View Full Version : ballistic advantage barrels
looking at a build with one on it. have looked and asked all over,so trying here. what do people have in the way of direct knowledge or experience? i have heard everything from "MOA for sure and if not they correct it" to horrible machining and no CS. i am not asking what you think i should put on a gun or what is a better barrel. i know better barrels. i am asking specifically about experience with BA barrels. the build is mostly aero and gissele parts and a linked barrel add for $160,so at least rather suspect.
I’ve got 2 or 3 BA barrels have been very happy with all of them. Can’t speak to their CS as I’ve never had an issue to have to call them about!
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looking at a build with one on it. have looked and asked all over,so trying here. what do people have in the way of direct knowledge or experience? i have heard everything from "MOA for sure and if not they correct it" to horrible machining and no CS. i am not asking what you think i should put on a gun or what is a better barrel. i know better barrels. i am asking specifically about experience with BA barrels. the build is mostly aero and gissele parts and a linked barrel add for $160,so at least rather suspect.
I have used iver 10 BA barrels of all different calibers and lengths. No issues with any of them at all. They have all functioned great and have been a solid MOA barrel with match grade ammo.
As for the CS, no isses at all with them. I have had a few conversations with them and they told me stories about how people use a 4 MOA Aimpoint and can't get MOA out of there barrel..... and other stuff they hear.
I know that Eurodriver shot his 12.5 BA upper i built for him at 620 yards with 19 of 20 hits on a steel target.
thanks very much all. i may try and make a move on the build. i am stuck between another 5.56 or an AR10. have big commit with 5.56 and AR10 prices for mid range guns are high IMHO.
monkeywrench
07-02-20, 19:53
I have two barrels from them. No problems.
Your AR10 ammo costs should be factored in. But if you have a good 5.56, I'd build or buy the AR10 just because it is such a different animal.
yea i'm thinking that but still up in the air. i am not a huge 5.56 fan but $,availability,ammo and rifles/parts around are + issues. i am a big 308 fan also.
I only have 1 BA barrel, like an idiot I butchered my roll pin when trying to pin the gas block. Called to see if I cluld buy a new one as they were not listed on their website. They just mailed me a new one.
I now own a set of roll pin starter punches.
these replies are great and helpful. i have had some negative experiences on here-wise ass condescending S - - -. not that anyone will care,but will frequent here more. my grandson does FS. think it's his go to site.
That $160 barrel will blow you away. Ive used several and am always very impressed.
I have a couple of their barrels. The 18” SPR and the 8.5”.300 blackout barrel. No issues with them.
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I have one BA Hanson barrel, 11.3" 5.56, and no issues. The pistol built around it has been reliable and adequately accurate for my needs.
Andy
Hit or miss from what I have heard or seen.
One person I know, couldn't group with their 1/8 SS 223 Wylde. I had the same barrel in one of my own before it was sold, it was a 1.5 at best, and the new owner says it's a nail driver. A friend had their Mk12 barrel, and couldn't get it to group any less than 2" no matter what he tried. I have a cheap Modern series government profile and it's 1'5" like the other I had but was a "match" barrel. The A1 1/12 Brownells 20" clone that BA makes for them, I heard so much positive that I decided to give up my quest for an A1 or SP1 original and bought the BA made barrel for my retro 603 clone. That thing grouped like a shotgun now matter what In tried. Ending up finding a mint A1 C marked barrel and the groups were like I remembered back when I was in basic.
bamashooter
07-03-20, 09:08
I’ve got 2 or 3 BA barrels have been very happy with all of them. Can’t speak to their CS as I’ve never had an issue to have to call them about!
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Same. Believe mine is 3-4. 1 or 2 include Delta assembly and fsb.
I got one of their 16" non threaded Modern series barrells , SKU:BABL556031MN-BAPA100013, purchased in 2017 for a NY compliant upper. No issues or blemishes with the barrel (I didn't gauge it) and it installed easily. It's been fed XM193 and Wally World .223 and zeroed without issue. I didn't measure the groups on it, but they were acceptable to me, considering the ammo used. YMMV. I picked because it was available without threads and could be order with a pinned lo pro gas block.
I have a 9.5 inch Hanson 300BO barrel that has performed very well without any issues.
1 BA 11.3 barrel on latest sbr build, very nice performance thus far though early in our relationship. Everything fit together nice and tight. I’d purchase again in a heartbeat.
nightchief
07-03-20, 20:36
I've been happy with the 16" BA Hanson so far. I'm getting sub 2 MOA (1.3", 1.4" and 1.7" measured at 100 yards) groups with match ammo. It's actually gassed lighter than I expected (.074 gas port), but is running quite well. Consistent over the shoulder ejection unsuppressed. Consistent side ejection with my suppressor, which has a fair amount of back pressure.
