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AA 24” Overwatch Barrel? - Printable Version

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+--- Thread: AA 24” Overwatch Barrel? (/showthread.php?tid=24270)

AA 24” Overwatch Barrel? - Fatfart - 02-13-2022

I have an older 24” Overwatch 6.5 Grendel and was told it has a Shilen barrel. It’s looks like the one in the link.
It has the WCI muzzle brake, no holes composite hand guard on it. Never been fired.

https://www.impactguns.com/semi-automatic-rifles/alexander-arms-6-5-grendal-24-overwatch-rifle-al-r-ovw24gre-r-ovw24gre/

It looks like there were several barrels offered from what I have found while searching this site. How can you tell what barrel it has or do I need to contact AA to get that info?

Read mixed reviews here about the Overwatch and trying to decide if I want to keep and shoot it or sell it.

AA 24” Overwatch Barrel? - LRRPF52 - 02-13-2022

What’s the twist rate listed on the barrel?

There were several barrel suppliers back then.

Satern cut-rifled barrels with 1/8.75” twist on the 20” and longer rifles. These were usually fluted if I recall correctly.

Shilen button-rifled match barrels

Wilson economy barrels

AA 24” Overwatch Barrel? - Fatfart - 02-13-2022

I don’t see any markings on barrel but you can’t see under the hand guard as it’s solid/no holes in it. Where would the marking be at?

AA 24” Overwatch Barrel? - Fatfart - 02-13-2022

The rear of the manual says :
The 6.5 Grendel rifle is available in a number of configurations.
~24" lapped barrel rifle with picatinny rail topped receiver and free floating tubular hand guard and precision trigger.

To me, the trigger looks milspec, (it has two S stamps on the hammer) but I am not a trigger expert.

Barrel is not fluted and has a black finish on it.

AA 24” Overwatch Barrel? - Mesa1978 - 02-13-2022

I bought an AA Overwatch upper from Midway many years ago, mine has a Shaw barrel, 1/9, no markings on it are visible above the tube fore end, was assembled prior to Shilen being an option from AA on the Overwatch. The Shaw is a MOA barrel and heavy, it was a way to get into 6.5 Grendel, but I wouldn't buy another. I have a 20" Shilen 6.5 Grendel barrel that has engraving on it, identifying it as a Shilen. I don't know if the AA Overwatches with a Shilen barrel were engraved similarly.

AA 24” Overwatch Barrel? - Old Bob - 02-13-2022

Quick way to determine twist rate...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsiY-je7YCY

AA 24” Overwatch Barrel? - Fatfart - 02-14-2022

Alexander Arms said it’s a AA barrel stainless steel (black finish on it) from 2008 1/9 twist. The gun shop said it had a Shilen barrel. From the mixed reviews I think I will try and sell it and and build one with a match barrel.

AA 24” Overwatch Barrel? - OLDCOOT - 02-15-2022

My Alexander Arms 24 inch Shilen barrel is 1 to 9 twist.

AA 24” Overwatch Barrel? - Fatfart - 02-15-2022

Are there any markings on the Shilen to differentiate it from an AA barrel?
Do they have the same contours?

AA 24” Overwatch Barrel? - just_john - 02-15-2022

Have you removed the handguard to see what may be stamped around the chamber end of hte barrel. I have seen that on several - wish they would stay on the other end, much simpler to find.

AA 24” Overwatch Barrel? - LRRPF52 - 02-16-2022

I would recommend not trying to remove the AA handguards from that era.

AA 24” Overwatch Barrel? - Mesa1978 - 02-16-2022

LRRPF52 Wrote:I would recommend not trying to remove the AA handguards from that era.

:nod

AA 24” Overwatch Barrel? - Fatfart - 03-11-2022

Took the rifle to gunsmith and he used his bore scope to look for any marking on the barrel under the hand guard and didn't see any marking on the barrel.
He then looked in the bore and said it was one of the better bores he as seen in a non premium barrel. Everything is crisp and polished. I guess I will just take a chance on it and keep/shoot it.

Is the hand guard carbon fiber or some other composite? Will it hold up to heavy use with a bipod on it?

AA 24” Overwatch Barrel? - LRRPF52 - 03-11-2022

If it looks like this, yes, the handguard is CF and holds up very well to heavy use.

[Image: r-ovw24gre__40645.1544136971.png?c=2]

Actually, the rifles built around that time are now collectible since those SKUs have been discontinued long ago.

AA 24” Overwatch Barrel? - Fatfart - 03-12-2022

LRRPF52 Wrote:If it looks like this, yes, the handguard is CF and holds up very well to heavy use.

[Image: r-ovw24gre__40645.1544136971.png?c=2]

Actually, the rifles built around that time are now collectible since those SKUs have been discontinued long ago.

It is the one in the pic but has the WCI muzzle brake on it. At the gun shop it was sitting next to a bunch of 16" 18" AR's, it really stood out and with the brake it, it dwarfs the other AR's.
I wasn't a fan of the CF hand guards back in the day but it really fits the black paint like finish of the barrel and simplistic look of the rifle.