the best match barrel out there. Thanks!
Keep the answers coming, thanks again. |
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I am collecting parts for a build and need a recommendation on a barrel. I would like it to be a .223 or .223 Wylde, thinking about 18 inch and want it to be a tack driver. Money is no object when it comes to the cost of the barrel. Just looking for accuracy, longevity, quality, etc that you would find in the best match barrel out there. Thanks! Have you looked at BHW? Black Hole Weaponry I doubt they're considered "the best" but they put out some pretty impressive polygonal rifled barrels |
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Krieger, Rainier Arms Ultramatch, WOA. If price is no object, get a Bartlein, Krieger of Brux. This is a couple years old, but is still a good guide: Best Rifle Barrel - What the Pros Use 2013. |
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I know Bartlein and Lilja are making great 223 AR-15 match barrels. Still a lot of stuff besides the barrel to make a match ready AR. Mine got up to almost 4K without any optics. Dafuq you do gold plate it?? I just can't see it, anyway OP Larue makes a mean ass barrel and is kicking it up in the MOA all Day challenge. Cost does not equal quality in all cases |
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If price is no object, get a Bartlein, Krieger of Brux. This is a couple years old, but is still a good guide: Best Rifle Barrel - What the Pros Use 2013. Quoted:
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Krieger, Rainier Arms Ultramatch, WOA. If price is no object, get a Bartlein, Krieger of Brux. This is a couple years old, but is still a good guide: Best Rifle Barrel - What the Pros Use 2013. All great barrel manufacturers and I'm sure their AR barrels are great too, but a bit irrelevant as the PRS is bolt-action rifles. No matter how great the barrel is, accuracy will never be as noticeable as it is in bolt actions. |
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I'm figuring the odds that you're doing it wrong. Quoted:
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I know Bartlein and Lilja are making great 223 AR-15 match barrels. Still a lot of stuff besides the barrel to make a match ready AR. Mine got up to almost 4K without any optics. I'm figuring the odds that you're doing it wrong. No shit, I run a JP-15 that I am fairly certain could be no more accurate than it is right now, with a Burris XTRII 5-25, and I am at about 3400.00 (includes ADM mount too). |
| I can recommend WOA for sure as I have used their varmint barrels with good results (sub moa if I do my part), but they are picky with loads. I think WOA still uses wilson and shilen blanks. I just completed a 16" build around a RA Match wylde barrel and taking it out today so I will chime in later with results. |
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Quoted: If price is no object, get a Bartlein, Krieger of Brux. This is a couple years old, but is still a good guide: Best Rifle Barrel - What the Pros Use 2013. Quoted: Quoted: Krieger, Rainier Arms Ultramatch, WOA. If price is no object, get a Bartlein, Krieger of Brux. This is a couple years old, but is still a good guide: Best Rifle Barrel - What the Pros Use 2013. I have a pretty good Larue Stealth barrel though, I averaged .680 in the MOA challenge. |
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All great barrel manufacturers and I'm sure their AR barrels are great too, but a bit irrelevant as the PRS is bolt-action rifles. No matter how great the barrel is, accuracy will never be as noticeable as it is in bolt actions. Quoted:
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Krieger, Rainier Arms Ultramatch, WOA. If price is no object, get a Bartlein, Krieger of Brux. This is a couple years old, but is still a good guide: Best Rifle Barrel - What the Pros Use 2013. All great barrel manufacturers and I'm sure their AR barrels are great too, but a bit irrelevant as the PRS is bolt-action rifles. No matter how great the barrel is, accuracy will never be as noticeable as it is in bolt actions. Agreed - it is a bit of an apples to oranges comparison there. He's updated it with the latest info from the top 100 PRS shooters this year. Here's the list: Bartlein @ 43% Hawk Hill Custom @ 26% Benchmark @ 7% Proof Research @ 6% Brux @ 3% Hart @ 3% Krieger @ 2% Lilja / Masterpiece Arms / Muller Works @ 1% Not sure this holds up for several reasons - the first has already been mentioned with bolt versus semi-auto. The second one is the addition of a barrel extension and how they are attached to an upper receiver versus the typical threading. To address length concerns - in the updated 2015 post they talk barrel lengths. Shortest around 20" and longest at 28" with the most popular at 26". Lots of reasons for length but it seems these guys do a decent job compensating for shorter barrels... Spooky |
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Agreed - it is a bit of an apples to oranges comparison there. He's updated it with the latest info from the top 100 PRS shooters this year. Here's the list: Bartlein @ 43% Hawk Hill Custom @ 26% Benchmark @ 7% Proof Research @ 6% Brux @ 3% Hart @ 3% Krieger @ 2% Lilja / Masterpiece Arms / Muller Works @ 1% Not sure this holds up for several reasons - the first has already been mentioned with bolt versus semi-auto. The second one is the addition of a barrel extension and how they are attached to an upper receiver versus the typical threading. To address length concerns - in the updated 2015 post they talk barrel lengths. Shortest around 20" and longest at 28" with the most popular at 26". Lots of reasons for length but it seems these guys do a decent job compensating for shorter barrels... Spooky My Krieger will shoot .5-.6s all day long if I do my part. 
