AR 15 build—need advice on barrel

fectin · Jan 5, 2016

Hey folks.

I went looking for an HBAR Barrel, 16 inches, fluted to minimize weight, and found the following. Anyone have any experience with the vendor, advice, or alternate options?

http://www.cobratacsystems.com/coll...iral-fluted-match-223-5-56?variant=3869859649

For what it's worth, it looks like they're a different company from the much-hated Cobra Tactical Systems.

smokey · Jan 5, 2016

White oak
http://www.whiteoakarmament.com/xcart/product.php?productid=17672&cat=312&page=3

Boom Boom · Jan 5, 2016

Call Engage Armament in Rockville. It's their specialty.

fectin · Jan 5, 2016

smokey0118 said:
White oak
http://www.whiteoakarmament.com/xcart/product.php?productid=17672&cat=312&page=3

White Oak is a half-pound heavier and ~$180 more. Are they that much better?

Boom Boom · Jan 5, 2016

White Oak barrels are world class. You'd rather take a $200 chance on a clearance special from a different company you know nothing about? If there's one thing I wouldn't cheap out on, it's the barrel.

fectin · Jan 5, 2016

Boom Boom said:
White Oak barrels are world class. You'd rather take a $200 chance on a clearance special from a different company you know nothing about? If there's one thing I wouldn't cheap out on, it's the barrel.

It's not that I'd rather either, just that I'm ignorant of both.

iH8DemLibz · Jan 5, 2016

Midway USA has some nice DPMS barrels.

They have a 16 inch bead blasted 416 stainless steel HBAR for 229 I believe.

engineerbrian · Jan 5, 2016

fectin said:
White Oak is a half-pound heavier and ~$180 more. Are they that much better?

I was going to start a thread asking the same thing.

I know WO has a great reputation, but for the average joe that shoots out to 100 yards on a regular basis and 300 yards here and there, is there really much difference?

Vile Shadow · Jan 5, 2016

Boom Boom said:
White Oak barrels are world class. You'd rather take a $200 chance on a clearance special from a different company you know nothing about? If there's one thing I wouldn't cheap out on, it's the barrel.

Or the BCG.

outrider58 · Jan 5, 2016

I'll throw this in. I've used some of their barrels. They shoot really well for the money.

http://www.shop.dezarms.com/category.sc?categoryId=27

Boom Boom · Jan 5, 2016

Sling Blade said:
Or the BCG.

Indeed. For me, those come from BCM.

DaemonAssassin · Jan 5, 2016

This is really going to put a monkey wrench into everything. One word: SHILEN.

I have a 20' Shilen SS 1:8 223 Wylde HBAR on my precision build. It came with a matched bolt. It is married to an Engage Armament E4 billet upper/lower set with a NM bolt carrier, Rainer Arms Raptor charging handle, 14" Engage branded Fortis REV rail, Magpul UBR, RRA NM LPK, and some other random things.

So far, I nailed a 400 yard headshot on a coyote with it.

http://www.mdshooters.com/showpost.php?p=3200278&postcount=223

amoebicmagician · Jan 6, 2016

Go with Faxon, and whatever you get, make sure it's nitrided or chromed

Oh, and while Shilen barrels are BALLS expensive, they are world class. The whole reason I even fell in love with nitriding was a friend getting his Shilen barrel processed to double it's accurate barrel life.

Xshot · Jan 6, 2016

Rainier Arms Ultra Match barrels are rebranded Shilens at a good price. Getting ready to grab one shortly myself actually.

clandestine · Jan 6, 2016

fectin said:
Hey folks.

I went looking for an HBAR Barrel, 16 inches, fluted to minimize weight, and found the following. Anyone have any experience with the vendor, advice, or alternate options?

http://www.cobratacsystems.com/coll...iral-fluted-match-223-5-56?variant=3869859649

For what it's worth, it looks like they're a different company from the much-hated Cobra Tactical Systems.

No. Ill explain.

A Barrel that is Nitrided with the Barrel Extension installed during the process is likely to cause the Barrel to unscrew from the extension. Basically if the BBL extension is in the white and the barrel is black, it was done seperately. If they are the same color they were likely done together. Thats bad.

Hawkeye · Jan 6, 2016

clandestine said:
No. Ill explain.

A Barrel that is Nitrided with the Barrel Extension installed during the process is likely to cause the Barrel to unscrew from the extension. Basically if the BBL extension is in the white and the barrel is black, it was done seperately. If they are the same color they were likely done together. Thats bad.

What causes that?

DaemonAssassin · Jan 6, 2016

Xshot said:
Rainier Arms Ultra Match barrels are rebranded Shilens at a good price. Getting ready to grab one shortly myself actually.

My next precision barrel will be one of the Rainer Ultra Match barrels. I looked at them originally for my precision build, but decided against it, because they didn't have them in stock. Midway had my Shilen barrel in stock, so I went that route. Also being able to say it has a Shilen barrel is a huge bonus.

EDIT:
Do the Ultra Match barrels come with a matched headspaced bolt? If it does, then I'll probably order one ASAP, because that is a selling point for me.

DaemonAssassin · Jan 6, 2016

amoebicmagician said:
Go with Faxon, and whatever you get, make sure it's nitrided or chromed

Oh, and while Shilen barrels are BALLS expensive, they are world class. The whole reason I even fell in love with nitriding was a friend getting his Shilen barrel processed to double it's accurate barrel life.

Next Shilen I get, I'm going to look into getting it nitrided.

Xshot · Jan 6, 2016

Is a nitrided barrel better than a stainless?

clandestine · Jan 6, 2016

Hawkeye said:
What causes that?

I cant say with 100 percent certainty. The cases I have seen appear to be either corrosion from the process, OR the Barrel Extensions just coming loose which may be a result of the process when the items are assembled then treated.

This applies to Bolt Action Rifles that are nitrided with the Barrel Installed.

AR 15 build—need advice on barrel

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