Wilson Arms Barrels - Are They Good?

Shooter2675 · January 28, 2015, 08:13 AM

I'm looking at building an AR-15 capable of 1 inch groups at 100 yards. I was looking looking at this barrel by Wilson Arms:

http://www.jsesurplus.com/wilsonarms...lstripped.aspx

It is stainless steel, has a Wylde chamber, and has 1x8 twist. I know 24 inches is long but this would be a purely target rifle I'd only shoot at the range. I already have a 16 inch upper just wanted something a bit more accurate. What do you think of it?

John

Shooter2675 · January 28, 2015, 01:36 PM

Nobody has any experience with these barrels?

precision_shooter · January 28, 2015, 02:07 PM

I think Rock River uses Wilson barrels in their AR's, and the RRA rifles are regarded as some of the most accurate AR's built for the money.

Shooter2675 · January 28, 2015, 02:23 PM

Ok, so it sounds like it should be good to go. Do you think a .223 Wylde would hl accuracy at all or is it not worth the money? The only 24 inch Wilson barrel I can find is .223 Wylde but would be open to other ideas.

John

rickyrick · January 28, 2015, 02:30 PM

The Wylde chamber is a compromise between 5.56 and 223 it is said to be accurate... I haven't used a rifle with a Wylde chamber yet

precision_shooter · January 28, 2015, 03:14 PM

The Wylde chamber allows you to shoot both Mil-surp 5.56x45 ammo as well as commercial .223 ammo. Both of the Rock River AR's I've owned have had it. Come to think of it, I think all Rock River rifles at one point had it. Shouldn't see any discernible accuracy difference with the wylde chamber vs non wylde.

Beentown71 · January 28, 2015, 03:39 PM

I prefer a Wylde chamber. Wilson barrels have always served me well.

Shooter2675 · January 28, 2015, 04:32 PM

Ok, Wilson barrel it is. Thanks!

John

Shooter2675 · January 28, 2015, 04:56 PM

One more question, do you think I would be better off getting a Wilson Arms 24 inch stainless or a Wilson Arms 20 inch Match. Is the match better or is the extra four inches of barrel important for ACCURACY (not ease of use, weight, or hunting, just accuracy)?

John

precision_shooter · January 28, 2015, 06:49 PM

There will be negligible difference in accuracy from 20"-24". Depending on ammo, you may lose a little velocity (100fps or less). Me personally, I wouldn't go any longer than 20".

The Match may just be a longer throat to allow seating heavy bullets out longer in the case. I'm sure either will serve you fine, but why haul around the extra weight of the 24" if you don't have to?

Shooter2675 · January 28, 2015, 07:10 PM

Good point. I'll get the 20 inch. Do you think a 1x8 twist rate is acceptable? Most stainless barrels I see are that twist rate and was wondering if it could handle the heavier bullets like an 80 grain or 75 grain BTHP hornady match bullet.

John

precision_shooter · January 28, 2015, 07:20 PM

Should handle those weights fine. I just shot a match with a guy shooting a remington bolt action in .223 with 1:9 twist using 77gr bullets with great accuracy.

Shooter2675 · January 28, 2015, 08:03 PM

Ok, thank you.

John

cryogenic419 · January 29, 2015, 05:47 AM

RRA uses these in their NM models and I could swear I heard that White Oak uses them on their baseline service rifle uppers.

The twist rate will let you use a pretty wide range of bullet weights. Seems most of the .223/5.56 match rifles are using the Wylde chamber, that's got to say something about its accuracy potential.

SSGN_Doc · January 29, 2015, 07:39 AM

Have shot and shot against other shooters who use Wilson 1:8 Stainless 20"Match barrel in Service rifle completion. They are a very accurate barrel. The 1:8 twist will accommodate bullet weights up into the 80 gr range (getting heavier than 77gr may mean that you can't put the rounds in the mag though).

In maches I've been in the supplied ammo was 77 gr Mk 262 or Mk 262 Mod 1 ammo that used 77 Gr Sierra Open Tip Match bullets. These barrels handle these rounds just fine.

