Alright, now that I’m in the market for a new barrel, any suggestions? I know everyone has their preferences, so here is your chance to say it.
I want to build this gun for tactical coyote hunting. (yes I said it, you never know when you’ll be laid up waiting for a dog and a goddam zombie pops out of the bush next to you).
So I’m thinking a 20" barrel. Whats the preferred twist? 1:9? 1:7?
Probably a fluted barrel? what about this dimpled barrel propoganda?
I also read somewhere that chrome lined yields more accuracy? I find this hard to believe, considering that bushmaster chrome lines their barrels (if BM does it, it can’t be all that great).
Whats the preffered brand? I’ve been looking at Noveski stuff but it seems like I’ll be collecting social security before their s*** comes off of back order.
Call Noveske directly. They will likely work with you if they can. If they have the parts or means…
From my personal experience I know they “don’t take back orders” for complete uppers or rifles… I went to order a complete upper and they had just sold out the day before… However, I asked very nicely and was told they would see what they could do about getting one put together (this was 10:00 am). They ended up building one that very morning and I ordered the complete upper at noon the same day. I had it in my grubby little mitts two days later!
They are GREAT to work with, and their product ROCKS!
Last time I checked, rainierarms.com had every SS Noveske barrel they normally carry in stock. check pkfirearms.com has stock too. It’s tough to go wrong with a Noveske SS barrel for precision shooting.
I’m no expert, as I’m pretty new here myself. But everything I’ve been reading up on pretty much applies here.
Stainless barrels will probably get you better accuracy (on average), though high quality chrome lined barrels will still probably be more accurate than you ability to shoot them anyway.
That said, Noveske stainless barrels seem to be the choice du jour. And they make great products.
However, you should also consider Centurion Arms MK12 barrels. They’re in about the same price class, though I don’t know much about their availability as Monty’s day job is a bit more demanding than his (excellent) gun business.
If you’re not willing to go to that expense, I’ve yet to hear anyone say anything bad about the Sabre Defense fluted SS offerings (PK firearms has the 16 and the 24 for $279/$289, and Ranier sells 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 for a bit more).
BCM also has a line of stainless barrels.
Moving down from there, I don’t see why you can’t use a good chrome-lined barrel from BCM, Centurion, or DD. All should serve you just as well.
Are you fixed on 20"? A lot of guys I’ve read have said that the extra mobility gained by shortening from 20" to 18" is a far better gain than whatever negligible loss of accuracy you see.
Of course, I could be wrong. This is just was my research has turned up as I’ve kicked around choices for months.
I have been thinking about another upper myself. Here is what I have come up with in my research.
1 in 9 is questionable with some of the heavier bullets. So I assume I am looking for a 1 in 7. If you want to shoot 55gr-64gr then the 1 in 9 is probably better for you. I have been slowly working toward the 62gr-77gr.
Most people can not tell the difference in accuracy between Stainless and standard steel. I think some people can tell a difference between chrome lined and non-chrome lined (chrome lined being less accurate). I don’t know if I am good enough to tell the difference.
I have been told that there is a difference between one manufacturer and another.
Shorter barrels are easier to move around inside a building/car and are better for balance when I add a suppressor, but longer barrels can reach out and touch someone.
I am not sure about the heavy barrel thing. I have an HBAR. I find it heavy and don’t lug it around in the woods. I have a 16 inch light barrel setup for SHTF. It is more lug able. I don’t shoot a lot of rapid fire. When I do it is up close so barrel heat up is really not something I am thinking about. I still don’t know about the military making the last 4 inches HB. Them changing the spec. under the hand guard sounds to me like they are just trying to cheapen the gun.
So, I think my next upper will be a stainless SPR, by Novaeski or BCM. It is a compromise, but…
I didn’t read all this but buy a Daniel Defense or Bravo Company cold hammer forged, or a standard Bravo Company. Really, it’s easy, no thinking.
I asked my mechanic years ago about auto tires he said I buy Michelin because I don’t want to have to think about it.
Concerning ARs, I’ve always bought Colt, based on the same philosophy. Now, component wise, I’ve fallen in lock step with this forum’s philosophy; buy DD or BCM, maybe Colt, if you find one, if at a fair price.
In my past experience I have noticed that 1/9 actually works better on a 20" than 1/7. It is the oposite on shorter barrels of course. a 62-77gr will do just fine on a 20" 1/9 twist barrel.
Although, I can see the 1/9 twist 20" barrel doing better than a 1/9 twist 14.5" barrel, I don’t understand why a 1/7 twist 20" barrel wouldn’t do just as well.
Docgkr please correct me if I am wrong, but in reading up on reloading, I believe the problem is with rotational velocity. Basically the bullet can spin fast enough th over stabilize ano/or disintigrate if flight.
There is a 1:8 twist used on mstn’s mk12 upper. This is supposed to do great with most available .223 projectiles. Again, don’t quote me unless someone more knowledgeable than I speaks up.
I dont know exatcly why that is and I dont have the numbers to prove it. Most knowledgeable gun owners know this for a fact. I think it has something to do with “over” spinning or “over stabilizing” the bullet on a 1/7 20" long barrel. In other words a 16" barrel with a 1/7 twist spins the bullet just enough to do the job. if you extend that barrel then the bullet spins a lot more, loosing its energy and actually negatively affecting its accuracy, thats why most long barrels have a lesser twist, gives you just the right balance. I dont know if you understand what I am saying, but if you want you can do some more research on this and pull up some numbers. Who knows, technology advances every day, for all I know things may have changed and now they are making 1/7 20" barrels that are as efficient as a 1/9 20" barrel. Well, let me know if you find something different.