Jgun Posted June 25, 2012 Report Share Posted June 25, 2012 I've been looking at different calibers for my next large frame AR build, and although I initially liked the idea of trying one of the more "exotic" long range calibers, If I'm honest about what I'm likely to be doing with this gun, the 6.5 cals that are favored by the bench rest shooters, are probably more specialized than I need. I have considered the .260 but once again, I find myself leaning towards .308. I really don't have anyplace nearby that I can shoot 800-1000m and for some reason most of those smaller dia rds just don't appeal to me as much as 30 cal. Anyway, I've been looking at .308 barrels, and I'd like to have a 22" if I could choose, but I'm seeing that Rainier is offering their Ultramatch in a 24" length for $400. that sounds like a pretty decent price for an off the shelf barrel, but, since my goal is maximum accuracy, I'm wondering how much potential accuracy I might be giving away with an off the shelf barrel vs a custom chambered barrel. I know the Lothar, and Krieger barrels are good choices, but will cost more and probably take quite a while to get, although I could then get my prefered 22" length. I'd be interested in any advice or guidance that you other members could offer to help me to make the right choice here as far as a barrel, and if anyone can offer any reason why I'd be batter off with a different cal for my intended goal of long range (not really long) max accuracy shooting either prone or off the bench. Thanks in advance for any help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imschur Posted June 25, 2012 Report Share Posted June 25, 2012 What about JP? Also Armalite Premiere Services builds custom match rifles that win competitions. They can provide premium barrels but you kinda are limited to what they are working on at the time with regards to blanks. Doesnt hurt to call.The Rainier Ultramatch is good stuff but the Noveske ( AR-10 21") would be "The one to get" from Rainier when available if you dont mind going the AR-10 route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Helotes Posted June 25, 2012 Report Share Posted June 25, 2012 I am very happy with my Walther 20" barrel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jgun Posted June 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2012 Thanks for the suggestions guys. I've already got a Noveske .308 AR barrel along with one on one of my AR 15's, so I know that they're great barrels. I'm just wondering if a barrel chambered to my specs (tight) would possibly show any measurable accuracy advantage over the Noveske or the Ultramatch, or equivilant. I've heard good things about the Walthar Lothar barrels, and a buddy of mine swears that the one he had made for his AR 15 is the best barrel he's ever had, but He's using it for 3 gun not long range. Team Helotes, can you tell me how long it took to get your barrel after you placed your order? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Helotes Posted June 25, 2012 Report Share Posted June 25, 2012 I was going to buy a 24". I called over there and talked to Woody and told him what I was looking for. He suggested I get one of there Vamitac barrels. It was about $100 less that's was planning on spending. I mailed them a check, they do not take credit cards. I had the barrel in my hands 8 days from when I mailed the check. It the best barrel I have owned. I will buy more. Here is a target from sighting it in. It was shot off of a bench at 300 yards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
survivalshop Posted June 25, 2012 Report Share Posted June 25, 2012 If its a 22 " barrel you want , you may be better off just having some one make ya one , Don't see too many choices for that length out there.What twist rate ?My 20" HB ,Krieger Criterian ( off the shelf @ Fulton Armory )has proven to be a very accurate barrel . You certainly can't go wrong with a Walther barrel , ether . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jgun Posted June 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2012 The post about ordering the barrel and having it 8 days later sounds like some sort of urban legend. i thought that every part I order is supposed to be backordered, or delayed by miltary contracts if I'm ordering custom. It puts me in a awkward position, I don't presently have the cash to buy the barrel, but thought I'd get a deposit down if I were special ordering something. I'm going to give LW a call this week and find out what I'm looking at for one of them, along with if they are able to ship one that fast right now. I think that if they can deliver, I'll see if I can make it happen in July. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jgun Posted July 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 ordered the 20" .308 Lothar Walther barrel today. I think the fact that they include a headspaced bolt with it may have influenced my final decision somewhat. Thanks for your input Team H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Helotes Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 ordered the 20" .308 Lothar Walther barrel today. I think the fact that they include a headspaced bolt with it may have influenced my final decision somewhat. Thanks for your input Team H.Cool let us know what you think of it when they gets there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jgun Posted July 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 I've heard nothing but good things about the LW barrels from my AR 15 3gun friends. I've been wanting to try one of their barrels for a while. I'm not sure how long it will take for me to have this one ready for the range. Even though I don't have too many parts left to buy, the heavy buffer, bolt carrier, and trigger that I've got in mind, will add up, so I'll just have to see how business goes this summer. I've really got to stop building guns and start saving for optics, At this point, quality glass is the thing that I'm really lacking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imschur Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 Great choice!