20" vs 24". Velocity is the only real advantage of the 24". To take advantage of it you should be handloading and running some slightly slower burning powders. Otherwise 2 barrels of the same profile, or external diameter and equally good bores would find the shorter barrel to be slightly more rigid and more consistent. This is partly why longer barrels are also often heavier profiles, to add rigidity.

Shooter2675 · January 29, 2015, 03:16 PM

Ok,thank you. The 20 inch match barrel is 0.875 inches and the 24 inch is 0.936 inches. Does that make a difference? And also, since you said you have shot against someone, I'm assuming you have competed in matches, so I have several questions. One, what is the most common barrel length? Also, do most people use .223 Wylde? Or a 5.56? Or do they use a .223 remington chambers? One last question... What barrel would YOU recommend for around $250 or less? I like the Wilson but just wanted your opinion.

John

illusion · January 30, 2015, 02:11 PM

I believe you will find WHITE OAK barrels are from blanks made by WILSON unless marked otherwise. They do nice work.

10-96 · January 31, 2015, 01:52 AM

Illusion-

Just for a wee bit of clarification, White Oak Armament uses Wilson barrels. White Oak Precision uses Krieger. I didn't know that until about a week ago when paper work, fliers, etc showed up with a 6.8 bbl I'd ordered.

Then, there was the bit in there about "if demand outweighs supplies of barrels, other sources will be used if they are found to be of high enough quality". Not exact wording, but close enough.

January 28, 2015, 08:13 AM	#1
Shooter2675 Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 382	Wilson Arms Barrels - Are They Good? I'm looking at building an AR-15 capable of 1 inch groups at 100 yards. I was looking looking at this barrel by Wilson Arms: http://www.jsesurplus.com/wilsonarms...lstripped.aspx It is stainless steel, has a Wylde chamber, and has 1x8 twist. I know 24 inches is long but this would be a purely target rifle I'd only shoot at the range. I already have a 16 inch upper just wanted something a bit more accurate. What do you think of it? John Last edited by Shooter2675; January 28, 2015 at 09:22 AM.

January 28, 2015, 02:07 PM	#3
precision_shooter Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 2,475	I think Rock River uses Wilson barrels in their AR's, and the RRA rifles are regarded as some of the most accurate AR's built for the money. __________________ "Laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes...Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man." - Thomas Jefferson, 1776

January 28, 2015, 02:30 PM	#5
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	The Wylde chamber is a compromise between 5.56 and 223 it is said to be accurate... I haven't used a rifle with a Wylde chamber yet __________________ Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!!

January 28, 2015, 03:14 PM	#6
precision_shooter Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 2,475	The Wylde chamber allows you to shoot both Mil-surp 5.56x45 ammo as well as commercial .223 ammo. Both of the Rock River AR's I've owned have had it. Come to think of it, I think all Rock River rifles at one point had it. Shouldn't see any discernible accuracy difference with the wylde chamber vs non wylde. __________________ "Laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes...Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man." - Thomas Jefferson, 1776

January 28, 2015, 06:49 PM	#10
precision_shooter Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 2,475	There will be negligible difference in accuracy from 20"-24". Depending on ammo, you may lose a little velocity (100fps or less). Me personally, I wouldn't go any longer than 20". The Match may just be a longer throat to allow seating heavy bullets out longer in the case. I'm sure either will serve you fine, but why haul around the extra weight of the 24" if you don't have to? __________________ "Laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes...Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man." - Thomas Jefferson, 1776

January 28, 2015, 01:36 PM	#2
Shooter2675 Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 382	Nobody has any experience with these barrels?

January 28, 2015, 02:23 PM	#4
Shooter2675 Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 382	Ok, so it sounds like it should be good to go. Do you think a .223 Wylde would hl accuracy at all or is it not worth the money? The only 24 inch Wilson barrel I can find is .223 Wylde but would be open to other ideas. John

January 28, 2015, 03:39 PM	#7
Beentown71 Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Location: Midwest Posts: 1,560	I prefer a Wylde chamber. Wilson barrels have always served me well.

