mac83 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 Anybody have any input on how well the SI Defense barrels stack up against the other brands like FA or Krieger?I've got a SI Defense SASS barrel on hand, but before I put it on I'd like to see if there's anything I'm missing out on by not ordering the same profile from Fulton Armory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imschur Posted October 1, 2011 Report Share Posted October 1, 2011 We havent seen much mention of the SI barrels here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mac83 Posted October 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2011 Just an update on this barrel. I will be returning it! First the gas block journal was .001 too big, no big deal, I just got a clamp on gas block instead of th one I was going to use. Next, the threads wouldn't accept a 5/8x24 threaded vortex flash suppressor. I don't feel like waiting to find out if there is a third discrepancy.Nothing against SI Defense or MidwayUSA, as this could have easily been out of a bad batch or something along those lines. I just don't feel like reworking a product that is supposed to be a drop in. Now I have a FA bolt/barrel combo in the mail. Just need to figure out how I'm going to black it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imschur Posted October 5, 2011 Report Share Posted October 5, 2011 Jeez is is not typical of SI quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mac83 Posted October 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2011 That's what I thought too. I didn't find many reviews on their barrels, but everything else I saw about them looked pretty legit. I did read somewhere that they use different machine shops for their barrels. It also could have been on Midways end, the barrel didn't arrive with any protection other than some oil on it, not even plastic thread caps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jgun Posted October 5, 2011 Report Share Posted October 5, 2011 Don't know what the barrel ran you, but, doesn't sound like a match barrel. Now if the price was right, relative to a Fulton, maybe it would have been worth a little trouble. The + .001" on the GB mounting area isn't a big deal, in fact it's a much better situation than finding that your non clamp on GB is loose on the barrel (which has happened to me). The barrel thread is another story, if the muzzle device goes on snug it's one thing, but if it won't even start, that's another. Although having a gunsmith run a die over it to chase the thread is easily done. I think the idea that the company gets their barrels from many different sources is something of a red flag, and might be an indication that they're not selling the highest quality barrels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imschur Posted October 5, 2011 Report Share Posted October 5, 2011 oh yeah the Midway factor. They did the same to me. Fortunately I was removing the threads. Barrel was sticking out of the package. They also shipped a stripped 308 upper receiver in an envelope with no protection. Screwed up the barrel nut threads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mac83 Posted October 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 JGun- I agree, each issue in itself is not a big deal. However, I'm not too inclined to see if there is a third, especially if it shows up on the inside of the barrel. This was not a match barrel, and it was only $50 more to order the FA, plus they will match the bolt for me.Oh, and no, the vortex wouldn't even bite the first thread.imschur- I may just stay away from Midway when it comes to precision components from now on. I'll still catch their deals on bullets and other "not so sensitive" components. I'd be scared to order any glass through them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7.62fan Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 My vote will always be FA. I sold my first build back in March and I forgot the buyer emailed me pics of the targets. The orange targets are at 100yds, and theother with the quarter are 150 yds. I wish I would have shot her at least once! He claims the 150 was at a rapid pace, hence the disparity, I guess.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 I am, and always will be, a big giant fan of Fulton Armory. <thumbsup> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imschur Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 I am, and always will be <thumbsup> lots of things to end that statement <lmao> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 lots of things to end that statement <lmao>That so completely out of context... :o <laughs> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imschur Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 That so completely out of context... :o <laughs> entertaining none the less Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jgun Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 Mac83, Your statement about buying selectively from Midway may have merit. I purchased 1000rds of Lake City .223 brass from them a while ago. It was sold as first quality. I cut it down to form 300BLK cases. When I started load development, I ran into problems with the cases splitting in the neck. A member on another forum told me that they buy brass from Lake City that doesn't make mil spec. Now, I don't know this to be a true, but the fact remains that when I loaded using LC brass that I got from a different source, all of the case problems disappeared. I don't mean this to bad mouth Midway, but the likelyhood is that my problems stemmed from the brass I got from them, of course I might have had no trouble with it if I used it to load .223. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edgecrusher Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 second rate bits? i haven't ordered from them and now by the info i have hear i can't support the idea they are selling others short. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
survivalshop Posted October 8, 2011 Report Share Posted October 8, 2011 Fulton Armory <thumbsup> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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