18" Rifle Length AR-15 Barrel - Page 2

rugerdawg · November 19, 2013, 07:37 AM

A bit pricey but if real accuracy is a must JPRifles has both medium/light 18" rifle gas barrels. I picked up the light weight and it is a tack driver (1/2 MOA with premium ammo) at 100 yds. It also came with their enhanced bolt which was a nice plus.

MarkCO · November 19, 2013, 10:45 AM

rugerdawg, the Nordic barrels are made on the same machinery as the JP barrels...just cost a little less and have a few improvements...

CTS · November 19, 2013, 03:05 PM

AR Performance usually carries an 18" rifle gas as a 3 gun barrel but they are out of stock at the current time.

F23Blackwidow2 · November 19, 2013, 11:33 PM

Rugerdawg, thanks for the suggestion, but those barrels are just to expensive for my budget.

Metal God, you may not see those pics in a while. I'm putting it together on college budget. It's gonna take a while. Thanks for the support though.

Little Wolf · February 17, 2014, 03:02 PM

Quote:

"Mil-Spec" worshippers are probably the largest reason you don't see rifle gas on 18". 18" barrels are not common in the Military, but they are likely the best all-around version. The main reason they are even out there is because the 3Gunners kept screaming for them. I've run several Monte Carlo analysis models and with rifle gas, 18.5" is about optimum when all the parameters are considered.

What size gassport did you find worked best with the 18.5" barrel?

FordV8 · February 17, 2014, 07:04 PM

If memory serves me, Crane specs a .104 port on the mk12.

I'm running a .96 port on a HBAR mk12 clone, 18" barrel, with rifle buffer. It's reliable and soft recoiling.

rugerdawg · February 18, 2014, 07:57 AM

I did purchase a 16" nordic barrel a few years back. I believe Lilja was making them for Nordic at that time and it was a great barrel. I have not tried the newer Nordic barrels but am seriously thinking about the 18" Nordic as its reviews really seem encouraging.

Little Wolf · February 18, 2014, 02:15 PM

FordV8, how does that .96 port cycle low powered .223, like pmc bronze, or russian steel cased ammo?

FordV8 · February 18, 2014, 09:49 PM

Little Wolf

I've had no troubles with any ammo yet. Including PMC, a few NATO milsurps, some UMC, American Eagle, some Ultramax, and a few boxes each of Silver and Brown Bear.

Though, I mostly shoot Hornady and Federal.

Round count is only around 400. I'll begin to trust her at 1000!

WeedWacker · February 20, 2014, 05:24 AM

I have one of these BCM uppers. Rcoil is minimal een with the A2 birdcage. No complaints other than the handguard makes it heavier in the front than I would like. (Mine has a Midwest Industries one piece SS free float rail)

HiBC · February 20, 2014, 05:26 AM

The Daniel Defense 18 in S2W bbl is in your price range.Hammer forged,chrome lined.I'll trust mine to give a 3 shot group you can cover with a quarter.(I know,that will bellyache some folks.It works for me)

Another barrel in your price range would be a White Oak.They offer SPR barrels.I have not tried one,but I'd spend my money on one.

MarkCO · December 6, 2014, 04:48 PM

Quote:

What size gassport did you find worked best with the 18.5" barrel?

Only bringing back an old thread to answer a question I never did, which was just emailed to me.

Based on the program, a 0.89 gas port size would have been optimum for the 18.5" barrel. BUT, I never built one or tested it. 18" was pretty darn close and so that is what we went with, with a little larger gas port than my analysis gave me for margin of error in the ammo. I have since designed two more barrels and am looking at some other parameters. Nothing over 18" in any of the calibers I have been experimenting with (.450Corvette, 6.5PCC, .300BO or .223) offers any real advantages in the AR15 platform. There is so much that can be done with load changes and ancillary parts that longer barrels are of no use to me.

Driving 320 slugs at 2200, 107 grain slugs at 2700 and 69 grain slugs 2800 is about as good as one is going to get from the AR15 platform without significant amounts of custom parts and tuning.

November 19, 2013, 10:45 AM	#27
MarkCO Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 1998 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 4,308	rugerdawg, the Nordic barrels are made on the same machinery as the JP barrels...just cost a little less and have a few improvements... __________________ Good Shooting, MarkCO www.CarbonArms.us

November 19, 2013, 11:33 PM	#29
F23Blackwidow2 Member Join Date: January 30, 2013 Location: NY, sadly. Posts: 80	Rugerdawg, thanks for the suggestion, but those barrels are just to expensive for my budget. Metal God, you may not see those pics in a while. I'm putting it together on college budget. It's gonna take a while. Thanks for the support though. __________________ Just a young guy that likes old cars and straight shooting guns

February 20, 2014, 05:24 AM	#35
WeedWacker Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2006 Location: Body: Clarkston, Washington. Soul: LaCrosse, Wisconsin Posts: 1,591	I have one of these BCM uppers. Rcoil is minimal een with the A2 birdcage. No complaints other than the handguard makes it heavier in the front than I would like. (Mine has a Midwest Industries one piece SS free float rail) __________________ - Jon Disequilibrium facilitates accommodation. 9mm vs .45 ACP? The answer is .429

November 19, 2013, 07:37 AM	#26
rugerdawg Member Join Date: February 18, 2009 Posts: 68	A bit pricey but if real accuracy is a must JPRifles has both medium/light 18" rifle gas barrels. I picked up the light weight and it is a tack driver (1/2 MOA with premium ammo) at 100 yds. It also came with their enhanced bolt which was a nice plus.

November 19, 2013, 03:05 PM	#28
CTS Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2011 Location: NE Georgia Posts: 1,070	AR Performance usually carries an 18" rifle gas as a 3 gun barrel but they are out of stock at the current time.

February 17, 2014, 07:04 PM	#31
FordV8 Member Join Date: February 17, 2011 Location: Southern USA Posts: 29	If memory serves me, Crane specs a .104 port on the mk12. I'm running a .96 port on a HBAR mk12 clone, 18" barrel, with rifle buffer. It's reliable and soft recoiling.

February 18, 2014, 07:57 AM	#32
rugerdawg Member Join Date: February 18, 2009 Posts: 68	I did purchase a 16" nordic barrel a few years back. I believe Lilja was making them for Nordic at that time and it was a great barrel. I have not tried the newer Nordic barrels but am seriously thinking about the 18" Nordic as its reviews really seem encouraging.

February 18, 2014, 02:15 PM	#33
Little Wolf Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2005 Posts: 168	FordV8, how does that .96 port cycle low powered .223, like pmc bronze, or russian steel cased ammo?

February 18, 2014, 09:49 PM	#34
FordV8 Member Join Date: February 17, 2011 Location: Southern USA Posts: 29	Little Wolf I've had no troubles with any ammo yet. Including PMC, a few NATO milsurps, some UMC, American Eagle, some Ultramax, and a few boxes each of Silver and Brown Bear. Though, I mostly shoot Hornady and Federal. Round count is only around 400. I'll begin to trust her at 1000!

February 20, 2014, 05:26 AM	#36
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,286	The Daniel Defense 18 in S2W bbl is in your price range.Hammer forged,chrome lined.I'll trust mine to give a 3 shot group you can cover with a quarter.(I know,that will bellyache some folks.It works for me) Another barrel in your price range would be a White Oak.They offer SPR barrels.I have not tried one,but I'd spend my money on one.