I’ve built three 18” SPR/DMR type rifles in the past, and found them to be absolutely joyful to shoot, (smooth recoil impulse, accurate) but a bit impractical in regards to maneuvering around the house with a suppressor attached (SOCOM RC2). Un-suppressed the 18” barrel is manageable indoors, but I would like to keep the suppressor on for obvious reasons. I’m thinking about building a 16” “do all” rifle to avoid NFA paperwork, and avoid the P&W game. After doing a bit of searching, I’ve narrowed my choices to these two barrels: (1) 16” mid-length Centurion Recce, and (2) White Oak 16” fluted SDM mid-length. Does anybody have personal experience with either barrel? If so, what are your overall impressions on accuracy/performance, fit/finish, durability, and gassing (is the barrel over gassed?).
Had a Centurion Recce barrel, and as expected it’s a laser. It’s a bit heavy for a “do all” build. The only issue I ever had with it was some BH 52gr match ammo was sticky in the chamber if trying to extract a live round/unload.
I love the tongue/groove gas block design they do now to index with the barrel. Centurion’s have always had a good, tight (sometimes annoyingly tight) gas block fits. They do tend to generously gas though with the 16" middy at 0.078-0.079 IIRC…it runs a little gassy/hard with an H2 buffer and blue Springco.
Compass Lake Engineering has their 16.1" RECON barrels. I have one on a RECCE type build I did a few years ago. I went with their Douglas barrel in polished stainless. Excellent barrel.
https://compasslake.com/product-category-hide/barrels/recon-barrel/
Thanks for the feedback. The heavier weight doesn’t bother me, in fact I prefer heavy profile barrels. They aren’t in stock, so I signed up to be notified when they are available again.
Did you go with the CLE or Wylde chamber on your barrel?
Are you committed to one of the two barrels you have mentioned, or are you open to other barrel suggestions if they meet the needs of the rifle? I have no experience with White Oak barrels but have experience with several of the Centurion CHF barrels, though not the Recce barrel.
Wylde chamber, 1/8 twist, mid-length gas system. I also opted for the CLE low profile stainless gas block, stainless gas tube, and Match bolt (inside a WMD NiB-X M16 Bolt Carrier ).
How do you like the barrel? What kind of accuracy are you getting from it? Do you ever run it suppressed, if so is it over gassed?