AR-15 .223 Barrel choices

[Ledzep]

I've been out of the AR-15 building game for a while. I've been shooting a 10.5" SBR for the past several years, and a couple cheapo 16 inchers before that. I'm looking to shift my focus a little more towards the precision side of things.

Aiming for 16-18" range, midlength or rifle length (longer is better, IMO), will be running adjustable gas and probably just an A2 cage. Going for sub MOA, sub 3/4 if I can. Would prefer not to go with too heavy of a profile.

Kind of looking in the $300-350 or less range (may be a little flexible, but this is on a budget). Right now eyeballing the Compass Lake Douglas SPR, but would like to hear others' opinions because I'm going off of a couple google searches and still feel like I'm flying blind.

 

[Strykervet]

I have a 16" Lilja, I think it's actually closer to 17". It's the navy profile, supposedly the one used in the recce rifle or "sniper M4" as it's called. Chamber in .223 Wylde I believe. They make quality barrels and I hear these are very good but I haven't shot this one yet to be honest, it's been in the safe for a while now. The profile is probably what you are looking for, navy chose it to be solid but not overweight. Also figured if the navy was willing to test a hundred barrels for accuracy and wear and tear, I may as well benefit from the fruits of their labor.

I'm sure they have something like this in 20" or even longer if you asked. In fact, most of these barrel makers will offer barrels for the AR in a multitude of contours and chamberings. You can even get blank and have it cut elsewhere.

Satern cut rifle barrels are phenomenal, but unless he has some ready for sale that will work for you, what you want, best go elsewhere. Custom ordering can take from a few years to never. I had to give up on him. But if he has any in stock and they are cut rifle and chambered how you want, I'd get that. My 6.5G 20" Satern bbl.'d rifle is the only one that consistently groups .33MOA with the proper handload, my best barrel and rifle by far.

Then there are others, Krieger especially comes to mind. I prefer cut rifle barrels but the Lilja is supposed to be one of the higher end button rifle barrels and while they aren't cheap, they aren't the price of a quality cut rifle barrel either.

The Wylde chamber is a good pick too if available; it gives you the best of both worlds regarding .223 vs. 5.56 chambers. I generally like 1/7 twist for 62 and 77 grain but know that those Lilja navy barrels are 1/8, it's how the navy wanted 'em and they'll be firing the same bullets.

Noveske also makes a good, solid barrel and it's what I used in most of my SBR's. They also come with a bolt and gas block pinned on. No need for adj. gas block if it's made right, been using AR's for decades now and never had one that needed it. A JP carrier IMO helps with reliability, slick as goose shit without lube, they really work. For a 5.56 with that Lilja barrel or other carbine gas and a collapsible stock, a regular M4 buffer is what's recommended. Or standard A5 or fixed if you go that way.

Sure others will have their recommendations for their favorite barrels, and it'll be hard to go wrong from the A listers.

 

[Pusher591]

Grab you a Criterion Arms 16-18” blank from Compass Lake Engineering, chambered in their CLE match chamber. Thank me later

http://www.compasslake.com/index.ph...ducts_id=378&zenid=nk2mipvuekcrlp6qhc3dtn1ig3

 

[Codiekfx400]

Keystone accuracy has Krieger barrels for a fair price if you want to look there.

 

[Eustice]

White Oak Armament (WOA) makes some great barrels and they’re under the price you’re looking for. I’ve had great groups out of the 18” 1:7 SPR barrel I got from them.

 

[schlaiek]

I ordered a White Oak SPR barrel from Brownells a few weeks ago. It was a pretty unexpected experience - the diameter of the barrel at the gas block was .761". I've never put together an AR with a part so out of spec. Brownells of course took care of me, but I deferred on their offer to send me a replacement and ordered a 20" Krieger from Compass Lake. I'm not inferring that White Oak makes junk, just my sample size of one was HUGELY out of spec. I could have had my Dad turn down the barrel, but I'm not happy with the idea of that sorta of fitment issues with a brand new barrel.

 

[Ledzep]

Thanks for the replies and input guys. I've heard spotty reviews of WOA as of late and I have the kind of luck that finds the screw ups so they've been kind of off the table. The Bartleins and Kriegers were kind of out of the budget for this. I'm not trying to win matches, just poke at steel, coyotes, and Pdogs with better than normal precision.

I got really close to ordering the CLE criterion, I looked around and saw nothing but great reviews. However, while I was looking on Midway to order some other miscelaneous stuff I decided to check for barrels and found a Seekins Precision 16" 1:8 twist 5r barrel. After some digging it looks like they use Rock Creek button blanks, which are a known quality to me (used them before with great success on bolt guns). I also asked around at work and had a couple guys tell me they're great shooters (complete uppers/rifles anyway). So it was $280 and I just tacked it onto my order. Going to give 73gr ELDM's a try and see what I can come up with using CFE223 or maybe something a little more temp stable...

 

[Potss]

Pusher591 has the right advice. CLE or Craddock to fit your budget.