Barrel questions

[Flight Medic]

I'm currently looking for a barrel for my Grendel build. I have an Aero Precision M4E1 upper/lower combo, and I've decided on a 20" barrel. I still need a bolt for by build, and I'd prefer to get the barrel and bolt from the SAME mfg since I dont have headspace gauges. The first barrel recommended to me was Proof Research, but they dont appear to offer bolts so I thought about getting this one...

https://noveske.com/products/20-barrel-6...paced-bolt

However, their website state it takes 12-weeks to receive it and I'm not very patient. I was also recommended barrels from Ballistic Advantage and ODIN Works. Both of their 20" offerings are less expensive than the Noveske, however the BA barrel is currently out of stock so I'd be waiting on that one as well. This leaves the Odin Works as the only choice (so far) to get a barrel immediately.

Is the Noveske worth the 3 month wait? Should I hold out for the BA (they DO offer a 1st Responder discount)? Are there any other choices I should be looking at? How important is geadspacing when buying bolt from different mfg than barrel?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[Bigs28]

Call mark at precision firearms. Ask him if he still offers the grendel forum member discount.

[grayfox]

Aero uses BA barrels for a lot of their assemblies. ArmOrAlly.com has both 20" BA fluted and non-fluted grendel versions, click for price of about 228 or 265... good prices IMO. They chip fast too. I have a few of them and they are good barrels, will work with any quality 0.136 bolt-face bolt like the group buy or Maxim or etc.
They might even have complete Aero upper assemblies there, I didn't look at those however.

[Klem]

FM,

You could get a Lilja barrel with a (Maxim) bolt as well. Lilja barrels are $500 and the bolt is and extra $80. The Noveske at $555 will likely be less accurate than the Lilja. I have the impression that Noveske cultivates their brand image which of course means they charge as much money as the fan-boys are prepared to pay.

Shilen also has two Grendel drop-in barrel profiles on their website. They come with a headspaced bolt for $500 all-up. Shilen is another maker with a good reputation.

[Flight Medic]

Thanks for the suggestions, gentlemen. MUCH appreciated.

[Flight Medic]

FM,

You could get a Lilja barrel with a (Maxim) bolt as well. Lilja barrels are $500 and the bolt is and extra $80. The Noveske at $555 will likely be less accurate than the Lilja. I have the impression that Noveske cultivates their brand image which of course means they charge as much money as the fan-boys are prepared to pay.

Shilen also has two Grendel drop-in barrel profiles on their website. They come with a headspaced bolt for $500 all-up. Shilen is another maker with a good reputation.

Thanks for the tip, brother. Shilen is only 45 minutes up the road from me!! I wish they'd answer their phone, though...I cant figure out how to order off their website.

[Klem]

Thanks for the tip, brother. Shilen is only 45 minutes up the road from me!! I wish they'd answer their phone, though...I cant figure out how to order off their website.

Shilen don't have an online purchase system.

Try their email address, comments@shilen.com

[FLshooter]

I have had good luck with Criterion pre fit barrels.Brownells has them for just under $300 delivered.You can have it in a week.My 22” Criterion HBAR 6.5 shot 1/2” groups,after a 50-75 rd break in.
I also have a 24” Bartlein heavy barrel built by Paul Craddock.I had to wait over 2mo.But it was worth the wait.$550.But,it shot sub 1/2” groups from the start.No break in.

[Klem]

How many rounds in a group? Does it shoot sub-1/2" groups on average or is this your best group?

[Flight Medic]

<snip>
I also have a 24" Bartlein heavy barrel built by Paul Craddock.

That was one of the barrels that Mark from Precision recommended to me today...that and a Krieger dor $600

He mentioned they have Criterion as well, and it would be cheaper, but said Criterion are button-rifled as opposed to cut, so it wont be as accurate as a cut rifled barrel like Bartlein or Krieger. But Krieger is gonna be 8-week turnaround.

