blacklab Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 I know this is a common question, but I put together a new rifle for 3 gun this year and I'm not real happy with my barrel choice. So if you were building a new rifle what brand of 18" barrel would you go with for anything from 25 to 500 yards using 55gr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecn515 Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 I have and have had many barrels over the years. It real depends on what you're trying to achieve with your build aside from just accuracy, as most barrels are capable of great accuracy anymore. Are you trying to build on a budget or are you more concerned with weight? Seekins Precision makes a killer barrel at a great price, but they are heavy. Proof Research barrels are stellar, very light and accurate. On the other side they are crazy spendy and have extremely tight tolerances in the chamber so they require special attention. Criterion make a good barrel that won't break your bank and is medium weight.Pretty good middle of the road option. Personally I would recommend a JP supermatch barrel in the ultra light profile. They are very light and also very accurate while only being slightly more expensive than some other options and come with a bolt headspaced for them. I've seen all the barrels that I mentioned produce 1/2 MOA groups religiously for what it's worth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacklab Posted March 22, 2018 Author Share Posted March 22, 2018 I guess I should be a little more specific. The barrel I have doesn't do well past 300yds. What is a good brand to go with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 Sounds, to me, like ECN answered your question ... He recommends the JP supermatch in ultra light profile - light and Very Accurate. AND, all the barrels he mentioned "produce 1/2 MOA groups". What did he miss ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacklab Posted March 22, 2018 Author Share Posted March 22, 2018 3 hours ago, Hi-Power Jack said: Sounds, to me, like ECN answered your question ... He recommends the JP supermatch in ultra light profile - light and Very Accurate. AND, all the barrels he mentioned "produce 1/2 MOA groups". What did he miss ? I'm not looking for a light barrel, I like a heavier barrel. Just wondering what brand everyone else is using. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garmil Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 I just picked up a Larue Stealth. Heavy but a great reputation for accuracy and longevity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chip3 Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 "I guess I should be a little more specific. The barrel I have doesn't do well past 300yds. What is a good brand to go with." What barrel do you currently have and what type of accuracy are you able to produce with it? What features do you want in your new barrel and what are you willing to pay for them? Just went through trying to find a better barrel and picked up a Criterion. Will know next week if it is any better than the faxon that was on the gun. JP, Seekins, Criterion, Larue mentioned above all have pretty good reputations and all make a couple of profiles. Last year everyone raved about the Stretch 16(which doesn't meet your 18" criteria but with intermediate gas is supposedly pretty nice) If you want to spend some money; proof research, kreiger, bartlein supposedly make nice barrels. Green mountain. ar performance, ballistic advantage, and faxon barrels are all supposedly okay and reasonably priced. I do not have a lot of experience with different brands of barrels so when going with criterion I appreciated that it sounded like they stood behind their product and offered straight forward information about their barrels. I went with the 1518S-HY12-N as it hit the features I wanted. I'll post back how it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecn515 Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 "Doesn't do well past 300yds." That's a multifacated statement. What ammo are you using? Have you tried other (heavier) ammo? What is your current twist rate? I would recommend that whatever you get you get it chambered in .223 Wylde with a 1/8 twist rate. That way you can run a large range of ammo light and heavy and still get good performance from it all. For what it's worth, JP makes all sorts of different barrel profiles to satisfy different shooters preferences and needs. I've found the ultra light profile to be perfectly adequate for my applications and I prefer the reduced weight out front, but you can get something heaver as well. It's also not just JP that does that, most manufactures offer lots of different profile options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacklab Posted March 22, 2018 Author Share Posted March 22, 2018 4 hours ago, ecn515 said: "Doesn't do well past 300yds." That's a multifacated statement. What ammo are you using? Have you tried other (heavier) ammo? What is your current twist rate? I would recommend that whatever you get you get it chambered in .223 Wylde with a 1/8 twist rate. That way you can run a large range of ammo light and heavy and still get good performance from it all. For what it's worth, JP makes all sorts of different barrel profiles to satisfy different shooters preferences and needs. I've found the ultra light profile to be perfectly adequate for my applications and I prefer the reduced weight out front, but you can get something heaver as well. It's also not just JP that does that, most manufactures offer lots of different profile options. Thanks for the input. Its a 1/8 Wylde but nothing works through it as good as my other guns. I tried a different manufacture for the barrel on this rifle assuming It would be better then my last build and just am not happy with it. So before I drop another $350 on a barrel I thought I would get some other peoples opinions first Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacklab Posted March 22, 2018 Author Share Posted March 22, 2018 7 hours ago, Garmil said: I just picked up a Larue Stealth. Heavy but a great reputation for accuracy and longevity. Thanks, I'll look into them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old3GNR Posted March 23, 2018 Share Posted March 23, 2018 I just rebarreled my JP with a 20" Krieger 7.7 twist which was headspaced for a JP bolt from Brownells. It has a tight 223 chamber. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12glocks Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 It could be 55 grain ammo is not doing well past 300. