So I finally got around to buying the tools to work on AR's and now I have 2 brands of barrels to choose from from a friend. Both are just about the same, 1/8 twist and mid gas, one is a Faxton and one is a Kak, Which one do I pick?
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So I finally got around to buying the tools to work on AR's and now I have 2 brands of barrels to choose from from a friend. Both are just about the same, 1/8 twist and mid gas, one is a Faxton and one is a Kak, Which one do I pick?
Faxon was the worst barrel we ever shot. Poorly QPQ'd is my guess. Pappabear sent the POS back, and those clowns told us we'd shot 10,000 rounds thru it, but actual counts were no more than a few hundred.
Never heard of Kak.
Why only those two? Lots of great barrels out there.
Price Point, already have super accurate AR and just wanted a decent barrel that matched up with my 6920 or my Bushmasters. I feel I'm kinda lucky so far in that all my ARs will do 1.5" with decent ammo.
Two of mine have Ballistic Advantage Hanson profile barrels, (one 5.56, one .308) and they both shoot very well. They are moderately priced.
After a few low round count range trips with it, I looked at my Faxon 16" Big Gunner with a borescope.....damn ugly. I won't be putting it into a precision role (never actually got around to shooting it at more than 50 yards), so it will perform well enough. An 18" Big Gunner's much better, but I won't be buying any more.
I've also never heard of KAK.
For their price point, and maybe even a little beyond it, I've also seen good things with BA.
I just cant recommend Faxon anymore. One bad experience and countless others read online. I wouldnt be being KAK either, they are not a barrel maker. Prob just a rebranded cheap barrel
I would be looking at BA and Rosco if on a budget. Primary arms has sales and Granite Ridge, ArmorAlly, and Right to Bear have good deals on BA
If you have a 6920 and want a comparable barrel, Sionics makes a nice lightweight chrome barrel for about $180 and they are shooters.
Good point. If you look at sales on Sionics barrels at Primary Arms, you can sometimes get one below $160. I have had great results with Sionics, and they are my go to recommendation for people I help set up their first rifle. I've seen 10+ of their barrels so far. Just one guy's observation with a handful of happy shooters who agree.
My 20" Faxon Gunner shot very well until I decided I wanted a heavier 18" barrel, but the inconsistency in results just here on this site indicates to me that their QC is spotty at best.
Andy
I would also recommend BA, very happy with mine. They go on sale all the time too.
I have had really good luck with Criterion barrels lately.
I don't know if you will ever run it suppressed, if so buy a Sionics reduced gas pressure barrel. Quite honestly it is a great barrel with or without a can.
PB
Oh boy! Choosing from those choice are hard. I would reach for faxon but after reading few post here of faxon I'm very alarmed of them. But I would still chose faxon over kak. If i am able to get them both and shoot them both, if Kak shoot substantially better I would chose it over faxon and fire it slowly to prolong it's life. My experience with ar-15 barrels which all happen to be 16". Long ago I built and then sold many uppers. In my experience all of barrel I have used was submoa barrels with 69gr SMK FGMM. I've had DPMS ap4 carbine bringback with 1/9 cmv gov. profile barrel naked of any nitriding or CL it shot very well with 69 FGMM a submoa 5 shot group reliably after maybe 2k of bi-metal bullet from cheap tula and wolf mag dumping barrel open up to 1moa always almost submoa not close to 2moa at all then I sold it during one of panic. Then I rapidly went through few upper but the barrels was PSA cmv which I shot over 5k rapid firing with steel case ammo which really ate that barrel which start off submoa ez with 69smk FGMM to 2moa but I still loved that barrel cause I believe it performed well for extremely harsh treatment I gave it, I believe it was made by FN. Then I used doublestar 1/7 CL barrel which I remember vividly due to it's bore which had tons of fine chatter mark showing through the CL that retained a lot of copper fouling regardless it shot very well submoa reliably with FGMM I never shot much in that upper before selling it. Then I used spikes tactical ar which had spikes CL barrel (made by FN) that shot submoa reliably I shot maybe 1k before selling that ar. I had major difficulty removing barrel on that son of bitch spikes. However, I then went to FN CL 1/7 gov. profile barrel which is one of my favorite, the bore was mirror smooth shot submoa easily. I shot maybe 2k mixed ammo between federal value pack 223 that walmart used to sell and cheap steel case it still shot submoa before I sold it. Then I went to Bushmaster 1/9 HBAR CL which is my other favorite barrel that shot submoa and I could shoot longer and more accurately with it. I would buy CL over any other barrel every time but I respect untreated and unlined CMV barrel they can shoot well for long time if you just shoot really slowly and let it cool. I have yet to come across any ar-15 barrel that was not submoa *knock on wood. I especially I hope my Daniel Defense 18" CL middy is submoa too. I single like single loading my ar if I'm shooting for group for I noticed the magazine tension changing as it unload underneath BCG affected group size. I am of belief that for most case most barrel even cheap barrel will shoot submoa with right load (sometime handloading required) unless it's really trash barrel with bad chamber, uneven stressed barrel, bent, bad crown, wrong length for harmonic, wrong muzzle device weight and/or length for the barrel profile and length etc.
