Current AR Hotness

[orionz06]

What's the word on 5.56 barrels these days? Looking for 5.56 with proper gas port sizing. Bonus points for durability, such as CHF, or accuracy.

Faxon, Ballistic Advantage, Ranier, and many others are talked about, but I've been well served with older Noveske, KAC, DD, and BCM.

[HCM]

Hodge, 14.5 or 12.5 which is basically a custom specc'ed FN CHF.

I have a Rainier 1-8 which shoots very well.

I would also check out TriArc track barrels.

[Kram]

What's the word on 5.56 barrels these days? Looking for 5.56 with proper gas port sizing. Bonus points for durability, such as CHF, or accuracy.

Faxon, Ballistic Advantage, Ranier, and many others are talked about, but I've been well served with older Noveske, KAC, DD, and BCM.

Take a close look at Centurion Arms. The barrels are exactly what your looking for. CHF, proper gas port size, and extremely accurate. Plus Outstanding customer service from Monty and his wife.

https://www.centurionarms.com

[Malamute]

Ill throw my AR fudd 2 cents in. Colt 20" rifles, exactly correct ports, long barrel life, easy on bolts, less muzzle blasty, shoots like a 22, no messing with various buffers if you use a rifle butt stock and tube. More reliable than carbines of whatever type so far as I know. all Ive read indicates so, and the Colts Ive had have been more functionally reliable than the AKs Ive had and used, even more so than Mauser bolts that Ive had.

[El Cid]

What's the word on 5.56 barrels these days? Looking for 5.56 with proper gas port sizing. Bonus points for durability, such as CHF, or accuracy.

Faxon, Ballistic Advantage, Ranier, and many others are talked about, but I've been well served with older Noveske, KAC, DD, and BCM.

What length are you looking to get? I’ve been very pleased with the barrels from DSG Arms. I’m also hoping to snag a Triarc barrel one of these days. Their hybrid rifling intrigues me and they have a 13.9” that with a welded muzzle device taking it to 16” OAL has the feel and maneuverability of an SBR without a stamp.

I also built a rifle with a Medcon barrel from Rainier Arms I’m digging. But it’s 416R stainless because I wanted accuracy even at the cost of longevity.

[Old Man Winter]

Take a close look at Centurion Arms. The barrels are exactly what your looking for. CHF, proper gas port size, and extremely accurate. Plus Outstanding customer service from Monty and his wife.

https://www.centurionarms.com

This. Arguably one of the better barrel options available. And, I believe they are spec'd using the machine gun grade steel.

[STI]

If you want Hodge a barrel lot just dropped last week. They don’t come around too often, and sell out quickly when they do.

[orionz06]

If you want Hodge a barrel lot just dropped last week. They don’t come around too often, and sell out quickly when they do.

Where?


What length are you looking to get? I’ve been very pleased with the barrels from DSG Arms. I’m also hoping to snag a Triarc barrel one of these days. Their hybrid rifling intrigues me and they have a 13.9” that with a welded muzzle device taking it to 16” OAL has the feel and maneuverability of an SBR without a stamp.

I also built a rifle with a Medcon barrel from Rainier Arms I’m digging. But it’s 416R stainless because I wanted accuracy even at the cost of longevity.

16" for a 15" rail.

[HCM]

Where?



16" for a 15" rail.

He doesn’t seek his 16” other than complete guns.

12.5” or 14.5” here:

https://www.optactical.com/hode5nabar.html

[HCM]

Ill throw my AR fudd 2 cents in. Colt 20" rifles, exactly correct ports, long barrel life, easy on bolts, less muzzle blasty, shoots like a 22, no messing with various buffers if you use a rifle butt stock and tube. More reliable than carbines of whatever type so far as I know. all Ive read indicates so, and the Colts Ive had have been more functionally reliable than the AKs Ive had and used, even more so than Mauser bolts that Ive had.

20” guns always have longer service life and great reliability. The only problem is it’s a 20” barrel....