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EliteGuard Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 (edited) I have a 18" JP 1/8 twist medium contour barrel with a matching bolt that I have no problem hitting targets with at 300 yards. I switch to a 69 grain past that. I also have a 20" Krieger 7.7 twist with a matching bolt that doesn't do as good of a job with 55 grain as the JP, but it easily wins when using 69 grain. You could also try different 55 grain ammo or a heavier bullet. The JP barrel I have produces smaller groups with Wolf Gold than PMC for example. I have only experiment with different bullet weights on the Krieger. Edit: Fixed 300 yards being 30 yards. Edited March 27, 2018 by EliteGuard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fallout556 Posted March 27, 2018 Share Posted March 27, 2018 On 3/22/2018 at 12:37 PM, Chip3 said: "Just went through trying to find a better barrel and picked up a Criterion. Will know next week if it is any better than the faxon that was on the gun." Chip3, I'm really interested in how this works for you. I'm looking at getting a Criterion Barrel from Compass Lake Engineering in their custom competition chamber. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted March 27, 2018 Share Posted March 27, 2018 13 hours ago, EliteGuard said: no problem hitting targets 30 yards. Few of us do .... I presume you mean 300 yards ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EliteGuard Posted March 27, 2018 Share Posted March 27, 2018 6 hours ago, Hi-Power Jack said: Few of us do .... I presume you mean 300 yards ? Yes, 300 yards. At 30 yards I hope you have no problem hitting the target with a rifle. Can always pull out your pistol at 30 yards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Screaminyz Posted March 27, 2018 Share Posted March 27, 2018 I bought a AR Performance barrel not to long ago because a few guys on here that know there stuff recommended them. I haven’t shot it yet but it is extremely well made and their prices are great. They offer a few profiles that would meet your needs and are 223 Wylde chambered, 5R or 3R rifled. This one looks perfect for what you want to do. Look under 5.56/223 and you will find it towards the bottom. 18" 223 Wylde 5R SPR 3 Gun barrel, 1/2-28 THD http://ar15performance.com Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NateTSU Posted March 27, 2018 Share Posted March 27, 2018 (edited) http://ar15performance.com does make great barrels especially if you are looking for something besides a 223 for your ar. I went with a 18" Nordic and am very happy with it, it likes everyhing from light weight varmint bullets to 77gr SMK's. Edited March 27, 2018 by NateTSU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lhelliott Posted March 27, 2018 Share Posted March 27, 2018 I have a Noveske 14.5" barrel that I love. I have only shot it 300 yards but I hit 10" with ease at that range using factory ammo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clint U66 Posted April 2, 2018 Share Posted April 2, 2018 JP 18" Medium Contour with Black Hills 77gr. TMKs is a great combo for once you hit 300 and out. I use 55 gr. bronze for everything 200 and in but switch to the TMK when you need to hit something AND move it or knock it over at distance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushmeat Posted April 2, 2018 Share Posted April 2, 2018 On 3/20/2018 at 11:49 PM, blacklab said: I know this is a common question, but I put together a new rifle for 3 gun this year and I'm not real happy with my barrel choice. So if you were building a new rifle what brand of 18" barrel would you go with for anything from 25 to 500 yards using 55gr. I have had Larue, Rock River and Stag 18" barrels and they all shot Hornady 55fmj sub-moa but only to 200 yards. If the OP holds to his stipulation of 55gr to 500 yards then he has to use Nosler 55BTs and drive them hard. Otherwise, I don't think there's an off the shelf barrel out there that will do it. As others have mentioned, using 69s or 77s beyond 300 yards is reasonable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacklab Posted April 3, 2018 Author Share Posted April 3, 2018 23 hours ago, Clint U66 said: JP 18" Medium Contour with Black Hills 77gr. TMKs is a great combo for once you hit 300 and out. I use 55 gr. bronze for everything 200 and in but switch to the TMK when you need to hit something AND move it or knock it over at distance. Clint, how does switching from 77gr to 55gr work. I have my rifle set @ 50/200 and my hash marks on my optic are for 55gr. How much difference is there between the 0. If I load some 77gr and 0 @ 200 about how far off would that put me at 50yds with 55gr? I keep one load for one rifle. I never tried to have 2 different loads for the same rifle to use from 25 to 500yds in the same match. Then again i never thought of using 2 different loads in the same match. I this a common practice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MemphisMechanic Posted April 3, 2018 Share Posted April 3, 2018 @blacklab I know a couple guys who use walmart-grade factory ammo - or the reloaded bulk equivalent - for the stuff inside 100 yards. They switch to pet handloads when distances stretch out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennP Posted April 3, 2018 Share Posted April 3, 2018 (edited) I use a White Oak 18" SPR fluted barrel, which is 1-8 twist and 223 wylde chamber. It's ~2.3 pounds. I like it a lot. It's not the lightest offering but it's still quite light. Shoots real well, and after mag dumping and shooting a group, it lands in the same place as a cold bore group. To me that's equally as important as accuracy (We're not bench shooting at matches!) as I don't want to have to remember multiple holds. I chose this originally over the JP as I have heard of their tight chambers sometimes being picky with reloads. I put function over every last .001" of accuracy as far as importance; chose the White Oak and haven't looked back. Edited April 3, 2018 by GlennP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecn515 Posted April 3, 2018 Share Posted April 3, 2018 As has been discussed I make the switch between 55gr and 77gr TMK's as need be. I zero for my 77gr's and just know where my 55's hit in relation to that (which is only about 1/2'' difference) I only really shoot my 55's to 150-200 tops past that and sometimes earlier than that I switch over to my 77's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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