AR Barrel: look at these two and help me decide.

kymasabe · November 8, 2018, 10:39 PM

I'm looking to build another AR, a beater, a truck gun, something I don't worry about putting a scratch on. I've got an stripped Anderson slick side upper receiver ordered, and will probably be ordering an Anderson stripped lower soon as well. Am thinking about two barrels for the build.
First is an Anderson .223 Wylde, 16 inch, carbine gas, 1:8, I've used one before, really wasn't a bad barrel. Accuracy was typical for a $100 barrel, nothing special, no better or worse than some of the PSA barrels I've had in the past. But, in my search, I decided to look at Bear Creek, and found a similar barrel for half the price (is 5.56 however, not .223 Wylde but...).
My concern is the old adage "you get what you pay for" and am worried that the BCA barrel might be total cr@p. So, thought I'd let you all see them both, and tell me what you think.

https://www.andersonmanufacturing.co...black-nitride/
https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/b556cm41618-m

Yes, I know Faxon, and FN and Ballistic are far better barrels, just out of my price range right now. My "real" AR has Ballistic receivers and a Ballistic barrel, this build is just a budget spare.

ed308 · November 8, 2018, 11:18 PM

I'd go with the Anderson barrel. When it comes to barrels, you do get what you pay for. Plus, I've read way too many poor reviews about Bear Creek barrels. Listen to what your gut is telling you.

armoredman · November 9, 2018, 05:32 AM

I have a Bear Creek 223 Wylde barrel, carbine length, 1-8, and with a very small sample so far it seems to shoot about 3-4 MOA from a front rest, iron sights with my 55gr VMAX reloads. That is literally ALL I know - my very first AR and very first build as well. I look forward to finding out what it does like.
I have heard the same about getting what you pay for but a gunsmith I know actually like BCA barrels for budget builds, if match accuracy is not what's on your mind.

Mobuck · November 9, 2018, 07:45 AM

I bought a pair of BCA barrels from Primary Arms a couple weeks back. They included stripped uppers for about $180 for the pair. Danged hard to beat that for a knock-around.
One completed upper is dedicated to Hornady "Steel Match" and is in that under 1" @ 100 yards category. The other is fairly impressive throwing Hornady Frontier 55 "match" and Hornady 55 V-max to same POI averaging 1" composite(both loads) groups.
On the other hand, I'm not significantly impressed with the BCA 6.5 Grendel barrel I've been shooting. It's marginally "OK" for deer hunting but an under-achiever for precision shooting.

ed308 · November 9, 2018, 11:24 AM

Those BCA barrels seem to be hit or miss when it comes to accuracy.

FrankenMauser · November 9, 2018, 12:03 PM

I've heard too many negatives about BCA quality.

I'd prefer the Anderson, based on that, alone.

But, I also have an Anderson 'varmint' barrel (and maybe another?), with a few more in the family. All of us have been quite satisfied. My own Anderson barrel was part of an exercise in seeing how cheaply I could build a half decent .223 varmint upper**; but is on par with my BHW barrel -- the former typically shooting about 3/4 MoA with run of the mill reloads. Given proper attention and bespoke handloads, it would probably do notably better.

One of my brothers has been quite satisfied with a BCA 6.8 barrel, though. I think ed308 said it as plainly as possible: BCA barrels are hit-and-miss.

**(The answer was $93, including the barrel.)

kymasabe · November 9, 2018, 12:05 PM

Problem solved: $69 !! Primary Arms flash sale !!
https://www.primaryarms.com/ballisti...Flashsale_Cali

ed308 · November 9, 2018, 08:32 PM

Nice barrel. I like that it's a mid gas and nitride treated. Could be why it was so cheap since mids aren't as popular for that barrel style. Hope you got one before they sold out.

kymasabe · November 9, 2018, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ed308

Nice barrel. I like that it's a mid gas and nitride treated. Could be why it was so cheap since mids aren't as popular for that barrel style. Hope you got one before they sold out.

Yes, I did manage to snag one this morning shortly after the FlashSale was announced.

Nathan · November 11, 2018, 05:58 PM

That BA in mid gas looks sweet. You really hit the nail on the head!

