FN 18" Hybrid Barrel

EZ Money · Nov 9, 2024

Does anyone have experience with one of these FN 18" barrels with a "hybrid" contour? I can't find any pics of just the barrel to see what the contour looks like, or any info on the barrel weight because they only sell the complete upper and complete rifle. If anyone has pics of the barrel and know the weight, please post it. I like this upper because I have a Zev wedge lock rail and I like it better than my Geissle rails. All the wedge lock rails Hodge, SOLGW M76, Tri Arc, Rosco, Zev, etc are made by Hodge or Zev, I don't remember which one. Molon posted good info on the Zev rail in one of his reviews. I also like that this upper has a pinned gas block, rifle length gas system, and Radian charging handle. I am thinking about buying one of these uppers but can't find much info on the barrel. I know not all FN barrels are created the same. Do you guys think this CHF CL 18" hybrid contour FN barrel is any good?

ut755ln · Nov 9, 2024

EZ Money said:
View attachment 8542567

Does anyone have experience with one of these FN 18" barrels with a "hybrid" contour? I can't find any pics of just the barrel to see what the contour looks like, or any info on the barrel weight because they only sell the complete upper and complete rifle. If anyone has pics of the barrel and know the weight, please post it. I like this upper because I have a Zev wedge lock rail and I like it better than my Geissle rails. All the wedge lock rails Hodge, SOLGW M76, Tri Arc, Rosco, Zev, etc are made by Hodge or Zev, I don't remember which one. Molon posted good info on the Zev rail in one of his reviews. I also like that this upper has a pinned gas block, rifle length gas system, and Radian charging handle. I am thinking about buying one of these uppers but can't find much info on the barrel. I know not all FN barrels are created the same. Do you guys think this CHF CL 18" hybrid contour FN barrel is any good?

I think that FN makes quality products overall. I would expect milspec accuracy or better out of the rifle. I have had good experience with FN CHF CL barrels, they are very durable and last a long time. I am going to link a video from an FN rep, effectively he says that the barrel is a heavier profile then their M4 to help accomplish the DMR role.

EZ Money · Nov 10, 2024

ut755ln said:
I think that FN makes quality products overall. I would expect milspec accuracy or better out of the rifle. I have had good experience with FN CHF CL barrels, they are very durable and last a long time. I am going to link a video from an FN rep, effectively he says that the barrel is a heavier profile then their M4 to help accomplish the DMR role.

Thank you

BCP · Nov 10, 2024

Could always get one of these just to give the idea of a chrome lined HBAR a try:

https://gunmagwarehouse.com/fn-sporting-ar-15-18-rifle-length-gas-223-remington-1-8-chf-barrel.html

BTW this is the barrel that was on their 3gun sporting 18" DMR whatever the fuck they called it a couple years back and they shot 3/4-1MOA.

tekmann2377 · Nov 10, 2024

That is an amazing deal! I have a Palmetto PA-10 which came with a hybrid contour 18" rifle gas 308 barrel, and it is a soft-shooting and fairly accurate barrel for being a duty-grade CHF/CL barrel. No complaints here.

I don't think it will be as accurate as a premium hand lapped stainless barrel, but I doubt it only shoot a piece plate size group either.

sparky702 · Nov 11, 2024

never mind

tekmann2377 · Jun 23, 2025

I had bought a few of these barrels back in Dec. 2024. I finally screwed one on to shoot.

Some quick feedback. They were packaged like crap, and were basically thrown it a box with some of them at plastic sleeve on them. They incredibly were not damaged besides a few cosmetic nicks/dings.

The machine work looks good, and the profile is indeed a very nice pseudo-SPR hybrid profile. Lighter than a true HBAR. The gas port was not too large, and was soft-shooting with a suppressor.

In terms of accuracy, it shot in the ~1-1.25 inch range for multiple 100 yd, 5 shot groups, with my bulk 55 gr Hornady SP reloads using mixed brass and H335. Not disappointed with this.

Jsp556 · Jun 23, 2025

That 223 chamber though.

diggler1833 · Jun 24, 2025

tekmann2377 said:
In terms of accuracy, it shot in the ~1-1.25 inch range for multiple 100 yd, 5 shot groups, with my bulk 55 gr Hornady SP reloads using mixed brass and H335. Not disappointed with this.

This is also my experience with the FN DMR II that I have in regards to accuracy. It isn't difficult to get it to shoot 1.25 MOA as it will do that with just about any quasi-controlled handload and decent factory ammo.

I was at one point going to start load development for the 77gr SMK in mine, but it shoots to that 1.25 MOA mark with factory 64gr (discontinued) Speer Gold Dot ammo. That is more than sufficient for me to kill stuff to 250 yards, and that is all I ask out of my rifle.

tekmann2377 · Jun 24, 2025

Exactly my thoughts. Given it is CHF/chrome-lined barrel, I have zero complaints with that accuracy, and I am sure it could be optimized if I tried. But I am not sure I care. I will shoot some of my bulk long range loads (75 BTHP over 22.6 gr H4895) and see how it does.

Thus far it has been more accurate than other cheap barrels I have, and very close to much more expensive ones. It is better than my Odin Works, and very close to my Centurion 18".

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