However any of the top barrel makers listed above will make a barrel more accurate than an AR-15 is capable of. What's more important is who turns, threads, and installs the barrel extension, as well as the assembly of the rest of the rifle. If you are really looking for ultimate accuracy, then items normally taken for granted for 99.9% of ARs now matter. I'm referring to things like upper to lower fit, bolt lug engagement, barrel extension to upper receiver fit, upper receiver flex, face of the upper receiver, etc. If I were to do another precision AR build and price did not matter, I would get a hawk hill or another MPA blank and send it to PVA. I'd probably send the upper receiver as well as it may need lathe work. |
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Have you looked at BHW? Black Hole Weaponry I doubt they're considered "the best" but they put out some pretty impressive polygonal rifled barrels Quoted:
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I am collecting parts for a build and need a recommendation on a barrel. I would like it to be a .223 or .223 Wylde, thinking about 18 inch and want it to be a tack driver. Money is no object when it comes to the cost of the barrel. Just looking for accuracy, longevity, quality, etc that you would find in the best match barrel out there. Thanks! Have you looked at BHW? Black Hole Weaponry I doubt they're considered "the best" but they put out some pretty impressive polygonal rifled barrels I'll be honest, I helped a friend build a precision AR and chose a BHW barrel based on the many recommendations here as well as other shooters. I used the same care and attention to detail building his upper as I did my own. Unfortunately it doesn't hold a candle to a true match barrel. It'll shoot decently with very few loads, but with other its terrible. Not saying all BHW barrels are bad, just that they don't have the consistency barrel to barrel as the top tier companies. |
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There are a couple other factors to consider which haven't really been touched.
Will this be a bench gun or will it have alternate purposes? Depending on your answer you might was to consider the contours available from manufacturers/turners or even going with something longer. You've gotten some good answers, but there is no need to overthink this. Here's my short list. Larue Lothar Walther Krieger Bartlein Compass Lake Green Mountain All the above will achieve sub-moa accuracy. Of the above? I say go LaRue. Great price, especially when you catch them on sale for $199, and they are FANTASTIC. Great contour, will easily last 10,000+ rounds, are threaded concentric to the bore, and finally, AMAZING customer service. I've been shooting LaRue and LW/Larue barrels for the past year in a number of my rifles and they EASILY shoot .3-.5 MOA with any of their barrels from 12" to 18" as long as you do your part appropriately (Your read that right. I shoot .5 moa from a 12" barrel, SUPPRESSED). I just completed a 20" which should hit the range this weekend and I FULLY expect to see those groupings from it too. You can't go wrong with any of them, but when it comes to top performance and accuracy per dollar, the LaRue is the gold standard when you can pick them up for $200-400, brand new. |
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I just built a SPR upper and after a lot of research I ended up getting a 20" Rainer SDM ultramatch barrel
So far I'm happy but only have 48rds through the barrel so its too early to tell.  </a>" />
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I did the shoot 1 then clean for the first 10rds to break in the barrel then shot the 5rd group at the top left with Black Hills 75gr HPBT match. Then cleaned the barrel and shot the other 4 groups. Top right is FGMM 77gr HPBT then bottom left is my hand loads with LC brass 21grs of Varget and Hornady 75gr HPBT then bottom right is Black Hills again then center is FGMM again  </a>" />
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I have an 18" Daniel Defense STW barrel. Under an inch at 200yds. At 100 they are touching. This is my 200yd target. The group in the top left of the target was Black Hills 77gr. 5.56 match. the two groups to the middle left were FGMM 77gr. I don't have any pics of the 100yd target, but those were touching.
