Anyone using a Criterion HBAR Barrel?

Slim · Jan 25, 2019

Anyone using a Criterion HBAR Barrel? - Update: I ordered one

Anyone using a Criterion HBAR Barrel?

Eyeing this one: https://criterionbarrels.com/products/ar-15/ar-15-hbar-contour-barrel/

I saw Clandestine recommend them, and a few others mention that they’re good barrels, but haven’t seen a lot of reviews specific to the HBAR. Outside of MD, it seems, most shooters are going to various lightweight/mid-weight/hybrid profiles.

Any firsthand experience, particularly with the 16” HBAR?

PoPo3 · Jan 27, 2019

Can’t say anything about that exact barrel, but my buddy has an 18” .308 barrel from criterion that he likes.

Slim · Jan 28, 2019

PoPo3 said:
Can’t say anything about that exact barrel, but my buddy has an 18” .308 barrel from criterion that he likes.

Good to hear, thanks!

Anyone? Bueller?

KYtoMD · Jan 28, 2019

Slim said:
Anyone using a Criterion HBAR Barrel?

Eyeing this one: https://criterionbarrels.com/products/ar-15/ar-15-hbar-contour-barrel/

I saw Clandestine recommend them, and a few others mention that they’re good barrels, but haven’t seen a lot of reviews specific to the HBAR. Outside of MD, it seems, most shooters are going to various lightweight/mid-weight/hybrid profiles.

Any firsthand experience, particularly with the 16” HBAR?

Their HBAR barrels should perform just as well as the other profiles. All of them are button-rifled and then hand-lapped for consistency.

IIRC HBAR Criterion barrels are pretty popular in high power competition.

River02 · Jan 28, 2019

Purchased the Criterion 16" HBAR in Apr. 2017 to do my first AR15 build. It's a tack driver. Specs below-- it is chambered in .223 Wylde.

Barrel, 16", AR, HBAR, 1x8, Chrome Lined, Match Quality, FA by Criterion

Barrel Type: THREADED MUZZLE
FA-AU-003-TM 1 $233.71 $233.71

It also comes stamped "HBAR" --- so you have that going for you as a MD resident...which is nice...

steves1911 · Jan 28, 2019

Never on an ar15 but have 3 of them on bolt guns. They are very popular on savage and remage builds. Rarely ever hear of one that wont shoot sub moa.

GottaEat · Jan 28, 2019

I broke mine in last Friday. Tried a bunch of different factory ammo. Wolf gold(personal cheap favorite)didn’t do as well as I have experienced with other barrels. Magtech otm77gr and AE 75gr stayed just over 1moa. AE 50gr a little over moa also. Had a sub moa Nosler 69gr group. First time using the Magtech and I think I need more. All five shot groups with a bipod.

babalou · Jan 28, 2019

A lot of rebuilt M1 rifles have Criterion barrels..

Melnic · Jan 28, 2019

I also saw that thread and got in a 16" HBAR mid length gas stainless.

Only been to the range twice with it.
So far its 1MOA after making a custom reload with 69SMK and doing an OCW on it.
I need more time on it for sure.

I have some 69gr Federal GMM to run in it next trip out.

alucard0822 · Jan 28, 2019

Built one of their mid-length 16" midweight sold under Midwest industries. It's a good solid barrel, one of the better "basic" chrome lined / Parkerized barrels made, fit tight in the upper, shot good groups. Have opted for melonited barrels from other companies in the last couple years, seems more resistant to rusting, supposed to last as long, but not quite as easy to clean.

Slim · Jan 29, 2019

River02 said:
Purchased the Criterion 16" HBAR in Apr. 2017 to do my first AR15 build. It's a tack driver. Specs below-- it is chambered in .223 Wylde.

Barrel, 16", AR, HBAR, 1x8, Chrome Lined, Match Quality, FA by Criterion

Barrel Type: THREADED MUZZLE
FA-AU-003-TM 1 $233.71 $233.71

It also comes stamped "HBAR" --- so you have that going for you as a MD resident...which is nice...

Excellent, that’s what want to hear. :thumbsup:

HBAR marking is a bonus.

Slim · Jan 29, 2019

GottaEat said:
I broke mine in last Friday. Tried a bunch of different factory ammo. Wolf gold(personal cheap favorite)didn’t do as well as I have experienced with other barrels. Magtech otm77gr and AE 75gr stayed just over 1moa. AE 50gr a little over moa also. Had a sub moa Nosler 69gr group. First time using the Magtech and I think I need more. All five shot groups with a bipod.

Thanks. I’d be hoping for barely-sub-MOA with quality 77gr ammo. Wolf Gold, MagTech, IMI, Federal Gold Medal 5.56 & .223 loads with the 77 SMK, etc.

Slim · Jan 29, 2019

babalou said:
A lot of rebuilt M1 rifles have Criterion barrels..

steves1911 said:
Never on an ar15 but have 3 of them on bolt guns. They are very popular on savage and remage builds. Rarely ever hear of one that wont shoot sub moa.

Thanks guys. When I’ve googled reviews, many of them are for Criterion’s M1, 1903, and bolt action barrels. They can obviously make some quality stuff.

Slim · Jan 29, 2019

Melnic said:
I also saw that thread and got in a 16" HBAR mid length gas stainless.

Only been to the range twice with it.
So far its 1MOA after making a custom reload with 69SMK and doing an OCW on it.
I need more time on it for sure.

I have some 69gr Federal GMM to run in it next trip out.

Cool. What optic are you using?

Slim · Jan 29, 2019

alucard0822 said:
Built one of their mid-length 16" midweight sold under Midwest industries. It's a good solid barrel, one of the better "basic" chrome lined / Parkerized barrels made, fit tight in the upper, shot good groups. Have opted for melonited barrels from other companies in the last couple years, seems more resistant to rusting, supposed to last as long, but not quite as easy to clean.

Good to hear. I’m ambivalent about chrome lined, stainless, melonite, whatever. This will be an accuracy build, shot in lower volume from the bench. A little time cleaning won’t kill me.

Melnic · Jan 29, 2019

Slim said:
Cool. What optic are you using?

A 3-9 Nikon I had. In the spring I plan to put some $ into better glass.

Slim · Jan 29, 2019

Melnic said:
A 3-9 Nikon I had. In the spring I plan to put some $ into better glass.

Gotcha. Since I mostly shoot at a 100yd range, I may start with one of the fixed-magnification SWFA Super Snipers. Maybe 16x42.

Melnic · Feb 28, 2019

Had the AR I swapped in the Criterion barrel and shot my reloads along with some Federal Gold Medal Match. Both shot consistently at 1moa. I did not have my rear bad so I’m happy with that. I’m sure the barrel could do better than that with better glass a rear bag and a better shooter.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Vile Shadow · Mar 1, 2019

I ordered the same barrel in mid-length for the next one I’m doin. Mine ain’t stamped, but that’s the least of my concerns. :innocent0

Cicirich · Mar 1, 2019

Sling Blade said:
I ordered the same barrel in mid-length for the next one I’m doin. Mine ain’t stamped, but that’s the least of my concerns.

How did you order from? I ordered one from OpticsPlanet and had to send it back. Lots of rust.

Anyone using a Criterion HBAR Barrel?

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