Jump to content
Brian Enos's Forums... Maku mozo!

Stretch 16 barrel info please


Zmego

Recommended Posts

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

  • Replies 223
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted Images

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

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

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

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

  • 1 month later...

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

0D749DA5-1E29-4680-8B85-ADC8D9F86873_zps

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

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

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

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

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

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 by MarkCO
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

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 account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now



×
×
  • Create New...