what is the hides opinion on ballistic advantage barrels

[Sky Blue Authentic Hornet]

I've built dozens of uppers using ballistic advantage barrels all 223 wylde or 5.55, well one .308. All have been pretty good, every (about 6)18 SPR stainless barrel upper I've built has shot lights out. I've had some 16s that were just ok, one 223 wylde 16 that could group for sheer. The 10-14.5 i really didn't try to test accuracy much since they were just short blaster builds.

The last 5 or so I paired with BKF mod 0 thermal fit uppers, freezing the barrel overnight and heating the upper is definitely required, very tight fit.

 

[TonyTheTiger]

Overwhelmingly negative.

 

[RandoPracticalShooting]

I’ve used one in the past for a 10.5” setup. Sold it shortly after but not due to its performance. Frankly I didn’t have it long enough to make any real assessment. I have however had friends that had significant degradation of accuracy in as little as 2,000 rounds.

In a market with so many good manufacturers why pick a BA barrel is my immediate thought.

 

[Bacarrat]

I have no problems with the 1 I have. Was getting hits out to 754 yards last week with my 16" Mod H

 

[wvfarrier]

Mixed bag for me. I have had a couple that were great and a couple that were trash

 

[roostercogburn98]

I got one I won’t even give away, so it collects dust in the gun room

 

[bfoosh006]

I prefer to assm. uppers with accuracy being preferred... and BA / Aero barrels tend to be a "hit or miss" in that dept.

A respected barrel is a inexpensive cost , compared to the ammo's cost used during a barrels life... so why not buy a better barrel for about a $120 dollars.
We all are willing to buy "expensive" ammo ,in hopes of improving accuracy, and tend to spend that extra "$120" on ammo trying to make a inexpensive barrel shoot to our expectations.
To me, buying a more precision oriented barrel, is worth more than a more expensive trigger or "fancy" BCG. ( How ever I do like a better trigger, Lol )

I have had great results from Criterion barrels... so IMHO, that is money well spent.

The gain in overall general accuracy, has been worth it to me... even in less prone to accuracy built uppers.. ( 300BK / 5.56 Pistols. )

That said, BA and Aero have their place in the AR world. They all seem to work and meet a spot in the AR market.

It is kinda about what you want from your barrel.

 

[DemonicLemming]

Expect what you pay for. You're probably as likely to get a barrel that shoots decent as you are one that doesn't, with the Bell curve "wow that's shit" tail being higher than the "wow that shoots good" tail. But, not everyone wants an $800 custom CLE or Bart to go out and blast M855 once in a while, and they work fine (even great, given what they cost on sale) for that application.

I've had four; one 16" stainless match that actually shot generic 55gn stuff pretty well (~1.5" groups consistently, gave to a buddy while helping him do his first AR build), one 350L that's done fine with hunting loads so far, and a 14.5" and an 18" that were both fit for scrap and got tossed.

Anecdotally, I have a custom 6x6.8 WOA barrel that is by far the worst AR barrel I've ever used (the chamber is cut so poorly it literally cheese-grates brass), so shit-tier barrels aren't limited to the manufacturers everyone likes to teabag all the time like BA.

 

[MontanaMan]

Buying BA barrels is like playing Russian Roulette with a 6 gun with 4 of the chambers loaded.

Maybe you win, maybe you don't, but the odds are against you.

Personally, I'm 50/50 with them. But I was able to salvage the bad one by recrowning & chasing the muzzle threads to all a brake to thread on w/o binding up; both were their SS, premium barrels.

No need to buy from them with so many other mid-range price point barrels available that offer more consistency, barrel to barrel.

YMMV

MM

 

[Redlion]

I have one BA barrel. A 16" that is on the AR that I keep in my car. It was accurate enough out to 100 yards for me using a RD. I have heard that they are hit and miss overall, but what do I know with an experience of 1 barrel.

 

[dms416]

Every so often a blind squirrel finds a nut and given the way the internet is, it fucks up the curve.

...and I think some people just want to sound cool/validate their choices/troll and say things that just aren't true....("all day long if I do my part")

Every barrel has its own personality.

 

[MontanaMan]

Expect what you pay for.

And there it is................................

MM

 

[Redlion]

And there it is................................

MM

Please refer to the "Finding a Wife" thread for alternative information.

 

[BCP]

I used to love ballistic advantage barrels but last few years gave up on them they just don't seem to shoot as well as they used to, maybe the higher production numbers are hurting their quality I dunno

Cheap barrels are a lottery I like the green mountains more than the others under 200$ they do a few things that put them above the other cheap competitors

 

[MO Fugga]

I have a 10.3" in 300blk, won't shoot subs without a can. Shoots supers at a little over 1moa. Meh.

I do like that it's cut for a pinned gas block, and I won't buy any other barrels that aren't.