The gun started off as a standard DDM4v7 with a 16" barrel. I bought the 18" STW barrel, and the 15" Slim rail and swapped them out. I also added a Geissele SSA trigger. The scope is a Steiner T5xi. 5x to 25x. I think DD stuff is the best bang for the buck.  </a>" />
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Don't buy a chrome lined barrel, they are designed for field use (abuse) and will shoot very well, but not to match grade specs.
You have so many good barrels to choose from it's almost overwhelming. White Oak Armament Rainier Arms match Douglas XX Compass Lake Shilen Brux Criterion Bartlein Broughton Lilja Schneider Rock Creek Wilson and at least a half-dozen more make outstanding barrels. Have CLE or WOA turn the blank to your specs and you'll be happy as hell. I prefer 1/7 or 1/8 twist Stainless Steel barrel bead blasted to a matte finish. |
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Don't buy a chrome lined barrel, they are designed for field use (abuse) and will shoot very well, but not to match grade specs. You have so many good barrels to choose from it's almost overwhelming. White Oak Armament Rainier Arms match Douglas XX Compass Lake Shilen Brux Criterion Bartlein Broughton Lilja Schneider Rock Creek Wilson and at least a half-dozen more make outstanding barrels. Have CLE or WOA turn the blank to your specs and you'll be happy as hell. I prefer 1/7 or 1/8 twist Stainless Steel barrel bead blasted to a matte finish. Chrome lined Criterion barrel w/ 5 shots of 75gr ASYM at 50 yards. 16" mid length gas. 
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[ Chrome lined Criterion barrel w/ 5 shots of 75gr ASYM at 50 yards. 16" mid length gas. http://i.imgur.com/RynMeu6.jpg 50 yards is pistol country. Take it to 200, 300, or 400 yds and come back with your groups. |
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50 yards is pistol country. Take it to 200, 300, or 400 yds and come back with your groups. Quoted:
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[ Chrome lined Criterion barrel w/ 5 shots of 75gr ASYM at 50 yards. 16" mid length gas. http://i.imgur.com/RynMeu6.jpg 50 yards is pistol country. Take it to 200, 300, or 400 yds and come back with your groups. When I can, I will. 
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Don't buy a chrome lined barrel, they are designed for field use (abuse) and will shoot very well, but not to match grade specs. You have so many good barrels to choose from it's almost overwhelming. White Oak Armament Rainier Arms match Douglas XX Compass Lake Shilen Brux Criterion Bartlein Broughton Lilja Schneider Rock Creek Wilson and at least a half-dozen more make outstanding barrels. Have CLE or WOA turn the blank to your specs and you'll be happy as hell. I prefer 1/7 or 1/8 twist Stainless Steel barrel bead blasted to a matte finish. Did you leave Noveske/Larue off for a reason? Just wondering... The best worst part about ARs is the fact there are damn near too many options. The other thing is how a brand progresses - sometimes they start off making barrels and earn a stellar reputation. Later the success catches up with them and it seems the quality drops while the price sometimes increases. I'm also intrigued by the special Noveske barrel Wes Grant at MSTN puts on his modern SPRs. He posted a lot here at one point and no longer does. For a long time he got a lot of my money because he did such a great job building rifles with great results. Spooky |