Hi, I’ve decided to build my first AR, rather than to buy a complete rifle, and I’m struggling to decide on which barrel to get. I’ve decided to go with a lightweight (pencil) barrel, but I don’t know enough to make a final decision. The intended use for the rifle is HD/SHTF/plinking. From the little research I’ve been doing, I’ve come up with 3 possible options:
What I’m looking for is the best value when considering accuracy, durability, reliability, and accuracy retention(maintaining consistent MOA figures after barrel heats up).
They’re all priced somewhat similarly, so I don’t mind spending a bit more money if one particular barrel really outshines the other. I don’t plan on buying another barrel for many years, so I’d like to buy once and cry once. Any and all insight from personal experience and/or expertise on the subject is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Yea thanks. I considered that option, but a lot of people seemed to have mixed results with it. Some people had no issues, while others reported pretty bad POI shifts when the barrel got hot. Appreciate the input!
I’ve seen ppl say it on these forums and on ar15.com. One dude mentioned how his barrel went from 2" to 8" groups once the barrel got toasty. His barrel could be an outlier, but I havent seen anyone say the same thing about the 3 options mentioned above. I think BCM is more than solid, but I dont want to take any risks.
Personally, I like the LaRue Tactical PredatAR barrels when I want a lightweight type profile. I have one build with a 16" PredatAR barrel and another that I building with one now.
You want to eliminate risk but you are considering a Spikes barrel??? You want to eliminate risk but you are putting stock in AR15 opinions??? I cannot imagine a BCM barrel going from 2 moa to 8 moa if you heated it with a torch. Same for any barrel. Even if they would how would that affect your choice for a (in your words) HD/SHTF/plinking barrel?? HD/SHTF/plinking use doesn’t relate to doing mag dumps at the berm. I guess it might if the mall was being overrun by ZOMBIES.
Honestly, All three barrels would work just fine. The Spikes Optimum is an FN CHF barrel so I would have as much confidence with that than the other two. I would also look at BCM, Ballistic, Advantage, FN, and Colt as well.
FAXON… They make the lightest and best pencil barrel for the money.
I have one and do not get the POI shift when it heats up.
Faxon has addressed the problem of shots stringing with a manufacturing process, and because the barrel has less mass it literally cools down in two or three minutes.
