18" Barrel Selection

[phunk]

I am most concerned with accuracy, not too concerned with weight. I want an 18" barrel. I was looking at the Rainier Arms UltraMatch, but they are out of stock and have no guess when they will have more, but they say it could be months. So, they are no longer an option.

 

I want to use my rifle this summer.

 

I will be ready to purchase a barrel in roughly 2 weeks. Where would be my best bet to get one ordered and actually see it within 4 weeks? How long does Kreiger take to get a barrel done? This will be my first time purchasing a rifle barrel without an entire rifle, so I am not too familiar with who makes the better ones.

Edited April 2, 2013 by phunk

[edgecrusher]

Any custom barrel will take quite a while. This barrel from Fulton will certainly shoot well, and is available now, or until supplies run out.

 

http://www.fulton-armory.com/barrelfatitan185lwcm1x10750gasblockchrome-lined.aspx

[Robocop1051]

Brownells had 18" HBAR barrels made by NEMO arms. They can still be back ordered at a VERY affordable price. I ordered one a while back for a buddy. The specs look really good, but I haven't seen it shot yet.

[phunk]

thanks guys i will research both those options. i wish i knew more about it so that i could just quickly pull the trigger and order if i knew it was what i was looking for

[phunk]

FA also has those Criterion barrels in stock in 20" stainless. they are a little longer than i wanted, but stainless and heavy barrel are 2 points that i was looking for. i might have to settle. I am sure I could knock off 2" from the barrel some day if I found it bothered me, just would have to get it crowned again, right? Any other harm in doing that? I see the 20" one has a rifle length gas system.

 

I have a lot of learning to do about the pros and cons of the different length gas systems, and I assume if you shorten the barrel too close to the gas block, the projectile will have left the barrel before enough pressure was spent to cycle the action? am i correct with that assumption?

Edited April 2, 2013 by phunk

[phunk]

AHH but i just noticed the 20" is a 1:12 twist... i was thinking i wanted a 1:10 if i wanted to go with heavier rounds for long distance accuracy. unless i am wrong in my thinking, which is possible cause im a 308 noob, i am sort of failing to see the point of a long barrel without the aggressive twist

[98Z5V]

I have a lot of learning to do about the pros and cons of the different length gas systems, and I assume if you shorten the barrel too close to the gas block, the projectile will have left the barrel before enough pressure was spent to cycle the action? am i correct with that assumption?

You're working with a .308 Win round now - don't worry about that.  You can have a 16" barrel, with a rifle-gas system, that runs fine.  Get the 5.56 stuff outta your head with these.  Flush it.

 

Wait for the Fulton Armory 18.5" stainless. medium contour barrel, by Criterion, if you want the 1:10 twist.  It's a winner, by far.

[survivalshop]

I have the Fulton's 20" HB on one of my AR308's & it's a shooter for sure , on the heavy side . My 16" with rifle length gas system works fine.

Mine are both 1-10 twist

Edited April 3, 2013 by survivalshop

[Matt.Cross]

You're working with a .308 Win round now - don't worry about that.  You can have a 16" barrel, with a rifle-gas system, that runs fine.  Get the 5.56 stuff outta your head with these.  Flush it.

 

Wait for the Fulton Armory 18.5" stainless. medium contour barrel, by Criterion, if you want the 1:10 twist.  It's a winner, by far.

 

I also have the barrel Tom is describing. We're talking about a cloverleaf/bughole barrel here my friend, absolutely no exaggeration.

[blue109]

So who has these 16" rifle length gassers? Sounds like what I want to use on the new baby.

[Robocop1051]

I know SurvivalShop has one. I think Jgun has one too.

If I start another build it is the ONLY barrel I would choose. I wanted one for my last build, but they went extinct as soon as I started building. FA said the barrel was discontinued by the mfg. I remember cussing the guys that already had theirs. I ended up with a carbon fiber 17" with rifle length gas. At the end of 2012 I saw FA was selling them again as a regular item. I am very jealous of the guys that have theirs.

[blue109]

I'm looking at the Fulton one in stock....is a .625 barrel a good idea on a .308? Seems kinda thin. Although a 8lb rifle would be great!!!!

[Robocop1051]

That's got to be a typo. The threads are 5/8" (.625) already. You can see by the picture that the gas block is sizably larger than the threads. I'll bet my shirt that the gas block is .750