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jgun Posted July 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 Team Helotes, can you tell me if your barrel was bright or bead blasted? I forgot to ask them. I'm guessing that they come bright as machined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Helotes Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 Team Helotes, can you tell me if your barrel was bright or bead blasted? I forgot to ask them. I'm guessing that they come bright as machined.Bright. I covered the gas block area, the barrel ext and threads with electrical tape. A couple of mins in a blast cabinet and it looked perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Helotes Posted July 10, 2012 Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 Jgun any word on your barrel yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jgun Posted July 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 Nothing yet, but it's only been a week so far. Since I've settled on my caliber, and already have the parts that determine what the style of the gun will be and how it will look more or less, I've been trying to come up with some things that might make this build more interesting for me. I'm not in all that much of a hurry. I was told by the people at Youngs, that they will be offering .308 carriers very soon. I like their AR 15 carriers that I've used, so I may try one. Think I'll go with the XH rifle buffer. Trigger is still undecided, but there are lots of good ones to choose from these days. I'm planning to make my own pivot and takedown pins, and I'm considering lapping the upper. I am also thinking about having the barrel melonited, along with possibly the carrier as well. I'm just not sure if I should assemble it and test for accuracy first, (probably) or have it treated first and assemble the gun once. Iv'e also read posts where people say it's better to break in the barrel before meloniteing, Guess I'll have to see what the guy I'm using has to say about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jgun Posted July 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2012 Lothar Walther barrel arrived this week, so I trial fit it today. This is basically what the finished gun will look like. It weighs 9 lbs as pictured (without bipod) and I still have to add bolt carrier group, buffer/spring, and trigger, so this will not be a lightweight, but I expected it to be heavy from the outset, just hope the barrel groups as will as the one pictures above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unforgiven Posted July 14, 2012 Report Share Posted July 14, 2012 Very nice brother Jgun,and the chargeing handle clears the stock the way it sits? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffreyC Posted July 14, 2012 Report Share Posted July 14, 2012 If he has the .308 PRS it will clear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jgun Posted July 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 Yes it's the .308 PRS so I didn't have to trim the cheek riser. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffreyC Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 The reason that they say to break in the barrel before having it Melonite treated is so the burrs from chambering it are removed, otherwise the burrs will be 70 RC and last a very long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jgun Posted July 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 That makes sense. At this point, I'm sure I'm going to assemble and test fire it first, the only question is whether I'll ever get around to taking it back apart to send the barrel off to be treated, I guess we shall see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkB Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 JGUN....curious as to where you got your LW barrel in two weeks. Have had a .243 barrel on order for over 6 mos from LW. Keep being told it's going to ship and when press, keep getting that promise pushed out further. Latest was a comouter crash that lost all records. and now will not get the fluting that I originally ordered because they already turned the barrel......grrr.MarkB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jgun Posted November 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 Mark, Sorry to hear of your less than satisfying experience dealing with LW. I was researching barrel options for a long range focused barrel in the 22" range. one of the other members posted his range results with the LW Vartac barrel he had purchased from them. I was impressed with the accuracy he had gotten from the barrel, and have other friends that have ordered barrels from LW that are very happy with them. My friends that ordered barrels had waits similar to what you describe (without the order screwup you experienced). I have wanted to try out a LW barrel for a while, but did not like the long wait and high price that I saw listed on their site for a barrel made to my specs. The member told me that the Vartac barrels are stock items. I called up, the barrel was in stock, and was very inexpensive.I had it within a week. The only downside was that the Vartac is 20" instead of the 22" I had planned to order if I went with a custom barrel. I still don't have the bolt carrier, so have not completed the build yet, but, based on my experience, and your's, I'd say that it looks as though they may not handle custom barrel orders quite as well as they do when you order an off the shelf barrel from them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkB Posted November 16, 2012 Report Share Posted November 16, 2012 Jgun, thanks for the info, and glad your experience was better than mine so far. Woody was very disparaging of wildcat rounds, although I don't consider .243 to be wildcat. That being said, I AM looking forward to receiving my LW barrel, assembly, and shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt.Cross Posted November 16, 2012 Report Share Posted November 16, 2012 Woody is a pretty disparaging person anyways in my experience. He'd seemingly rather turn down money than make it by honest means. I've stubbornly waited over 2 years now for a LW barrel, and haven't seen hide or hair of it. I think my next dealings with them will be to retrieve the money I spent with them 2 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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