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Proof Research Barrel Review and Range Report - Printable Version

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Proof Research Barrel Review and Range Report - AustinTom - 03-25-2018

I recently bought one of the 20" PR barrels from midway. Figured I'd do a little review, as I'm just back from the range shooting out for the first time. The barrel is nicely finished, having 4 lands and grooves. It's a 1:8 twist barrel, rifle length gas, stainless steel. It tapers from about 1" at the extension to .850 before the .750 gas block. It comes in nice packaging, and has a good manual. I believe it to have the SAAMI chamber, and it uses the .136" bolt face depth. It is a much heavier barrel than the 20" Faxon I had been using. I didn't think to weigh it before installing it ion the gun.

Be aware the Midway barrels are a different profile than the ones listed on Proof Research's website. Those have a .875 gas journal.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]11405[/ATTACH]

Okay on to the range report. I brought three different kinds of ammo: Hornady Black 123 ELD-M factory loads, American Eagle 120 OTM factory loads, and some handloads with 8208xbr and Sierra 107 SMK's.

I fired a total of 66 rounds, using the AE 120's to break in the barrel per PR's specs.

Here are some accuracy results:

All groups fired at 100 yards, 5 shot groups.

AE 120's
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Hornady Black
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My handloads at 27.9 grains powder
[ATTACH=CONFIG]11408[/ATTACH]

My handloads at 28.5 grains powder
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There were some other groups of handholds ranging from 2 moa to .8 moa but these two were the best.
I'll continue to update this thread as I shoot it more. I hope this information helps anyone who may be on the fence about getting one of these.

Austin

Proof Research Barrel Review and Range Report - Kswhitetails - 03-25-2018

Whoosh. The sound of the investment just dissolved in the glorious golden glow of the results! Very nice groups. Congratulations.

Proof Research Barrel Review and Range Report - centerfire - 03-25-2018

Nice review. Did you happen to measure the comparator length with the ELDM? I'm wondering if all of the Proof barrels have a throat length close to magazine length?

Proof Research Barrel Review and Range Report - Blakeh1 - 03-25-2018

Just curious but why did you switch from the Faxon? I have the match 20” and really love it

Proof Research Barrel Review and Range Report - AustinTom - 03-25-2018

Here are some groups with the Faxon. All of these are with the factory Hornady black ammo. The best I ever got was just under an inch five shot. It shot Hornady black the "best" of all the factory ammo except the new federal gold medal bergers. I haven't had a chance to try those. I contacted Faxon about it and the best they could tell me was "try handloading". I'm really not happy with the barrel or the company at this point. I do have a couple of their 5.56 barrels that are extremely accurate. Like 1-1/2 moa 30 shot groups with 55 grain American eagle plinking ammo. Which is why I bought their Grendel barrel in the first place.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]11410[/ATTACH]

Proof Research Barrel Review and Range Report - AustinTom - 03-25-2018

centerfire Wrote:Nice review. Did you happen to measure the comparator length with the ELDM? I'm wondering if all of the Proof barrels have a throat length close to magazine length?

I don't have the comparator yet. I seated a dummy bullet long on the lands and measured that against the loads I made and am pretty sure I've got about .107" jump right now. So I don't really think the throat length is very close to mag length. But I will get that set up and figure it out in the next couple weeks.

Austin

Proof Research Barrel Review and Range Report - Blakeh1 - 03-25-2018

AustinTom Wrote:Here are some groups with the Faxon. All of these are with the factory Hornady black ammo. The best I ever got was just under an inch five shot. It shot Hornady black the "best" of all the factory ammo except the new federal gold medal bergers. I haven't had a chance to try those. I contacted Faxon about it and the best they could tell me was "try handloading". I'm really not happy with the barrel or the company at this point. I do have a couple of their 5.56 barrels that are extremely accurate. Like 1-1/2 moa 30 shot groups with 55 grain American eagle plinking ammo. Which is why I bought their Grendel barrel in the first place.