Phidelt208 · November 22, 2018, 11:38 PM

Get the Anderson, I just returned 2 Bear Creek barrels because they were so bad.
They functioned just fine, but they might as well of not had any rifling.

rickyrick · November 22, 2018, 11:50 PM

I have barrels from several makers two of them being anderson. One of them is a 1:8 twist unlined 4150 16” carbine gassed. Built it as a cheap little rifle for the wife to use; it happens to be one of my most accurate barrels. May be a fluke, but it works. I have other anderson parts among other projects. The only Anderson product I’d avoid is their LPKs. I also have some BA barrels that work well too, the finish is real nice on the BA barrels.

armoredman · November 22, 2018, 11:56 PM

I did get the BCA barrel down to 1 inch at 50 yards with good loads.

I have another on the way from the Veterans Day giveaway from Bear Creek for the next build, and we'll see how that one does.

MagnumWill · November 23, 2018, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Those BCA barrels seem to be hit or miss when it comes to accuracy.

...was that intended to be a fantastic pun...?

BumbleBug · November 23, 2018, 11:29 AM

WOW! BCA for $48. It may surprise you....

You can't lose much on that deal!

MarkCO · November 23, 2018, 12:16 PM

For a "beater" or "truck gun" the only barrels I would consider would be melonited. Nitride, QPQ, all the same really. I think the one you got would be a great choice for your purposes.

stagpanther · November 24, 2018, 06:17 PM

Very tough choice--I'd probably pass on both.

MagnumWill · November 24, 2018, 09:31 PM

Currently have a BCA 9mm 7.5" heavy barrel, got it for $69. I have no regrets so far, it's had almost 1,000 rounds through it.

Skans · November 27, 2018, 05:41 PM

Out of those two barrels, I'd opt for the $48 barrel. You won't ware it out, but if you do, then you can invest another $48 for another barrel.

rickyrick · November 27, 2018, 07:22 PM

You could get 4 of the barrels, and I bet you might get one or two of them that will shoot as good as a $200 barrel.
While I consider myself to be a decent shooter, I don’t consider myself good enough to benefit from $150 difference in barrels. Or at least, be able to perceive the extra cost; in ARs specifically.
I’ve gambled on budget barrels and won... others may experience the same.
If we had this market when I built my first few, I wouldn’t have probably tried a budget barrel.

FrankenMauser · November 27, 2018, 09:01 PM

Quote:

I’ve gambled on budget barrels and won... others may experience the same.

I've gambled on budget barrels, as well.
So far, only one has been decent - the aforementioned Anderson.
The rest weren't even acceptable as cow pie and tin can plinkers - they were garbage.

Higher end barrels? ...The only problems with any of them was a bad chamber (caused by an employee that had been let go before I even received the barrel). Even then, material and bore quality were still excellent; and the company made a replacement with some custom touches, and headspaced it to my bolt (not generic industry gauges).

rickyrick · November 27, 2018, 09:10 PM

Well, my budget barrels were Anderson, I’d buy more in the future.

stagpanther · November 28, 2018, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Well, my budget barrels were Anderson, I’d buy more in the future.

I bought one of their budget Grendel barrels on a whim--it shoots "minute of OK for use as a tire iron."

rickyrick · November 28, 2018, 01:43 AM

Seems a gamble with most budget barrels. Some not-so-budget barrel can be a gamble too.

stagpanther · November 28, 2018, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Seems a gamble with most budget barrels. Some not-so-budget barrel can be a gamble too.

I've noticed that in general the "better" barrels are usually only 100 to 200 dollars more unless you're looking for a comp space gun grade barrel. The people that make them are also far more inclined, usually, to stand behind them to make you happy. I like being able to get on the phone with someone like McGowen and have a barrel cut exactly the way I want--even if that means "stop the presses" from a production run to do a one-off profile.

In the bigger scheme of things, it really depends on how much the extra accuracy and reliability is worth to you. If you simply need a SD spray gun for shorter ranges--then the extra accuracy probably isn't a factor. If you're an OCD reloading hobbiest like me--then probably you want something that will deliver better accuracy. Couple of hundred extra bucks is nothing compared to piles of wasted ammo trying to figure out what does or does not make your barrel happy.

