Zeneffect Wrote:Jamaican bobsled team
See who is winning matches. If shtf grendel would not be my go to. .223 will be way way way easier to scavenge.
Paul,
In larger countries, in order to qualify as a national representative you have to have won a few matches. Zene's Jamaican case stands out because it is unusual - I am talking about usual. If you can search beyond manufacturers sponsoring shooters for marketing/goodwill and focus on who's winning what, with what barrels - that's a pretty good heuristic for quality.
Bartlein, Krieger and Lilja barrels have had a long-term excellent reputation. You might get lucky with cheaper barrels, but it will be a lottery.
Here's a relevant source of info from the PRS guys. Hart, Lilja and Shilen are not on that list, and I don't think Broughton makes barrels anymore. Some very good barrels also made overseas but US barrels are hands-down the best in the world and won't attract import duty.
Lilja and Shilen are easy choices as they sell ready-to-fit Grendel chambered AR barrels. Krieger might too if you contact them, but there will be a wait time. The others you will have to get profiled by a gunsmith, or buy through a gunsmith like Precision Firearms. Again, it's only $200-$300 more than a rack grade barrel but it will define the gun, and the same cost in ammunition is gone pretty quickly.