Best barrel?

[1Shot]

If your upper only cost $300 and it has 5R rifling you most likely have a Bear Creek Arsenal barrel. IF and I emphasize IF you ever get it to shoot under one inch at 100 yards with even the best of hand loads you will have one of their best barrels. Also these barrel usually don't start to show their accuracy potential until you have at least 100 rounds through them. I have a 20" that has been a "problem child" as to getting it to shoot well. After MUCH trial and era I finally found a hand load that will hover between 1" to 3/4" consistently. Do a search on this forum and read about BCA barrels and the troubles had with them. If you want consistent small groups you are going to have to shell out some coin. I have an 18" Oden Works that is pretty accurate, average 3/4" with good hand loads but if you want 1/2" or better you are talking higher quality and much more costly barrels. Then you have to take into count the other parts of the rifle especially the trigger. You can have the best quality barrel and have a terrible heavy creepy trigger and you will not shoot 1/2" or even 1" groups consistently. Then throw in shooting form, repeatable rifle placement on the proper rest and I could go on and on to what makes accurate shooting. Like others have said I would start off by getting some quality ammo, like the Hornady BLACK with the 123 gr ELDM bullet to do my accuracy test but I would try to get some of the Hornady bulk ammo and shoot at least 100 to 150 rounds through the rifle before doing accuracy test. Just my 2 cents worth.