Most precise (and durable) ligthtweight Faxon barrel for recommendation

[R2BRO]

i really don't understand why is Faxon out of stock all over...
As of now for anything around $300 its only BA thing... I'm still thinking.

Another thought I had is... here is a thing.. the advantage of Grendel is its great performance achieved from same length barrel as 556 while keeping almost same profile.. now, getting heavy barrel kinda negates that.

So what I was thinking is...if people already told me here that FPS difference between 18" and 20" is like 50-ish or so, in that case maybe I should just go with 18" barrel?
Faxon has Faxon 6.5 Grendel 18″ Gunner 5R Match Series Barrel which weighs 1.68lbs (26.88oz).
Now! compare that to 20" BA barrel which is 33.3oz.
Difference: 33.3 - 26.88 = 6.42oz = 0.40125

so! 0.4lbs is like almost another half lbs down! And just 50-ish fps slower... but that one is advertised by Faxon as Match grade and that one is true 5R and also 416 steel!

so guys help me to decide...is the above thinking becomes more wise then and maybe its better to hold off and get that faxon when its in stock? your thought?

[Londerko]

I like my 18
I like em handy. That’s the whole point in building them off the AR15 platform to me.
If chasing FPS is that important to someone then the Grendel is probably the wrong cartridge for that person

[blackhog]

Underground tactical 18” lightweight barrel bolt combo for $299 is sub MOA for me with factory ammo. Prefer the 18” over 20” barrel

[CitizenThom]

I'm looking closely at that 20" Gunner. Under 2 lbs, Rifle Gas, 20", AND can be had under $200. I just wish the GB journal was 1.1" like their pencil barrels. Post something up once you get more time with it. I'm especially interested groups and in velocity numbers.

I was able to hit out to 650 yards over the Christmas break. It was a train-up for long range shooting competitions my brother-in-law does once a month. I learned a lot, mostly that I've a lot to learn, ha ha.

The rifle seemed pretty accurate though, I was seeing the rifle hit where I aimed out to ~450. At 650, I could see the miss and adjust to hit. (I was using only the dope from the ammo box)

Next trip to the range will be prone shooting and getting velocity off a chrono so I have more accurate ballistics. I'll have a better idea of group sizes then. But my impression is that it is more accurate than I am.

Also fwiw, I have the 18" 416 gunner from faxon (midlength gas), it required a heavier buffer to cycle correctly. The 20" 4150 faxon (rifle length gas) is cycling fine with the standard buffer.

[CitizenThom]

I'm looking closely at that 20" Gunner. Under 2 lbs, Rifle Gas, 20", AND can be had under $200. I just wish the GB journal was 1.1" like their pencil barrels. Post something up once you get more time with it. I'm especially interested groups and in velocity numbers.

I was able to hit out to 650 yards over the Christmas break. It was a train-up for long range shooting competitions my brother-in-law does once a month. I learned a lot, mostly that I've a lot to learn, ha ha.

The rifle seemed pretty accurate though, I was seeing the rifle hit where I aimed out to ~450. At 650, I could see the miss and adjust to hit. (I was using only the dope from the ammo box)

Next trip to the range will be prone shooting and getting velocity off a chrono so I have more accurate ballistics. I'll have a better idea of group sizes then. But my impression is that it is more accurate than I am.

Also fwiw, I also have the 18" 416 gunner from faxon (midlength gas), it required a heavier buffer to cycle correctly. The 20" 4150 faxon (rifle length gas) is cycling fine with the standard buffer.

[CitizenThom]

I'm looking closely at that 20" Gunner. Under 2 lbs, Rifle Gas, 20", AND can be had under $200. I just wish the GB journal was 1.1" like their pencil barrels. Post something up once you get more time with it. I'm especially interested groups and in velocity numbers.

I was able to hit out to 650 yards over the Christmas break. It was a train-up for long range shooting competitions my brother-in-law does once a month. I learned a lot, mostly that I've a lot to learn, ha ha.

The rifle seemed pretty accurate though, I was seeing the rifle hit where I aimed out to ~450. At 650, I could see the miss and adjust to hit. (I was using only the dope from the ammo box)

Next trip to the range will be prone shooting and getting velocity off a chrono so I have more accurate ballistics. I'll have a better idea of group sizes then. But my impression is that it is more accurate than I am.

Also fwiw, I also have the 18" 416 gunner from faxon (midlength gas), it required a heavier buffer to cycle correctly. The 20" 4150 faxon (rifle length gas) is cycling fine with the standard buffer.

[DL42]

Chiming in because Im in the same quandry as OP. My Grendel upper currently has a fluted medium contour 22” Liberty button-rifled barrel. I was looking at upgrading it, and $350 was my price point too, so naturally I was looking at a BA or Faxon barrel, probably a 20”. If I got one of these, should I even expect a noticeable difference, and if so, should I go Faxon or BA?

[grayfox]

For $350 you should also look at the Criterion barrels from Precision Firearms.

[RANGER]

Technically, if someone claims "5R" they have to pay a licensing fee. It's a very specific type of 5-groove rifling if I remember correctly.

[VASCAR2]

I’m with Grayfox, but I’d order one of these Criterion barrels from Brownell’s. These barrels are in stock and no waiting.


https://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/ba...18548.aspx



https://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/ba...18547.aspx