How is the accuracy of this barrel compared to their chrome lined barrel?
mine was accurate pending your choice in ammo optics and trigger it can be very accurate they shoot well
If the Sionics barrel is anything like the Radical Firearms 16" Mid Length, 1:7 Twist, SOCOM Contour, QPQ Melonite barrel that I recently installed on a Recce build and fired, it should work just fine.
I have only zeroed it with irons @ 50 yards at this point. The optic (VORTEX VIPER PST1-4x24) will be in next week. I will really be able to dial it in then. So far, I am impressed.
The SIONICS midlength barrels are 1/8 twist. We have had really good results with them. The question is what do you want to do with your rifle/carbine? If you want to shoot NRA High Power matches this probably isn’t for you. If you want a good lightweight barrel that is minute of asshole and will last a long time, then it’s a good choice.
I recently used my upper build with the LW Melonite barrel in Ooctober at The Site Training Center in Illinois. I was able to consistently hit a 12" steel plate out to 600 yards using Carl Gustav SS109 (M855 variant) with a Leupold scope that I had never previously used.
An LE agency in GA was about to pull right around 1 MOA groups (5 shots) with their 11.5" SBR uppers and their duty ammo.
It sounds like it is getting very close to SS accuracy. For my next SPR type build, I am really tempted to go Sionics Melonite 16". It seems like a win win. More durable finish, and won’t lose the little accuracy that chrome lining does.
I’m in the same boat, but I’m leaning more towards an SBR with one of these some day. I really like the idea of good accuracy and long durability.
This is the best I managed on my first trip out getting things zeroed.
I think that’s 10 rds @ 50 yds using a 2 MOA Aimpoint monopod’ed on a mag. Ammo was Remington 77gr match. Plenty accurate for what I intend that upper to be used for.
From what I read, there are others that are much more capable shooters than me.
The OP asked for the melonite barrels, and if they are generally more accurate/precise than the chrome lined offerings, then they should be good-to-go.
I’m no highpower/benchrest shooter and/or competitor. Most of my shot groups for score are from the prone position with bulk factory ammo, and am pleased with the performance. I have produced these, and more like them at 300yds with a Patrol Zero upper, DD Omega 9.0, Aimpoint T1 4MOA, sling, and bulk factory ammo:
Walmart ZQI 62gr:
Walmart ZQI 62gr:
Typical XM193:
Again, those are from a chrome bore, and me behind the rifle. Other shooters will do better.
I like what I’m hearing about these barrels.
Will we see medium contour Melonite barrels available at some point? How about Melonite barreled uppers?
We actually did a run of Melonite medium contour barrels. I think we did some limited uppers a while back. These are all possibilities and I will mention it in out next meeting.
We actually did a run of Melonite medium contour barrels. I think we did some limited uppers a while back. These are all possibilities and I will mention it in out next meeting.
That would be awesome. It would be my choice for my SPR setup I am gonna build.
I’ve been eyeing the Sionics offerings for a coming build. I’d love to try the melonite, but would like it in a medium contour. Love the Geissele SGB so the the .750 boss is in order.
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Really surprised that melonite treatments aren’t in more vogue throughout the AR industry. Glock has more than enough trigger time on their melonited barrels by now to prove the technology, at least on pistol platforms. From an engineering standpoint, it offers a far more consistent result with less fuss, great lubricity, etc.
Picked up a Troy carbine recently, and am interested to see how its melonited barrel shoots. Having the rail RMA’d, though, and swapped for a different one–long story, but Troy is making it right with class & kindness–but I am really interested to get this thing zero’d and run a few groups.
Almost went for a Sionics upper instead, in part for the melonited barrel. Probably will on my next rifle.
You can’t compare a pistol barrel with a rifle barrel as there are some differences. As we have seen, if the barrel isn’t done correctly then the barrel extension can come loose.
Like if it is attached before or after treatment? Are your extensions also treated?
Have you found the melonite barrels to be more accurate over chrome-lined, in accordance with the theory that they are as accurate as stainless but as durable as chrome-lined? No doubt, though, it is proven chrome barrels can be very accurate when they are quality like Sionics, just curious if you have been able to form a conclusion from your experience or customer reports.
I think that you are putting too much emphasis on the wrong component, and you made the wrong decision in choosing the Troy carbine over several other manufacturers that also offer melonite barrels. YMMV.
As far as I’ve ever experienced, good barrels, with good ammo, aided by a good trigger, good optics, and good shooting skills produce good accuracy. If I am putting too much emphasis on the barrel, I guess I am a loss.
Once I run in the rifle, I’ll figure out quickly if I made a poor choice or not. From what I’ve seen of it thus far, it is tight and well made. How it looks and how it shoots can be two different things. Time will tell. A Sionics upper was almost bought instead, but at the time they were an unknown quantity to me. As you can tell by the Join Date & Post Count, Sionics may be well known around here, but I ain’t from here, as it were.
I, too, am curious about the melonite barrel + extension problem. I guess some search-fu is in order.
Had you done your research before you made you purchase, I think that you would have and should have made a different decision. My comment was in regard to you purchasing the Troy carbine, simply because it had a melonite barrel. That, in itself, is what made it the wrong decision, especially if “good” accuracy is what you are seeking. I truly wish you well with it, and hope that it is the exception to the norm.
What trigger came installed on your carbine? What ammo are you shooting, and what optic are you using?
I did a fair amount of research into the Troy carbine before I bought it, and the signal to noise ratio about their rifles was pretty intense. Some folks have a really hard time separating the company’s hiring practices from their products. From what I’d researched, whatever issues they had with their initial release of complete rifles were largely ironed out. Everything on mine appears well torqued, staked, etc. If I got a lemon, or Troys are picked from citrus fields, I’ll find out soon enough.
The purchase was not based on the melonited barrel, it was just coincidental that the Sionics uppers I was looking at and the Troy had melonite vs the traditional chrome lining. I found it surprising that I’d narrowed things down to two options, both of which departed from the cold-hammer forged, chrome lined standard. Given that this is my first melonited rifle, I’m curious how it shoots, and also curious how the Sionics middies perform, as I almost got one of those.
Once I get the upper back from the RMA’d rail, I’ll be zeroing the irons, then mounting an Aimpoint Pro. Probably run mostly 75g hornady for accuracy and 62g bulk for fun. Milspec trigger for now, but I have a few low weight springs laying around that I may put in if I’m feeling rambunctious. Geisselle GS2 or SSA eventually.
Anyway, methinks this is plenty of thread drift.