Centurion Arms Barrels

[Leonidas24]

I'd like to see evidence of these new gasports.

Additionally Centurion does have a rep for 12.5" barrels with small (too small?) gas ports. To me all this means is they actually kind of suck at gas ports as there is no consistency in the gas drive of their barrels across the range. A company with gas ports figured out would have barrels that all deliver similar amounts of gas energy to the BCG regardless of barrel or gas system length.

Having seen what prepare posted regarding a 2020 production barrel being .080 I sent an email to Centurion for clarification on what they spec their ports at, and whether or not they would offer the option of having them drilled a few thousandths smaller (.070-.072 range.)

Admittedly what I've seen that led me to believe they were smaller were internet reports that they were supposedly smaller than BCM's .076 standard. If that's not the case I'll stand corrected.

[prepare]

Having seen what prepare posted regarding a 2020 production barrel being .080 I sent an email to Centurion for clarification on what they spec their ports at, and whether or not they would offer the option of having them drilled a few thousandths smaller (.070-.072 range.)

Admittedly what I've seen that led me to believe they were smaller were internet reports that they were supposedly smaller than BCM's .076 standard. If that's not the case I'll stand corrected.

I emailed them also after I received the barrel to ask why they went with a .080 gas port. Thee reply I got was because people shoot low powered ammo so they felt .080 was the best of both worlds.

I then emailed Black River Tactical about a BRT Micro Tun Gas Port and they recommended a .071- .073 for a diet of quality brass 5.56 and 223 ammo.
I have a BRT micro tune gas port in another over gassed barrel that I've been extremely satisfied with.

[17K]

I was this >< close to having a Centurion upper built.

Glad I didn't. Nothing worse than a gas hog barrel.

[morpheus562]

I was this >< close to having a Centurion upper built.

Glad I didn't. Nothing worse than a gas hog barrel.

I thought they had an option where you can request a smaller sized gas port? Can't remember where I read it, but I'm sure if you contact them they can assist.

[prepare]

Centurion Arms has a great reputation. Haven’t heard any complaints on build quality, accuracy, or customer service.
As far as the gas port on 16” mid length barrel I’m not aware of a definitive combat grade gas port size. That being said .080 does appear to be on the larger end of the scale. For a premium priced barrel it’s hard for me to imagine many people buying them to shoot cheap crap ammo with.

[BillB]

Exactly. I do not shoot crap ammo in any of my 5.56 guns, they all receive brass cased , full power 5.56 ammo, or my hand loads which are all on the warm side to hot. I do not shoot suppressed either as I dont have one. Obviously, if and when I do get one then I'll shoot suppressed but for now I cant.
I also just bought a 16" mid from Monty during their Christmas sale and spoke with Corrie I asked the very question under discussion here and she said .080" as well. I was a little taken aback because that was not the spec I was expecting at all. I was hoping to here almost anything else, smaller.
I too have a BRT gasblock with the reducing port on another barrel that was just wat too overgassed and it has worked well. Am I heading there again with this one?
BRT asks a series of questions when ordering these and I'll spell it out to you guys and if anyone want to offer up your advice I'd be happy to hear it. You already know the barrel and ammo, non- suppressed and I already have the Vltor A5 setup (A2 buffer) with the Sprinco green spring. Again, never ANY cheap ammo, no steel case combloc stuff. As low as I go is brass case FC223 to get on paper during zeroing.
I looked really, really hard at BRT but I wanted a hard use, high volume barrel this time because all of my current ARs have SS barrels, great for precision and all but I dont tend to abuse them. This build is being built for that purpose, to be driven hard so BRTs lack of a CL barrel steered me to CA because of their reputation for quality CL barrels.
If I can get it to shoot soft and smooth then all the better. So what has port size would you request from BRT if you had these parts to build with? What's the thoughts on the BRT ported gastubes? Anybody have any firsthand?

[ABNAK]

I know this will sound ammo-snobbish but g-damn, why the hell does a significant part of the industry cater to cheap asses who shoot shit ammunition? Not just cater to them per se, but make it so that the rest of us who don't shoot cheap crap have no other choice? I absolutely REFUSE to shoot steel-cased garbage through my AR's (that's why AK's exist). I won't even shoot PMC as I've had issues with function in a 20" A1 clone. The only .223 pressure fodder I have are 64gr Gold Dots, and they are hardly weak and work fine. The rest is all 5.56mm NATO pressure stuff. Whether it's M193, M855, Mk262, Mk318, Hornady Tap T2, and a little M855A1 I came across it's all full-on stuff.

If you shoot Wolf/Tula/Brown Bear/etc. through your AR then more power to ya. I just don't want a barrel gassed for that crap.

[Leonidas24]

I emailed them also after I received the barrel to ask why they went with a .080 gas port. Thee reply I got was because people shoot low powered ammo so they felt .080 was the best of both worlds.

I then emailed Black River Tactical about a BRT Micro Tun Gas Port and they recommended a .071- .073 for a diet of quality brass 5.56 and 223 ammo.
I have a BRT micro tune gas port in another over gassed barrel that I've been extremely satisfied with.

I got a reply this morning and was told that their last order from FNH was sourced with .080 ports, and they were trying to sell off what they had before exploring a smaller gas port. Apparently the order was rather large, as they're making 14.5" mids and 12.5" mids cut down from 16" barrels as well. They are not currently doing custom ports on CHF barrels from what the reply said.

*Sigh* I can't recommend the 12.5 carbine barrel enough, it's just stupid pleasant to shoot, but .080 is pretty dang big for a 16" mid. Next size down is Sionics and BCM at .076, then DD at .073 (I think.)

edit: I have to imagine Corrie lets out a sigh every time she has to answer this question.

[17K]

I've had a few of BCM's .076" and I always felt like they were gassed a little hotter than a 16" Colt carbine.

I liked BCM's first 14.5" mids. 5.56 ammo with a carbine buffer and it ran soft and smooth.

Big gas ports and heavy buffers are clunky and kick hard and are just aggravating to shoot.

[mark5pt56]

I feel my CA middy is on the porn star side. I may explore one of BRT nozzles. I just don't feel like pulling it apart. I wonder why they specified .080?