Barrel

[geaux87]

Im building my first 6.5G. I am looking at faxon, ballistic advantage, or atheris, which is the superior of those?

Also i cant decide 18" or 20". My plans with it are mainly predator, hog, and deer hunting. Shots up to 500 yards is 18" enough barrel or do i need 20"?


Thanks in advance for yalls help.

[A5BLASTER]

If your going to try deer at 500 yards go 20 as a min and 24 would be better. For yotes and target 18 inch will work out too 500 yards.

As to barrels I don't have personal experience with BA or faxon but here both good and bad about them.

[shreddykruger]

Im building my first 6.5G. I am looking at faxon, ballistic advantage, or atheris, which is the superior of those?

Also i cant decide 18" or 20". My plans with it are mainly predator, hog, and deer hunting. Shots up to 500 yards is 18" enough barrel or do i need 20"?


Thanks in advance for yalls help.

I just built 2 AR 6.5 grendel rifles and although I haven't tried the other 2 barrel manufacturers you asked about I really like the 20" DMR ballistic advantage barrel and have had mine out to 875 yards (as far as my range goes) with no issues.

I would go 20" probably for the additional velocity, but more important is the gas length. Between the 2 rifles I built the one with rifle gas shoots much better. If you can get an 18 with rifle gas maybe go that way if you are adding a supressor to keep overall length low, otherwise 20" all the way imo.

[js8588]

Of the ones you listed, I'd go with Atheris.

Also, few reviews on this one, but what reviews there are have been very good. https://shop.deztacticalarms.com/18-...SSNITRO65F.htm

[wideglidejoe]

I have an AA upper with a 20" Shilen barrel, it's been great. I have a 12.5" BA barrel that came with a very small gas port; .050". I wound up drilling it from .050" to .068" (if I remember correctly?) to get it to run right.

If you are considering a BA barrel, I'd suggest calling them to see what port size they are using and if it is compatible with the length of gas system; suppressed vs non-suppressed, etc.

[VASCAR2]

[FLshooter]

[drewthebrave]

Great info from VASCAR above with some real world numbers. If you're serious about shots at 500 yards, my rough calculations show a 24" will juuust barely be pushing the 123gr SST at 1800 fps, which is (as I understand) the expansion threshold for that bullet. An 18" barrel should have the SST expand a little past 400 yards at sea level. Lower atmospheric pressure (higher altitude) would extend the range for both.

I'd give Criterion a good look, as they're an excellent value at around $300: https://criterionbarrels.com/product...2-hbar-barrel/

Or contact Mark at Precision Firearms and let him know exactly what you plan to do. If you don't mind waiting, he can turn the exact barrel you want into a reality: https://www.precisionfirearms.com/48...l-barrels.html

[Pootyng]

[am4966]

[Klaus Von Richter]

[NightStalker]

I ha BA in several calibers and very happy. Length I always lean towards the short barrels but it your situation probably the 20 inch

[Mopar forever]