 

[ironman56]

There's a LGS close to me that makes there own ARs ,small frame and large, when i decided to finally build myself a AR10 I used them as my FFL for the lower build kit from Areo , looked at their 308 and they used BA barrels , very nice looking builds was tempted to just buy theirs , but was determined to build my own , used wilson combat super sniper barrel, big mistake ,after many different factory loads and a few hand loads and shimming the barrel, still getting only 1-1/2 moa groups ,should have spent another 150- 200 on a quality barrel .

 

[diggler1833]

I had one that I sent back due to accuracy, but the replacement shot well.

 

[hlee]

My dad has a heavy profile 22” 6.5 CM barrel that’s a solid moa shooter.

I have a 16” 308 that’s more of a 2 moa shooter. That’s kinda “meh,” but sufficient for the purpose.

This is what you should expect. Could be pretty good. Could be kinda meh…

 

[slodsm]

WOA is not a whole lot more in price and they are pretty much a sure thing. I’m sure there are a few duds out there, but every WOA barrel I’ve used for the past 10 years, through old owner and new, has been a sub MOA barrel.

 

[CaptNemo]

Liberty / Satern barrels have been solid performers for me in 6.5 Grendel and they are not much more costly than the BA's for a more consistent barrel.
I have had really expensive AR barrels that didn't shoot as well as the 18" Liberty barrel.

 

[RUTGERS95]

I've built dozens of uppers using ballistic advantage barrels all 223 wylde or 5.55, well one .308. All have been pretty good, every (about 6)18 SPR stainless barrel upper I've built has shot lights out. I've had some 16s that were just ok, one 223 wylde 16 that could group for sheer. The 10-14.5 i really didn't try to test accuracy much since they were just short blaster builds.

The last 5 or so I paired with BKF mod 0 thermal fit uppers, freezing the barrel overnight and heating the upper is definitely required, very tight fit.

every single 14.7 pencil barrel I've used for builds has been fantastic. Had a 6.5 barrel that sucked and a 308 that was average but those shorter pencil barrels are great

 

[RUTGERS95]

WOA is not a whole lot more in price and they are pretty much a sure thing. I’m sure there are a few duds out there, but every WOA barrel I’ve used for the past 10 years, through old owner and new, has been a sub MOA barrel.

woa are awesome, my 2 were sub moa

 

[Shootinsurveyor]

21 shot group with AAC SMK 77gr. Didn’t blow my gun up and that was the first group from the barrel. I’m betting it would be better with some better match ammo. ES was crazy. Barrel is a BA Spr 18”

 

[TahoeDust]

If I was buying an AR barrel right now, I would have trouble not dropping the $400 on a PVA.

 

[bfoosh006]

21 shot group with AAC SMK 77gr. Didn’t blow my gun up and that was the first group from the barrel. I’m betting it would be better with some better match ammo. ES was crazy. Barrel is a BA Spr 18”View attachment 8701527View attachment 8701529

I'd say you certainly got your got your moneys worth.

Is this the "2700 FPS" load, or the "2550 FPS" load ? .. I couldn't quite tell from your chrono numbers.

 

[Green461]

I have a spare one sitting on the shelf. I had issues with a faxon one I bought from a place, all beat up, dented, gas port in wrong location, and many other flaws...etc.. they took it back and sent me a Balistic Advantage 308 barrel - SS Premium black, 18" w/ gas block as a replacement, no refund as it had been several months, I was thankful for the exchange. I went with a Blackhole Weaponry (previously Columbia River Arms) barrel instead and never used the BA one.
The BA one I got is very nice in appearance and the machining is top notch. Its heavier. It passed my inspection but I have not used it so... ? Im sure it would be great for a hunting rifle or a fun gun, I wouldnt expect PRS results out of it, seems a lot of people expect that and are mad when it doesnt happen, and the people with that mentality their results are probably 90% shooter 10% barrel anyway.

 

[Shootinsurveyor]

I'd say you certainly got your got your moneys worth.

Is this the "2700 FPS" load, or the "2550 FPS" load ? .. I couldn't quite tell from your chrono numbers.

Was from the 2700 version. Been sitting around for a year or so since I got some. ES was something wild though!

 

[kentuckyMarksman]

Depends. If I'm building the rifle to be a blaster and accuracy isn't a concern, sure I'd use their barrel.

If I want an accurate barrel, I'm going with something else.

 

[TonyAngel]

I used to run a bunch of BA barrels. The stainless SPRish barrels typically shoot well. The other other nitrided barrels are usually OK. And I do mean, just OK. I've become a bit of a barrel snob over the years and run most Criterions now, but it depends on what you want to do with it. I like accuracy. If you're just looking for something accurate enough, no sense in spending twice as much money for a capability you'll never use.

Shoot, if you're looking for a cheap barrel that shoots pretty well, check out the Expo stuff at primary arms. When things go on sale, prices can get stupid low.