Also spoke with a gentleman from Lilja barrel who said they had a heavyweight 23" that would work well for my build.

So many choices I'm becoming overwhelmed. Just hope the government is willing pay what I'm spending on this when they buy it back.

[Flight Medic]

<snip>
I also have a 24” Bartlein heavy barrel built by Paul Craddock.I had to wait over 2mo. But it was worth the wait.$550.But,it shot sub 1/2” groups from the start.No break in.

That was one of the barrels that Mark from Precision Firearms recommended to me today...that and Krieger. He also had a Criterion that was significantly less expensive, but said it wont be as accurate as the other two because Criterion are button-rifled as opposed to cut-rifled like Krieger and Bartlein I almost went ahead an ordered since he give the forum discount, but ts an 8-week wait oh his stuff. *sigh* Both of these would be in the $600 range (with bolt), the Criterion would be about $200 cheaper.


Also spoke with a gentleman from Lilja who recommended his heavy 23" barrel for my build, but that seems stupid-long for an AR15. Here's an AR with a (unknown mfg) 24" barrel and it looks retarded...at least to me.




I'm started to get overwhelmed with all the choices. I'm definitely a "buy-once-cry-once" kinda guy...so I dont mind spending the money on a high-dollar barrel if it truly equates to better accuracy and performance. But I dont want to pay more $$ just for a "name".

[Klem]

Lilja sells 18.8" and 20" profiles as well
Shilen sells 18" and 20" profiles.
Bartlein and Krieger don't sell drop-ins which is why you have to go through a machinist, and the time delay.

I agree, anything over 20" and you can achieve the same thing with an AR10 in a larger calibre, with a shorter barrel.

[flatland1]

I'd steer away from someone who told me that button-rifled bbls aren't as accurate as cut-rifled ones. Take a look at the equipment list at any major bench rest match - in years past, Shilen was one of the most commonly used bbls by BR shooters, where the difference between winning & being an 'also-ran' shooter is usually group size measured in thousandths of an inch. In the past few years, there have been some BR shooters who've tried cut-rifled bbls by Bartlein & Krieger, but the point is, a good barrel is a good barrel, whether it's button or cut rifled. Having said that, I've been doing barrel work & building rifles since 2005, and the only bbl blanks I stock are by Bartlein & Krieger. But I've also had (and still have) some button rifled bbls on an AR15 or two, and on a good-shooting 284 Win tactical rifle. More specifically, I got hooked-up with Precision Aero as a dealer a few years ago, and have sold several rifles with Ballistic Advantage bbls, as well as having an AR-15 SPR that I carry full-time in my truck with a BA bbl. I don't know that I'd want to bet $$$ than my little SPR's BA bbl would shoot right with the 24" Krieger I chambered and fitted to one of my LR AR-15s, but at the same time, that SPR shoots pretty darned good out to 600yds with my 77gr handloads. Since you're going with PA receivers, you might want to consider one of their BA barrels & BCGs (AeroPrecision bought BA a few years ago).

[Pwrbomb1970]

I think that looks sexy as hell. Jmho.

[Flight Medic]

FM,

You could get a Lilja barrel with a (Maxim) bolt as well. Lilja barrels are $500 and the bolt is and extra $80. <snip>

Took your advice, went with the 23" Lilja AR24 heavy barrel and Maxim bolt combo.

A big THANK YOU to Curt at Six Sigma Arms for talking with me this morning and walking me through all the specifics of building a long range AR and hooking me up with Lilja. Looking forward to my very first build.

[Flight Medic]

JUST ARRIVED!!



This thing is gorgeous...and HEAVY!! Really excited to get this build going.


Thanks again to everyone who gave input. I will most likely be asking a LOT more questions over the next three weeks.

[Bigs28]

Very nice

[Popeye212]

What Bigs ^ said.

[VASCAR2]

I bet that barrel will be a good shooter!

[Djgrendel]

You will be pleased! Good choice