If you get bad barrel, don't feel bad, just see it as beater upper for magdumping and build another with nice upper and barrel. Nothing feel better as magdumping after stressful day, ahhhhhhh. Even if your barrel are 2 moa you can still hit your target, it just might take more shots...
Grab Faxon, if it shot like shit with few match ammo(be sure to try 69gr SMK FGMM) maybe Faxon might replace it for you, they have reputable to keep. Be sure to clean and grease the upper threading and tighten the nut to at least 40ft/lb and loosen it repeat that at least 3 time then tighten it to spec requested by manufactuer of upper, barrel, or handguard take your pick. I prefer tighter like 60 ft/lb. Be sure the upper face and barrel extension shoulder are absolutely clean and greased. Be sure to mount your quality scope in quality ring properly and employ all marksman fundamentals repeatability and being consistent is key to tiny groups. Also barrel can go from shit then submoa with polishing of the bore or cleaning of the bore.
Keep talking cause I'm still listing! Where else can I get good info with out opening my wallet? It's nice when a guy can sidestep a money trap and with so many options there is no limit to the mistakes a guy can make.
No personal experience but for a cheap barrel I'm hear good things about the Rosco Bloodline Barrel from ADM...
https://www.americandefensemanufactu.../product/1490/
Been looking at the Ballistic Advantage and was wondering who you can trust to do a little business with? Have dealt with the less then truthful and would not like to repeat the process. In 5.56 what chamber cut do you guys like? Thanks!
Right to Bear, primary arms, and Granite Ridge soon sell BA barrels, have good prices and are gtg.
Right to bear and primary arms ship very fast and usually my go to s if they have what I am after
556 or Wylde chamber are fine. I like 556 personally for a hard use gun, but for precision barrel Wylde or compass lake chamber are good
I bought my BA barrel directly from BA.
I think .223 Wylde is a great idea in a stainless barrel meant to be a tack driver, but for everything else 5.56 all the way.
Mine is their bottom tier, modern series SPR barrel in 5.56, and delivers sub MOA.
The BA Hanson barrel profile is fantastic, a good all around, love mine would buy again, 5.56 chamber 16” 1:7.
Andrew - Lancaster, CA
NRA Life Member, CRPA member, Calguns.net contributor, CGF / SAF / FPC / CCRKBA / GOA / NAGR / NRA-ILA contributor, USCCA member - Support your defenders!
Been looking hard at BA barrels and most are out of stock where ever I look. Who do you guys trust to do business with? Not looking for those that take your money on out-of-stock products.
5shank
Any sale prices or full price?
I have had cood experience with ds arms barrels
Not that I'm cheap as much as I'm slow, seems every one is sold out and trying to email them is a waiting game. I know I should have had my Ducks lined up sooner on barrels but putting in a crop is a 100 hour a week job!Damn I'm Tired, trying to catch up sucks so bear with me please, got a million dumb questions and hope like hell you boy's don't mind!!!!!!!
White Oak Armament
White oak armament if money is an issue. If not go with proof research.
If you don't really care about accuracy a ton, I would just pick the barrel that looks cooler.
I haven't owned a KAK barrel, but shot a season on my Faxon 14.5 match gunner. That tube seemed to like lighter bullets much more than heavier ones. The only load it was true sub moa for was my 50gr federal varmint. It didn't care for any 77's.
Since Faxon I have tried Rainer and BRT. The rainer was a little gassy, but a laser beam with the 77's. The BRT is my current and looks like a good tube to me.
I've had quite a few Faxon barrels, 5.56, 7.62x39, 9mm, 308, 6.5CM. they've all been good, not a single lemon.
I've also got several KAK 7.62x39 barrels, and they are excellent. Of course, I'm only shooting Wolf steel case ammo, though, when it comes to 7.62x39.
I owned 2 KAK barrels for a 308 builds and they were solid shooters. don't know about their 5.56 but imagine the same
+1
always love these threads. On snipershide a guy is asking about budget handguards for his niece and guys are throwing Geiselle.
OP, and others for that matter, don't laugh but Anderson barrels are green mountain blanks for what it's worth and not bad on a budget. I've not personally built with them but a buddy has 2 and they shoot pretty well
surprising info in this thread, always thought of kak as super budget blasters... and gun jesus loves faxon, apparently he doesn't own a bore scope:)
Shopping for a barrel at the moment is a waste of time (OOS Every Where) Might try for a LaRue barrel?
Have a number of Colt barrels and rather pass on more.