“Correct ports” depends on your use. Suppressed ? What ammo are you Shooting ? Etc.

[DpdG]

Not high round count on either, but I have a 11.3” BA Hanson and a 14.5” Faxon Gunnar. Both are similar profile and are nice fit and finish wise, but in the future I’ll stick to the Hanson for that profile. The Hanson came appropriately gassed and like that it comes with a pinned gas block. The Faxon has their p&w ultra thin flash hider, which I like, but it was very gassy and AE 223 ejected around 1 o’clock. I ended up putting a Superlative adjustable block on it to calm things down.

[El Cid]

16" for a 15" rail.

I haven’t tested it for accuracy but this barrel with a Geissele has block is running like a champ.

https://dsgarms.com/upper-receiver-parts-dsg-4001-0005

[STI]

Where?

https://www.weaponoutfitters.com/

[Gray222]

What's the purpose of the barrel/build ?

[orionz06]

What's the purpose of the barrel/build ?

It'll be a "cool" build on an M81 cerakoted Aero set. I've already got a few workhorse guns in 16", now I'm debating 16" and maaaybe 18" for something that's cool/interesting. Undecided between a LPVO or RDS. Kinda using this as a means to try some of the stuff I've ignored or not kept up with as much as I should've.

[Nephrology]

What length are you looking to get? I’ve been very pleased with the barrels from DSG Arms. I’m also hoping to snag a Triarc barrel one of these days. Their hybrid rifling intrigues me and they have a 13.9” that with a welded muzzle device taking it to 16” OAL has the feel and maneuverability of an SBR without a stamp.

I also built a rifle with a Medcon barrel from Rainier Arms I’m digging. But it’s 416R stainless because I wanted accuracy even at the cost of longevity.

I have 2x ARs with DSG barrels (11.5" duty grade, 16.5" match grade) and am also very happy with both . IIRC they are re-branded Ballistic Advantage.

[Tokarev]

Ballistic Advantage barrels have been good for the money, in my experience.

Here's something I picked up recently. I replaced a S&W 1X9 barrel with it:

http://www.blackrivertactical.com/concrete5/optimum-barrel/

Feedback on a couple AR boards has been excellent but I haven't done enough with the barrel yet to give a strong opinion.

In any case, I don't think you'll go wrong with pretty much any barrel out there. Plenty of good options available right now.

[Gray222]

It'll be a "cool" build on an M81 cerakoted Aero set. I've already got a few workhorse guns in 16", now I'm debating 16" and maaaybe 18" for something that's cool/interesting. Undecided between a LPVO or RDS. Kinda using this as a means to try some of the stuff I've ignored or not kept up with as much as I should've.

What's your budget?

If you got PROOF money get one of those, you will definitely not want for anything more.

[orionz06]

What's your budget?

If you got PROOF money get one of those, you will definitely not want for anything more.

The budget doesn't exist. My concern over PROOF is barrel life. I don't know enough about them to know that I'll be doing "PROOF things" with the gun. I don't want a barrel with a 2,000 round usable life. I just don't know enough. They're cool as hell though. I got to shoot a friends SR-25 with a PROOF on it this past weekend.

[Gray222]

The budget doesn't exist. My concern over PROOF is barrel life. I don't know enough about them to know that I'll be doing "PROOF things" with the gun. I don't want a barrel with a 2,000 round usable life. I just don't know enough. They're cool as hell though. I got to shoot a friends SR-25 with a PROOF on it this past weekend.

Bill (of amtacshooting.com) has had his proof16" on his training rifle for...3? (maybe less) or so years now. I shot it last month for distance with some cheapy 55gr, 600yd hits all day. Thing is light AF, makes the gun back heavy. The barrel isn't for dumping mags at cqb distance, its for accuracy with high end rounds. I need to ask him exactly what number of round he is on with it but I am guessing its in the 10k+ range at this point.

I may end up getting one for my next build.

