I want to do an AR build with a flat top and no iron sights. Periodic predator hunting and don’t let my buddies AR shoot better than mine. I would like to keep weight down as much as possible while sacrificing as little accuracy as possible. Whose barrel would you use?
I would go with a Noveske. I have a homebuilt N-4. Bought all the Noveske parts minus the SWS rail. Barrels; Centurion, White Oak, but I love the N-4 barrel and the Afghan in 14.5. If $ is no object.
dunno, man… all we can do is give you a list of fancy barrels. you need to do some research and decide what loads you’ll be shooting, distances, what kind of profile you want… we can recommend short barrels, long barrels, SPR-style barrels, and we can tell you who makes a relatively accurate barrel for each… barrel twist rates, stainless vs CMV, cost…
it all factors in. you should start reading, and get back to us when you’ve got some things figured out.
This is probably the most important and most often offered piece of advice.
Ziptie
Another vote for NOVESKE!
Noveske.
It “stops jihad on contact.” 
Buy the Centurion barrel as Noveske seems to be on perpetual backorder.
Greetings,
One aspect that I feel is important is a barrel with a 1/7" Twist Rate. This will help to stabilize heavier bullets such as 75 grain. Check out Bravo Company USA. Anything they have will be a quality product.
Noveske for sure. If money is a bit of a concern, Kreiger or I just used a Denny’s Operator for my custom Recce but they’re tougher to get than Noveskes
all these votes for noveske- why?
Greetings,
Quality M4 barrels are sometimes hard to come by. If you can afford it, you may want to get the whole upper. It may or may not come with the BCG,(Bolt Carrier Group). If you can buy now, check with www.gunbroker.com. Search their website for Ar15 or M4 upper receivers. I know there were a few available a week or so back. You can certainly get a quality setup without having to spend all that money on Noveske!!! Good luck & GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!!!
my thoughts exactly. what’s wrong with SDI?
White Oak Armament 18" rifle gas SPR bbl (1x7), Noveske 18" SPR bbl (1x7), or a Sabre Defence 18" SPR (1x8). They all are fantastic barrels capable of extreme accuracy.
why rifle gas in the WOA?
Softer shooting and more reliable than the 18" middy.
Glad to see my barrel in your short list, Sabre Defence 18" SPR fluted 410SS. It took me awhile to find one in the price range I could work with. Found it on EE.
Does it require a standard rifle spring or would it work with a carbine spring and stock. I want to build a SPR type AR on one of my lowers.
Might be a silly question… But I’m just not sure.
softer shooting, but how is it more reliable? i erred on the side of more pressure and went with a middy for my WOA build, and softened it up with a NM 16 BCG and H buffer… shoots real smooth and cycles right. i suppose it probably amounts to about the same, in the end. but with more pressure to work with, you can subtract some weight to speed up the action if need be. otherwise, you’re opening up the gas port. that’s my thinking, anyway.
i’ve seen you also recommend mid-gas for 14.5s, and am thinking about trying it- have you ever seen problems with the shorter hang time being under pressured?
no, so long as you get the correct spring for whatever tube/buffer you get, it’ll cycle right. i have heard of people having some trouble getting rifle (20") barrels to cycle right with carbine buffer assemblies, and seen a few examples here somewhere- i guess it can be tricky to find the balance in some guns. over pressure, IIRC. but only with the 20s, as far as i can tell. rifle gas in a 18" barrel shouldn’t have over pressure issues.
Thanks…
Arming my self with knowledge for my future build.