January 28, 2015, 04:32 PM	#8
Shooter2675 Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 382	Ok, Wilson barrel it is. Thanks! John

January 28, 2015, 04:56 PM	#9
Shooter2675 Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 382	One more question, do you think I would be better off getting a Wilson Arms 24 inch stainless or a Wilson Arms 20 inch Match. Is the match better or is the extra four inches of barrel important for ACCURACY (not ease of use, weight, or hunting, just accuracy)? John

January 28, 2015, 07:10 PM	#11
Shooter2675 Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 382	Good point. I'll get the 20 inch. Do you think a 1x8 twist rate is acceptable? Most stainless barrels I see are that twist rate and was wondering if it could handle the heavier bullets like an 80 grain or 75 grain BTHP hornady match bullet. John __________________ "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

January 28, 2015, 07:20 PM	#12
precision_shooter Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 2,475	Should handle those weights fine. I just shot a match with a guy shooting a remington bolt action in .223 with 1:9 twist using 77gr bullets with great accuracy. __________________ "Laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes...Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man." - Thomas Jefferson, 1776

January 28, 2015, 08:03 PM	#13
Shooter2675 Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 382	Ok, thank you. John __________________ "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

January 29, 2015, 05:47 AM	#14
cryogenic419 Senior Member Join Date: March 29, 2009 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 569	RRA uses these in their NM models and I could swear I heard that White Oak uses them on their baseline service rifle uppers. The twist rate will let you use a pretty wide range of bullet weights. Seems most of the .223/5.56 match rifles are using the Wylde chamber, that's got to say something about its accuracy potential.

January 29, 2015, 07:39 AM	#15
SSGN_Doc Member Join Date: November 29, 2014 Posts: 61	Have shot and shot against other shooters who use Wilson 1:8 Stainless 20"Match barrel in Service rifle completion. They are a very accurate barrel. The 1:8 twist will accommodate bullet weights up into the 80 gr range (getting heavier than 77gr may mean that you can't put the rounds in the mag though). In maches I've been in the supplied ammo was 77 gr Mk 262 or Mk 262 Mod 1 ammo that used 77 Gr Sierra Open Tip Match bullets. These barrels handle these rounds just fine. 20" vs 24". Velocity is the only real advantage of the 24". To take advantage of it you should be handloading and running some slightly slower burning powders. Otherwise 2 barrels of the same profile, or external diameter and equally good bores would find the shorter barrel to be slightly more rigid and more consistent. This is partly why longer barrels are also often heavier profiles, to add rigidity.

January 29, 2015, 03:16 PM	#16
Shooter2675 Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 382	Ok,thank you. The 20 inch match barrel is 0.875 inches and the 24 inch is 0.936 inches. Does that make a difference? And also, since you said you have shot against someone, I'm assuming you have competed in matches, so I have several questions. One, what is the most common barrel length? Also, do most people use .223 Wylde? Or a 5.56? Or do they use a .223 remington chambers? One last question... What barrel would YOU recommend for around $250 or less? I like the Wilson but just wanted your opinion. John __________________ "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

January 30, 2015, 02:11 PM	#17
illusion Member Join Date: January 13, 2015 Posts: 20	Wilson barrels I believe you will find WHITE OAK barrels are from blanks made by WILSON unless marked otherwise. They do nice work.

January 31, 2015, 01:52 AM	#18
10-96 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Location: Tx Panhandle Territory Posts: 4,159	Illusion- Just for a wee bit of clarification, White Oak Armament uses Wilson barrels. White Oak Precision uses Krieger. I didn't know that until about a week ago when paper work, fliers, etc showed up with a 6.8 bbl I'd ordered. Then, there was the bit in there about "if demand outweighs supplies of barrels, other sources will be used if they are found to be of high enough quality". Not exact wording, but close enough. __________________ Rednecks... Keeping the woods critter-free since March 2, 1836. (TX Independence Day) I suspect a thing or two... because I've seen a thing or two.