Renegade04
07-03-20, 21:56
I have a Ballistic Advantage 16" .223 Wylde 1/8 twist SPR stainless steel midlength AR-15 barrel, Premium Series on one of my AR builds. I am really pleased with the performance and accuracy that barrel provides. For the money, they are good barrels.
https://i.imgur.com/9XL0POO.jpg
I started with a 10.5" BA barrel in 5.56 from their Modern line. I put a few thousand rounds through it, and never had an issue with the barrel. I'm running red dots so can't comment on accuracy, except to say that the one time I was trying to shoot precisely at 50 yards to zero it, it shot right at about MOA. I only shot it out to about 200 on steel, but it never let me down. What surprised me was how well it shot when it got hot. It never did anything that had me scratching my head.
Since then, I've replaced the 10.5 with an 11.3" Hanson barrel. Same deal. Good barrel, but I wish I had started out with the 11.3 in the first place. The Hanson profile is the way to go and the pinned gas block just makes life a bit easier. It balances really well and points very quickly. When I first got it, I was overshooting my transitions.
ColtSeavers
07-05-20, 00:45
Have 3 of their barrels, and been pleased with all 3.
I have a few high-quality CHF barrels and one nitrided barrel from BA (Aero Precision branded, 5.56 chamber). BA barrel is the most accurate.
I think BA barrels punch well above their weight in price-performance ratio. Hanson profile barrel is very nice as other people have mentioned. Customer service is great.
Two things which keeps me away from buying higher tier offerings BA barrels instead of something else. Both are purely a matter of a personal preference and not a scientific fact:
- 223 Wilde chamber. I prefer a standard NATO 5.56 chamber.
- NIB barrel extension. After personally trying NIB on AR parts - I don't see a good reason for it.
RobertTheTexan
07-07-20, 17:44
looking at a build with one on it. have looked and asked all over,so trying here. what do people have in the way of direct knowledge or experience? i have heard everything from "MOA for sure and if not they correct it" to horrible machining and no CS. i am not asking what you think i should put on a gun or what is a better barrel. i know better barrels. i am asking specifically about experience with BA barrels. the build is mostly aero and gissele parts and a linked barrel add for $160,so at least rather suspect.
I've built a bunch of AR's with BA barrels, both for myself and for others. I've never experienced an accuracy or fit and finish issue with any of them. I've personally zeroed every rifle I've built and checked it for accuracy (along with everything else) and with good ammo, every one of those AR's accuracy-wise performed as advertised. Of that "bunch of AR's" at least 10 have been with either a 14.5 BA Hanson (5.56) or their Pencil profile, and every single one of those guns shot sub-moa. I've built 300BLK's with their 8.3 Hanson profile and 9" Performance barrels, and even with subsonic ammo, they performed exceptionally. My all-time favorite barrels is the 10.3 Hanson. I'd put that barrel up against any 10.3 made by anyone. It's the smoothest shooting, accurate short barrel rifle I've built or shot, including other folks AR's. Their 12.5 is another outstanding barrel, and I just WISH I could find one. I've also built a few AR's with their 416R SS barrels. My first 308 had an 18" rifle gassed SS barrel and even at 250-300 yards, it shot sub-moa.
I've had some experience with their customer service and it's been hit or miss. USUALLY, it's a hit. I've called them and had them pull a barrel that was boxed and ready to ship, so they could pin the GB for me. (I forgot a couple of times to add that to the cart...) I have also emailed and called them with questions, which I've usually gotten through or received an answer within a couple of days, but I've also waited 4-5 days to hear back. It wasn't urgent, but that's still a long time to wait for a question to be answered, so if there's one area I would say BA should improve in, it would be customer service. It wouldn't surprise me though that with COVID affecting so many businesses that they are slower to respond these days because I've had commo issues with several reputable businesses that have taken upwards to a week and longer to get a response from. Some companies like DSG Arms hasn't missed a beat though. But bottom line, BA could be more responsive on the CS side.
As I mentioned, I have never had an issue with a BA barrel, but I would guess that there may be some people who have had problems, but with the AR platform, there are a few factors that can affect the accuracy of a rifle, and so there's a possibility that their barrel was fine, but there were other underlying issues they either could not or did not investigate or mitigate. For context, of the close to 50 AR's I have built, I think about 80% have been with Ballistic Advantage barrels. Daniel Defense comes in second, followed by Centurion Arms, and the rest would be Noveske, Rainier. Faxon, and even BCM. I'd never pass up a good deal on a DD CHF, Noveske CHF, or a Rainier SS barrel, but pretty much, when I'm tasked to build an AR for someone, the barrel I will use will be a BA, unless they ask otherwise and they never have. I've had specific applications where I wanted another barrel like a DD CHF, but I would not hesitate for a second to buy a BA.
this has been very helpful. i see a number of builds using BA. unfortunately the one i was interested in has been a no reply to PMs. that happens a lot on the FL FS board. people post then never follow up. anyway learned some stuff.
Revolution37
07-08-20, 04:45
I have an 11.3” Hanson profile on my AR pistol. I haven’t had a chance to shoot it but the fit and finish seems very good. One of my agency armorers is recommending their barrels for builds.
I’ve had three BA barrels with pinned gas blocks. All were fantastic shooters but two had canted gas blocks, which was irritating. Not canted enough to affect gas drive but definitely visible.
I’ve had three BA barrels with pinned gas blocks. All were fantastic shooters but two had canted gas blocks, which was irritating. Not canted enough to affect gas drive but definitely visible.
