I have a Stag .223/5.56 AR with a 18 fluted free floating barrel. The twist is 1 to 8 requiring heavier bullets. I looking to put a 20 + in bull barrel on it with a 1 to 9 twist and no flash hider but a crowned muzzle. The current and intended barrel is and will be free floated. I've mad other mods to the gun as ind trigger and stock as my enjoyment is tight groups at 100 yds + and as a back up varmint gun to my bolt 22-250 . Looking for suggestions on barrel make to fit my needs . Thanks
AR Barrels
- Thread starter F4 plt
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I’ve heard great things about White Oak Armament, I got an 18” on order for a 223 Wylde I’m working on.
A 1:8 doesn’t require heavier bullets, but it will stabilize the heavier bullets.
I’d go with a 1:8 WOA or Rainier Ultramatch, or have compass lake spin up a bartlein with their chamber.
I’d go with a 1:8 WOA or Rainier Ultramatch, or have compass lake spin up a bartlein with their chamber.
Went to the range today with the AR at 100yds and shot groups with 45 grain bullets, 55 grain bullets 62 grain and 72 all the groups were more or less the same and not nearly as tight as I would like or the gun and me are capable of . Then it hit me I have a 10 power scope in this gun and the reticle is covering more than a finite point of aim which could explain the errors . I have higher power scopes on both my 6 mm Creedmoor and my 22-250 and do not have this issue. So I ordered a birthday present from me to me with all my love. A Nightforce ATA CR 4-16 42 mm scope which should eliminate a variable in producing good groups. The next step if needed would be a barrel
I would agree as to 10x being enough power if my purpose was hunting and or plinking , but my goal is to see how small a group I can produce with the rifle and to do this I must eliminate as many variables as possible. The first being to establish a precise aim point and a more powerful optic will allow this. Other variables that can then be eliminated is finding ammo ( bullet weight and velocity ) that is most comparable with the rifle. I should mention that trigger control and cheek pressure have already been made constant. Cheek pressure and eye position are a little more challenging when wearing ear muffs with an AR. Only after I have eliminated or reduced these variables will I focus on a new barrel if needed. I will never get the accuracy I could with a bolt gun but it is an enjoyable challenge
These type of targets will help line up your scope. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1014994791?pid=476195
I appreciate your comment the issue is at the lower power the reticle covers too large of an aim point. To put things in perspective I’m somewhat familiar with scope shooting as I use to shoot competitive three position rifle .... of course old eyes also like more power my mind is young but my body is 77 and sometimes feels much older
Yes I have used the targets you posted before . I do appreciate your comments thanks
Yes I have used the targets you posted before . I do appreciate your comments thanks
why is that ? I am seldom under 20x at 100 yards , and almost never under 50xs further out , at least after I am sure I am on target out to 500 yards . I like getting in as close as I can to see as much of the impacts as I can at what ever distance I shoot at , past 500 yards I do know I will need more to see tiny holes on paper on steel that is totally different I still like seeing the impacts compared to where I aim at with out the need of a spotting scope , but as long as I can clearly see my impacts why use less mag if its clear with higher . If I had so much mirage that the target became impossible to see then I could say use less mag , but so far that has not been a problem even in the heat we have had .
I have a WOA 18" SPR (1/8 & .223 Wylde) barrel that is a real tack driver. With proper match ammo (FGMM 77gr or sim.) It will shoot 1/2" groups all day. When I get mediocre groups 1.0-1.25" it's the bonehead behind the rifle.
The ONLY regret I have is not springing for the fluted version to shave a pound off the barrel. Love it...it's just not a lightweight.
Shooting tiny groups at 100 yards? Try Sierra 53 gr flat base. Boat tails aren’t as accurate and aren’t needed at 100 yards. If you don’t believe me, see what type of bullets are used for 100 yard bench rest competitions.
If you’re going to rebarrel, don’t skimp. Krieger Direct, CLE, Keystone, etc are where I’d be shopping. No one regrets buying the best.
If you’re going to rebarrel, don’t skimp. Krieger Direct, CLE, Keystone, etc are where I’d be shopping. No one regrets buying the best.
Don’t shoot what’s under the reticle shoot what’s around it. I once shot a steel target I couldn’t see in the dark with an Aimpoint that fully covered the target...because when the target was previously illuminated I noted it was equidistant between target stands that I could see. Put the dot between them, pulled the trigger.
WOA is a good economical choice. I just got one of their 1 in 12 twist 18" barrels to try out since all I have are 1 in 8 and 1 in 7.7 barrels. Took it out to the range last Friday and got the scope dialed in at 50 yards and shot fourteen 5 shot groups at 100 yards to break the barrel in. The barrel was pretty hot after shooting the groups in less than 40 minutes. LOL Used 40 grain Noslers, 55 grain Bergers, and 60 grain Hornadys. The barrel shot OK with groups ranging from a bit over 0.5" to a bit under 0.8". This twist rate is pretty limiting since it probably won't work with heavier bullets so the the 1 in 8 or 1 in 7.7 would be much better for all around shooting.
White Oak barrels are awesome. I "built" an AR precision rifle using a 24" barrel, match grade trigger, and using Federal Premium 77gr SMK...got groups in 1/2" at 100 yards.
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