Need Barrel Recommendation for AR15

HandgunHTR said:

That wasn't a twist issue that was something else.

I have 2 ARs and a bolt gun chambered in 5.56 and twisted 1:7 and they shoot everything from 55s to 88s just fine.

Click to expand...

What barrel length and velocity? Once you go past 75 gr the bullet has to be seated so far down in the case and they become so low on velocity that you should buy the Valkery which was designed for heavy bullets and a bigger powder charge.

JustAnOldCooter said:

I wouldn't say "a bad idea"...You must have had a bad barrel, or poor loads. I've shot 62gr out of a Colt SP1 in 1:9 twist all day long with no keyhole issues and great accuracy for an old warhorse.

Click to expand...

Did you read what I said? All my present 20 inches are 8 and 9 twist because of the problems with a 20 inch 7 twist and shooting high velocity 55 gr.

JustAnOldCooter said:

Bartlein 1:7.7 or 1:7" from Craddock Precision...send them your bolt for headspacing (no charge). https://craddockprecision.com/223-wylde-bartlein-barrel/ Read about the 400MODBB steel option on Bartlein's site. Another option is McGowen Precision Barrels https://mcgowenbarrel.com/shop/custom-ar-barrel/ they currently have a 15% off sale with code "SUMMER24"

Click to expand...

I was excited to see the 400MODBB, but so far the cost of the blanks has been way too high. It's likely very similar to Lothar Walther's LW50 stainless steel which has been around for a long time but you still have the difference of cut versus button rifled. The button rifled Lothar Walther barrels are still very good and sufficient for most people's needs.

atblis said:

Ballistic advantage is kinda sucky in my experience. I have several of their barrels because they're cheap (like $60), but the accuracy has always been pretty mediocre at best.

Click to expand...

Their quality 20 inch flute SS are more like over $300. I only buy match grade barrels.

budlight said:

Their quality 20 inch flute SS are more like over $300. I only buy match grade barrels.

Click to expand...

Are they air gauged and lapped?

If your 1 in 7 won't shoot 55 gr well, there's something wrong with it. I shoot lots of 52 gr match bullets, and the 1 in 7s should those as good as anything else.

budlight said:

What barrel length and velocity? Once you go past 75 gr the bullet has to be seated so far down in the case and they become so low on velocity that you should buy the Valkery which was designed for heavy bullets and a bigger powder charge.

Click to expand...

Apples and oranges here. You stated that a 1:7 twist isn't good for 55 grain bullets. I posted that it should work fine, then you quoted and switched to the heavy bullet discussion.

One is a 13", one is a 18" and the bolt gun is a 16". As for velocities, they are all fine, all the way up to the 88s. For 75+ bullets in the ARs I have windowed mags. The bolt gun was throated for the heavies and has a mag to match. For velocities I am getting between 2550 and 2750 with the 75-77 grain bullets and 2300 to 2500 with the 88s. I don't care about velocity that much as long as I know the velocity coming out of my gun, I can true up the BC of the bullet and dial for what I need. Accuracy is much more important to me than speed.

I dont recommend a faxon, granted i've only had one experience with one, but it was a 224 Valkyrie with a 6.5 twist 24" barrel. Between the factory offerings at the time and handloads, i put 1000 rounds down the barrel trying to get it to shoot. The ONLY thing that it would shoot is the hornady 60 gr vmax ammo. I always have low expectations for AR's, like slightly under 1 MOA or right at MOA. That 60 gr factory hornady ammo shot close to a .6-.8 group, but everything else i tried ended up being 1.5"+. Just my personal experience, take it with a grain of salt but there ya go.

Liberty/Satern AR barrels are excellent. I have 2 of them, one in 223 Wylde and another in 65 Grendel. Brownells branded barrels used to be made by Satern/Liberty, not sure if they still are or not.

atblis said:

Larue Stealth has been the most consistently accurate for me. 1 in 8 twist. It's a nice profile that's pretty heavy but not ridiculous. Also chambered in 223 Wylde. Price is higher than it used to be, but isn't that true of everything these days. When they were $225, it was a no brainer.

Notice what you see repeatedly in the top of the list

ARFCOM 1 MOA ALL DAY LONG Challenge - AR15.COM

Firearm Discussion and Resources from AR-15, AK-47, Handguns and more! Buy, Sell, and Trade your Firearms and Gear.

www.ar15.com

Larue Stealth
Lothar Walther (get the LW50 SS)
Something machined from a quality blank by somebody like White Oak

Ballistic advantage is kinda sucky in my experience. I have several of their barrels because they're cheap (like $60), but the accuracy has always been pretty mediocre at best.

Click to expand...

I too am no longer very impressed with Ballisitic Advantage. I had a barrel from them from 2015 or so (Aero Precision marked) that shot incredible groups with 60 gr Vmax. It was about $180 then but that same barrel can be had with the BA roll mark for $100 on sale. Many of there barrels since have not impressed me.

I no longer deal with Larue since they decided to mark up all their crap 100% or more overnight during covid. The mount I used to buy from them for $100 turned to $400 practically overnight.

Criterion would also be on my short list

I've had great success with an X-Caliber AR-15 barrel I ordered this past December (6.5 Grendel). Shoots very well with my handloads…..but admittedly NOT very well with the 3 types of factory ammo I fed it initially.


This was with Speer 120gr Gold Dots and IMR 8208XBR at 100 yards.

Larue is certainly quality with great customer service but I still give the nod to JP for tighter sub moa in my limited experience. I just finshed an AR build using my first Ballistic advantage in 350 Legend and was surprised with MOA in that caliber for feral hogs down here. Got to visit Larue outside Austin a few years ago and was impressed.

If I was building another AR I would go with JP or Black Hole Weaponry.

Reading what has been posted since I see that Rainier Arms' barrels haven't yet been mentioned. Reasonable price, the two that I have I've not shot a lot, but what I have shot they look to be very good.