Zmego Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 I took the last year or so off from 3 gun. Now that I am getting back into the game I see a lot of discussion on the latest and greatest 16 stretch barrel. Can someone give me some info on what it is, why everyone is using them, and who has the best/most cost effective versions? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkCO Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 They are from http://www.strongsidetactical.com/ Precision 16" barrel with an intermediate gas system. So longer than mid and shorter than rifle. Excellent balance, accuracy on a par with the better 18" barrels and as soft as the 18" barrels. I don't think "everyone" is using them, but they are gaining in popularity for good reasons. I am testing one with Melonite and James is testing the first one I built up without. One of the benefits is a wider operating window than some others that are vying in this general area. In a precision barrel, I want soft, accurate, reliable and long life with the least amount of mass...works well for 3Gun too. This barrel has good marks in all of those areas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zmego Posted March 22, 2015 Author Share Posted March 22, 2015 Thank you sir! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccoker Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 I was out shooting mine for the 3rd time yesterday. I am digging it.. Shooting mainly 55g bulk ammo (Xl193 and Winchester "3 Gun" ammo) I was getting consistent hits out to 400 on 12" plates with a 1-5 scope (Steiner) Shooting SSA and IMI 77g OTM I was getting very tight groups at 100 and getting hits on 600. It's a good shooter and isn't heavy but isn't too light either. I got the fluted melonite version. I have had a bunch of good barrels and I think I will be sticking with this one for the forseeable future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpom Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Whick gas block are you running? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccoker Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 fixed with a JEC brake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Therealkoop Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Im liking mine. Accuracy is as good as anything else. IMO recoil is about the same if not slightly more than my nordic 18". I have a fluted unit and Ive shot it burning hot with no significant effects. I took it to 500 this weekend and I can safely say the accuracy at long range is limited by my skill and not the barrel at all. Pushing a 69g projectile at around 2770 fps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrocDowns Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 They sent me one to use and I love it, its accurate (way more than I am) soft shooter, this will be my go to barrel. It balances out well the weight isn't a lot, I've handled heavier and lighter barrels this one is right in the middle for me, I can sling it target to target fast and easy and the intermediate gas is nice (ships with non adjustable gas block and gas tube) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcs352 Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Did those of you who own/owned this barrel use the supplied non adjustable gas block with good results?.....or would you suggest an adjustable gas block? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkCO Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 I have used the supplied and the Carbon Arms block. The supplied one is a bit looser than I care for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbates Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 I like the barrel, its not the end all be all but it balances well, shoots really accurate. i am very happy. I found the carbon arms gas block to fit tighter and do a better job than the supplied one. I shot mine on Sunday out to 500yards, I;ve got the 75g hornadys lining up nicely with my reticle in the 1-6. here is the 500 yard plate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
louu Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Are they ever in stock? How do I get one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkCO Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 They are supposed to come back in stock soon. Guess I should have kept these secret. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullittmcqueen Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Are they ever in stock? How do I get one? Lew is working on getting a batch in stock. Demand has been higher than he expected. Give him a call, he may be able to put you in line for one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moose76 Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 Back in stock! http://www.strongsidetactical.com/stretch-16-precision-ar15-barrel-assembly-sniper-grey-cerakote-16-223-wylde-intermediate-length-gas/?page_context=category&faceted_search=0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlightning Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Which barrel will be more durable? Melonite or Cerakote? Any long term issue(s)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkCO Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Which barrel will be more durable? Melonite or Cerakote? Any long term issue(s)? Cerakote is just an exterior coating and has no impact on the bore. Melonite is a surface treatment that should result in a longer lifespan. I have one that is a few months old with almost 9K rounds on it and I will be doing the final accuracy test on it today before I send it back to SST. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MickB Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Mark, please let us know the results... Mick Which barrel will be more durable? Melonite or Cerakote? Any long term issue(s)? Cerakote is just an exterior coating and has no impact on the bore. Melonite is a surface treatment that should result in a longer lifespan. I have one that is a few months old with almost 9K rounds on it and I will be doing the final accuracy test on it today before I send it back to SST. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkCO Posted June 20, 2015 Share Posted June 20, 2015 I got one of the first Melonited Stretch16 barrels and put it into a loaner/stage/abuse it AR15. It has had a high of 2800 rounds through it in a 6 hour period of time on stages and I was able to run 198 rounds through it in 60 seconds one time as well. When I first built it, I shot 2 5-shot 100 rounds groups. It printed a 0.68" group with Black Hills 52 grain Match and a 0.87" group with Asym 77 grain Match. Today, with all the abuse and 9800 rounds on it, I again shot 2 5-shot groups. With the BH 52grain Match it printed 0.90" and with the Asym 77grain Match it printed 0.85". This is with a Burris 1-4 MTAC in a Warne XSkel mount. Given the variables of shooting outside with wind and an optic on 4x, sub-MOA is pretty good and almost 10K rounds has not resulted in any significant increase in group size. My best 5 shot group with the MTAC 1-4 is just at 0.6" and my average is about 0.9" with worst and no called issues is about 1.1". So all of those groups fall in that range, Unfortunately, this was a loaner and it is going back to SST on Monday, so no end of life on this specific barrel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
louu Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Thanks Mark I'm sold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkCO Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 So yesterday, I dropped off the ~9700 round barrel to Lew from Strong-Side Tactical. I had never cleaned it and even the nooks and crannies in the chamber that get gunked up were remarkably clean. The bore looks pristine (also never cleaned) after almost 10K rounds and still held under 1MOA with 4x magnification. I got a new one and it is already back together with all the same parts. A precision barrel just should not be able to take this kind of abuse and still deliver a level of performance that most barrels can not achieve on their best day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmiller Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Do you credit the longevity to the melonite? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkCO Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 (edited) Do you credit the longevity to the melonite? Thanks Yes. I have shot enough barrels of various kinds to be able to see what is going on in terms of erosion of the throat, crown and bore. If you were to stick this in an Ultrasonic for a few hours, I guarantee it could be sold as "near-new" and no one would be able to tell it had been beat an abused. The bore is literally pristine. BTW, even though he got some more in, he only had 3 fluted Melonite left. A great hand-lapped barrel...adding Melonite takes great to amazing in my book. Edited June 23, 2015 by MarkCO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonKC Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Long time lurker and reader of this forum. I purchased this barrel today based on the great reviews it has gotten. Really excited to see what it can do! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJW Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 A great hand-lapped barrel...adding Melonite takes great to amazing in my book. Given the gas port size, I am pretty sure you aren't running an adjustable gas block on any of your Stretch-16 equipped toys. Are you using a low mass BCG and/or reduced springs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now