HawkGunner60 Posted February 2, 2015 Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 So I'm doing my first .308 build and now at the point of buying a barrel. Looking at the Rainier barrels due to price and MOA guarantee, but I can't decide between the Match or Select 20". Comparison points I'm looking at are below... Select: $293.95, 1:11 twist, polygonal rifling (preferred) Match: $299.95 (only 6 bucks more), 1:10 twist (preferred), unspecified rifling type. Both are MOA guaranteed and they only have a .5 oz weight difference. The 5R rifling is a huge selling point for me as I sometimes do through 300+ rounds at some shooting sessions and don't want to have to worry as much about fouling or difficulty cleaning. The 1:10 twist is a big point as I will be using it for hog hunting and want to run heavier rounds, which I already have for my bolt gun. So that's why I'm stuck. Can anyone confirm what type of rifling the Match has, point out any other notable differences I missed, or make a logical argument for one or the other? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robocop1051 Posted February 2, 2015 Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 The match 5.56 barrels are made by Wilson Barrels. I assume the 7.62 Barrels are the same. The select barrels are made by Black Hole Weaponry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelDeVille Posted February 2, 2015 Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 That's not helping Robo! I'm kinda in the same boat, I'm building mine with the BCG and barrel last. I have a 24" Wilson barrel on one of my 5.56's and it out shoots me, I was about to get a select until you mentioned the makers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DNP Posted February 2, 2015 Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 (edited) The match 5.56 barrels are made by Wilson Barrels. I assume the 7.62 Barrels are the same. I had to do it...especially when I found this one. Edited February 2, 2015 by DNP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawkGunner60 Posted February 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 So I finally gathered a little intel from the numerous emails I sent out over the past couple days. The match is ratchet rifled... which tells me its a Shilen. I have zero experience or intel on ratchet rifling. Anyone have notable pros and cons? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawkGunner60 Posted February 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 Angel, I've been delaying the barrel too but now all I have left is handguards, barrel, and gas system. Ideally I really want to get a JP barrel/bolt combo, but I would double my current cost in the gun and just can't afford to right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelDeVille Posted February 3, 2015 Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 Angel, I've been delaying the barrel too but now all I have left is handguards, barrel, and gas system. Ideally I really want to get a JP barrel/bolt combo, but I would double my current cost in the gun and just can't afford to right now. I'm leaning toward MaTen or Midwest for the Handguard, and of course the Ranier barrel I had decided on is now out of stock..... Back to the drawing board...... If I can find a rifle length gas system, I'm going 15" handguard, or 12" with mid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
survivalshop Posted February 3, 2015 Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 I'm a believer that the Barrel/chamber on any firearm makes it a decent shooting MOA or a super sub MOA shooter , you pretty much get what you pay for . Of course there are other factors , but the Barrel is the base for any real good shooter . IMO <dontknow> Find or wait for the Barrel that you want . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt.Cross Posted February 3, 2015 Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 I'm a believer that the Barrel/chamber on any firearm makes it a decent shooting MOA or a super sub MOA shooter , you pretty much get what you pay for . Of course there are other factors , but the Barrel is the base for any real good shooter . IMO <dontknow> Find or wait for the Barrel that you want . I echo this sentiment. In my humble experience, person behind the gun notwithstanding, the barrel and trigger are going to be the keys to what kind of accuracy you will get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted February 4, 2015 Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 (edited) ^^^ That's the key in this platform - and the M16/M4/AR15 platform. Barrel and trigger. Uppers and lowers have been a non-factor in accuracy, to a great point. One doesn't affect the other (upper and lower) as far as accuracy is concerned. Well, provided they fit the basics like they should, and the damn rifle functions, like it should. Edited February 4, 2015 by 98Z5V Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaRKle! Posted February 4, 2015 Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 ^^^ That's the key in this platform - and the M16/M4/AR15 platform. Barrel and trigger. Uppers and lowers have been a non-factor in accuracy, to a great point. One doesn't affect the other (upper and lower) as far as accuracy is concerned. Well, provided they fit the basics like they should, and the damn rifle functions, like it should. While not as much as the barrel and trigger, BCM (and some others) also claim that having a tight fit between the barrel extension and the upper receiver also helps accuracy (which is why they undersize the barrel extension opening on their BCM4 uppers slightly). Full power hammer springs also aid precision per Geissele and the AMU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted February 4, 2015 Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 I've yet to see a barrel that "falls" into an upper receiver. Never seen a "loose" fit on any. I don't know - have you? <dontknow> Heavier hammer springs affect lock time. Something preached by David Tubb. Reduce lock time, increase accuracy. That doesn't affect accuracy more than having a good barrel and good trigger, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaRKle! Posted February 4, 2015 Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 I've yet to see a barrel that "falls" into an upper receiver. Never seen a "loose" fit on any. I don't know - have you? <dontknow>Not "falls" per say, but I've had plenty that could be slid in without using hair dryer or heat gun. The tighter ones absolutely require that.That doesn't affect accuracy more than having a good barrel and good trigger, though.Never claimed it did. Said it was supplemental. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted February 4, 2015 Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 I've never had to use a hairdryer or heatgun to fit a barrel into an upper receiver. I've got 16 of these things, and built even more for other people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt.Cross Posted February 4, 2015 Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 I've heard that some precision shooters like to loc-tite their barrels into the upper, but to be completely honest it seems more important to have the receiver face and barrel extension shoulders squared with each other for maximum surface contact. Also, the barrel nut being squared similarly to the front shoulder of the barrel extension for maximal contact & rigidity. Get those things right along with barrel nut torque and you'll have a hole-stacker for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted February 4, 2015 Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 (edited) ^^^ Seems more important, squared receiver face. I do have two Rainier Billet UltraMatch upper receivers on two rifles, and both those rifles shoot the lights out. One is Woody, the other is the ARF billet lower-built 14.5" carbine. That's the one we shoot to 600 yards with the red dot. Rainier's info on that is: The most critical features are: Parallelism between the picatinny rail, main center bore and the centerline of the mounting lugs Perpendicularity between the centerline of the lugs and the barrel mating face (at the front of the threads) Flatness of the barrel mating face We are holding .0003 or better on all of those measurements. Competitor uppers are between .001 and .003 on the perpendicularity and parallelism. That's much more important than pounding the barrel into the upper, or using a heatgun to get the thing in there. Loc-Tite... No way in hell. Edited February 4, 2015 by 98Z5V Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StainTrain Posted February 4, 2015 Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 I think the Match is made by Wilson or Criterion. Match is 410SS and there ain't too many people making .308 barrels out of 410SS. The Select is 416SS and it is well know that BHW makes them. I have owned both of these barrels and they both quality barrels. The accuracy of the two I owned were hardly distinguishable from each other with the appropriate ammo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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