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Gotcha, was that bedded in the receiver? And how was the fit?

Proof Research Barrel Review and Range Report - AustinTom - 03-25-2018

Blakeh1 Wrote:Gotcha, was that bedded in the receiver? And how was the fit?

Yup bedded with blue loctite. I also used the brownells receiver squaring rod. The upper is an Odin Works billet. The Faxon also fit in a lot tighter than the Proof for whatever that really means given the results. I had to use a heat gun to remove it as I didn't want to smack anything with a mallet.

Proof Research Barrel Review and Range Report - Blakeh1 - 03-25-2018

AustinTom Wrote:Yup bedded with blue loctite. I also used the brownells receiver squaring rod. The upper is an Odin Works billet. The Faxon also fit in a lot tighter than the Proof for whatever that really means given the results. I had to use a heat gun to remove it as I didn't want to smack anything with a mallet.
Gotcha. Well I guess every maker has a bad one, too bad they didn’t make it right for you with another barrel

Proof Research Barrel Review and Range Report - StoneHendge - 03-26-2018

Nothing like a Proof Barrel to keep one's ego in check. The low shot in the bottom group wasn't perchance the fourth shot, was it?Wink

Proof Research Barrel Review and Range Report - AustinTom - 03-26-2018

I can't remember which shot it was. I was pretty impressed with all the groups out of it considering just three weeks ago I shot the shotgun looking target with the Faxon barrel. I guess next is playing with seating depth and trying out different bullets powders. Although I'll probably use this load for next months match.

Proof Research Barrel Review and Range Report - klr - 03-26-2018

Nice shooting with that PR barrel!

I wonder what the chamber looks like in the Faxon barrel? It would be interesting to see a chamber cast. Or at least blackening a bullet with a Sharpie, seat it long in a dummy round, and see how it contacts the rifling.

Proof Research Barrel Review and Range Report - rovpilot337 - 03-26-2018

Very nice. I have been on the fence between the PR from Midway and an Odin Works 20". I am going to give the PR a go.

Proof Research Barrel Review and Range Report - AustinTom - 03-31-2018

Made it back to the range yesterday to do some more work on the loads I'm making. The gun shot really well, but this morning I decided to clean it up a bit. Got a good picture of the crown.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]11457[/ATTACH]

Also noticed something about the extension that I decided need to be mentioned here. The feed ramps are much larger than typical M4 ramps.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]11456[/ATTACH]

Proof research's website calls them Grendel ramps which makes me believe they are tuned to the larger diameter of the bullets to not scratch them as they feed in. Something I found interesting. I'm not sure if any of the other barrel manufacturers do this, but the Faxon does not (not trying to make this a Faxon barrel thread, just the only other Grendel barrel I have yet).

I have some more bullet types and powders to test here should have some more accuracy results in the coming weeks.

Austin

Proof Research Barrel Review and Range Report - centerfire - 03-31-2018

Mine are the same way. The ledge left from wide ramps caught my attention. Loaded cases eject with almost no marks.

Proof Research Barrel Review and Range Report - AustinTom - 03-31-2018

Very cool. What brand of barrel is it?

Proof Research Barrel Review and Range Report - centerfire - 03-31-2018

Proof.

Proof Research Barrel Review and Range Report - GunnerDavis - 02-10-2021

Proof barrels are hand lapped. Your not wasting rounds to get a decent group from the getgo. You should realize that chasing extreme small groups has all but disappeared in today market. Also if you hunt your game will never know the difference between .75 MOA and 1.5 MOA because your not shooting of a bench in bluebird weather.

Proof Research Barrel Review and Range Report - dammitman - 02-11-2021

GunnerDavis Wrote:Proof barrels are hand lapped. Your not wasting rounds to get a decent group from the getgo. You should realize that chasing extreme small groups has all but disappeared in today market. Also if you hunt your game will never know the difference between .75 MOA and 1.5 MOA because your not shooting of a bench in bluebird weather.

excellently true,,,,,i want to be a chaser though!