[orionz06]

Bill (of amtacshooting.com) has had his proof16" on his training rifle for...3? (maybe less) or so years now. I shot it last month for distance with some cheapy 55gr, 600yd hits all day. Thing is light AF, makes the gun back heavy. The barrel isn't for dumping mags at cqb distance, its for accuracy with high end rounds. I need to ask him exactly what number of round he is on with it but I am guessing its in the 10k+ range at this point.

I may end up getting one for my next build.

Find out, CF and camo could look cool.

[Gray222]

Find out, CF and camo could look cool.

He said 10k-15k best guess.

If I was building another 16" (which I'm not) I would buy one, and I heavily considered one for my 10.5" build, but ended up with a heavily discounted rainier arms ultramatch 2

[Tokarev]

If you're wanting uber boutique you can also get CF from Christensen:

https://christensenarms.com/product/ar-15-carbon-fiber-barrel-assembly/

[Unobtanium]

If you're wanting uber boutique you can also get CF from Christensen:

https://christensenarms.com/product/ar-15-carbon-fiber-barrel-assembly/

My vote is for PROOF.

https://proofresearch.com/barrels/

[HCM]

If you're wanting uber boutique you can also get CF from Christensen:

https://christensenarms.com/product/ar-15-carbon-fiber-barrel-assembly/


My vote is for PROOF.

https://proofresearch.com/barrels/

This^^. Proof > Christensen

[HCM]

If you want a Noveske or V7 barrel act quickly. I’m fairly sure they made ranker barrels too.

https://www.arbuildjunkie.com/fire-destroys-rifle-pac-nor-barrel-plant/?fbclid=IwAR1jlXGA_6iS9ylU0HbIDzX3tZw424UVudNiNCZO yj1Vlpx1oBLXjcMWMYc

Fire Destroys Rifle Pac-Nor Barrel Plant

[jbrimlow]

Another vote for Proof here. That's on my next build list too. I'd go for 16" Intermediate gas (or 18" rifle, but you asked about 16") too, but I like my tuned gamer rifles. YMMV

[TWR]

I have been very pleased with Sionics barrels. I bought my first 16" CL light weight mid gas and was impressed enough that I bought a second to replace a Noveske SS LW barrel that wasn't light enough.

Accuracy has been as good as I've ever seen with a chrome lined barrel of any contour and they are the smoothest shooting barrels I've got, which have included Colt, Noveske, Krieger and LaRue. I don't have any pics left since photobucket and then imgur got stupid but I shot 5, 5 shot groups with IMI M193 ammo back to back with an average of just over 1.5", my reloads of 55 gr NBT's went under 1". Good as I can ask for with a chrome lined pencil barrel and a 1-4 scope.

[Old Man Winter]

Another vote for Proof here. That's on my next build list too. I'd go for 16" Intermediate gas (or 18" rifle, but you asked about 16") too, but I like my tuned gamer rifles. YMMV

The Proof barrels are definitely cool but better suited to bolt guns without a gas port. Accommodating the gas port keeps them from offering any significant weight savings over a hybrid contour stainless barrel. The Proof 16" intermediate gas carbon barrel you mentioned weighs 28oz. For comparison the stainless steel Stretch 16" intermediate gas barrel weighs 28oz. One of my favorite 16" barrels is the Criterion / ADM 4150 chrome lined hybrid contour, it weighs 30oz. Having owned all three of these barrels I can tell you they're all comparable in the accuracy department. I will concede the carbon brings significant cool factor to a build.

[deputyG23]

Ill throw my AR fudd 2 cents in. Colt 20" rifles, exactly correct ports, long barrel life, easy on bolts, less muzzle blasty, shoots like a 22, no messing with various buffers if you use a rifle butt stock and tube. More reliable than carbines of whatever type so far as I know. all Ive read indicates so, and the Colts Ive had have been more functionally reliable than the AKs Ive had and used, even more so than Mauser bolts that Ive had.
My ex-nuke plant security Colt Sporter Target from the early '90s is very smooth to shoot and easier on the senses blast wise than my 16" Armalite Defender. An A1 fixed stock would make it even better for my short arms.