If you are referring to barrels that come from BA with a pinned gas block, like the Hanson barrels, the pin is intended to keep the gas from sliding, not shifting side to side. That is what the set screws are for. If you loosen the set screws you can tap the gas block straight with the pin installed to straighten it. I found a BA video on youtube showing this. Apparently BA’s pin job is not like it is on front sight towers using tapered pins.
If you are referring to barrels that come from BA with a pinned gas block, like the Hanson barrels, the pin is intended to keep the gas from sliding, not shifting side to side. That is what the set screws are for. If you loosen the set screws you can tap the gas block straight with the pin installed to straighten it. I found a BA video on youtube showing this. Apparently BA’s pin job is not like it is on front sight towers using tapered pins.
I hadn’t heard this when I owned the first barrel (which I no longer own so can’t test this on) but did by the time I bought the second one. No go for me; gas block does not budge in any direction when the pin is in. It’s just canted.
If that is in fact the way the pins are designed to work (pin just controls fore/aft movement), dimpling the barrels for the rear set screw would be beneficial for alignment. None of mine have been dimpled.
I have a SS Ballistic Advantage barrel. Accuracy has been excellent, sub moa with the right ammo and a LPVO (1X6). Haven’t had to use their CS. I would definitely buy again.
RobertTheTexan
07-09-20, 16:09
I hadn’t heard this when I owned the first barrel (which I no longer own so can’t test this on) but did by the time I bought the second one. No go for me; gas block does not budge in any direction when the pin is in. It’s just canted.
If that is in fact the way the pins are designed to work (pin just controls fore/aft movement), dimpling the barrels for the rear set screw would be beneficial for alignment. None of mine have been dimpled.
I have a 14.5 I just finished the build on and it's not cycling as it should. Ok, so at all. One of the things I'm considering it the gas block is canted enough to restrict gas flow as it's not even cycling with an A5H0 with an Armalite rifle spring. That's one thing I'm going to check.
If you are referring to barrels that come from BA with a pinned gas block, like the Hanson barrels, the pin is intended to keep the gas from sliding, not shifting side to side. That is what the set screws are for. If you loosen the set screws you can tap the gas block straight with the pin installed to straighten it. I found a BA video on youtube showing this. Apparently BA’s pin job is not like it is on front sight towers using tapered pins.
Perfect timing to read this. It supports my suspicions on a cycling issue. Thanks for posting.
I have an 11.3 Hanson. That was 200 bucks shipped with pinned gas block and a free ba upper maybe 2 years ago. At 50 yards with a 1x prism it shoots clover leafs with ae 55 gr. I also have a 14.0 carbine gas Hanson. Just over moa for 5 rds with 62 or 64 gr gd (can’t remember) and 5rds into about 1 and a half in. with ae black pack using a pxi 1-4 Steiner. This barrel (Pinned gb) was paired with a centurion cmr and was on sale for under 300 shipped from weapon outfitters. I’m assuming a better shooter than myself would have no problem getting moa out of either. I’ve never taken the time to shoot match grade ammo with a higher magnification. But around 1500 rds from the 11.3 and just over a 1000 out of the 14.0 in ( desert ,outdoor, out of position, support side shooting etc.)I’ve had zero issues.
I have a 14.5 I just finished the build on and it's not cycling as it should. Ok, so at all. One of the things I'm considering it the gas block is canted enough to restrict gas flow as it's not even cycling with an A5H0 with an Armalite rifle spring. That's one thing I'm going to check.
Perfect timing to read this. It supports my suspicions on a cycling issue. Thanks for posting.
When I got my first Hansen barrel, I was disappointed in the “pin” job, being what it is. What I ultimately did was use a fixture to dimple the barrel for the one set screw on the opposite side of the gas port, install the gas block and then drove the pin in. Now that I have a few thousand rounds through it and know that all is as it should be, I’m gonna rocksett the set screws the next time I have the handguard off.
The roll pin will go in even if the gas block is canted some. I guess because it’s a roll pin instead of tapered. After using a few Hanson barrels I’ve found the best way is to align the gas block and crank down on the set screws. Once they’re tight gently tap in the roll pin. I’ve not been able to get on to move to straighten it without removing the roll pin and then reinstalling after it’s been straightened.
MontanaMarine
07-18-20, 01:00
I'm happy with mine.
BA 16" mid-gas, govt profile. 100 yards, PMC XTAC 62gr LAP.
https://i.imgur.com/LXu8uyC.jpg
ViniVidivici
07-18-20, 22:32
I have one of their modern series 18" SPR barrels w/ pinned lo-pro GB in a build.
Around 1500 rounds in at this point, love it. It holds true to their sub MOA guarantee when I do my part with match-grade fodder.
Have gotten 3" 5 shot groups with it out to 225 yards.
Great value.
Here is a 50 yard group using a gov profile 11.5 inch barrel. Ammo was American Eagle 55 FMJ.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49606421267_288be40bda_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2izxSMi)20200301_135936 (https://flic.kr/p/2izxSMi) by chase ditwiler (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157376915@N07/), on Flickr
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