November 8, 2018, 10:39 PM	#1
kymasabe Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2005 Location: SW Florida Posts: 2,747	AR Barrel: look at these two and help me decide. I'm looking to build another AR, a beater, a truck gun, something I don't worry about putting a scratch on. I've got an stripped Anderson slick side upper receiver ordered, and will probably be ordering an Anderson stripped lower soon as well. Am thinking about two barrels for the build. First is an Anderson .223 Wylde, 16 inch, carbine gas, 1:8, I've used one before, really wasn't a bad barrel. Accuracy was typical for a $100 barrel, nothing special, no better or worse than some of the PSA barrels I've had in the past. But, in my search, I decided to look at Bear Creek, and found a similar barrel for half the price (is 5.56 however, not .223 Wylde but...). My concern is the old adage "you get what you pay for" and am worried that the BCA barrel might be total cr@p. So, thought I'd let you all see them both, and tell me what you think. https://www.andersonmanufacturing.co...black-nitride/ https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/b556cm41618-m Yes, I know Faxon, and FN and Ballistic are far better barrels, just out of my price range right now. My "real" AR has Ballistic receivers and a Ballistic barrel, this build is just a budget spare. __________________ God's creatures big and small, eat them one, eat them all.

November 9, 2018, 12:03 PM	#6
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	I've heard too many negatives about BCA quality. I'd prefer the Anderson, based on that, alone. But, I also have an Anderson 'varmint' barrel (and maybe another?), with a few more in the family. All of us have been quite satisfied. My own Anderson barrel was part of an exercise in seeing how cheaply I could build a half decent .223 varmint upper; but is on par with my BHW barrel -- the former typically shooting about 3/4 MoA with run of the mill reloads. Given proper attention and bespoke handloads, it would probably do notably better. One of my brothers has been quite satisfied with a BCA 6.8 barrel, though. I think ed308 said it as plainly as possible: BCA barrels are hit-and-miss. (The answer was $93, including the barrel.) __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

November 9, 2018, 12:05 PM	#7
kymasabe Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2005 Location: SW Florida Posts: 2,747	Problem solved: $69 !! Primary Arms flash sale !! https://www.primaryarms.com/ballisti...Flashsale_Cali __________________ God's creatures big and small, eat them one, eat them all. Last edited by kymasabe; November 12, 2018 at 08:54 AM.

November 23, 2018, 11:29 AM	#15
BumbleBug Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2013 Location: Near Heart of Texas Posts: 870	WOW! BCA for $48. It may surprise you.... You can't lose much on that deal! __________________ Visit my fictional blog "The dr Chronicles" about a laid-back Texan named dr - Enjoy!

November 23, 2018, 12:16 PM	#16
MarkCO Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 1998 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 4,308	For a "beater" or "truck gun" the only barrels I would consider would be melonited. Nitride, QPQ, all the same really. I think the one you got would be a great choice for your purposes. __________________ Good Shooting, MarkCO www.CarbonArms.us

November 8, 2018, 11:18 PM	#2
ed308 Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2016 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 1,147	I'd go with the Anderson barrel. When it comes to barrels, you do get what you pay for. Plus, I've read way too many poor reviews about Bear Creek barrels. Listen to what your gut is telling you.

November 9, 2018, 05:32 AM	#3
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,299	I have a Bear Creek 223 Wylde barrel, carbine length, 1-8, and with a very small sample so far it seems to shoot about 3-4 MOA from a front rest, iron sights with my 55gr VMAX reloads. That is literally ALL I know - my very first AR and very first build as well. I look forward to finding out what it does like. I have heard the same about getting what you pay for but a gunsmith I know actually like BCA barrels for budget builds, if match accuracy is not what's on your mind.

November 9, 2018, 07:45 AM	#4
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	I bought a pair of BCA barrels from Primary Arms a couple weeks back. They included stripped uppers for about $180 for the pair. Danged hard to beat that for a knock-around. One completed upper is dedicated to Hornady "Steel Match" and is in that under 1" @ 100 yards category. The other is fairly impressive throwing Hornady Frontier 55 "match" and Hornady 55 V-max to same POI averaging 1" composite(both loads) groups. On the other hand, I'm not significantly impressed with the BCA 6.5 Grendel barrel I've been shooting. It's marginally "OK" for deer hunting but an under-achiever for precision shooting.

November 9, 2018, 11:24 AM	#5
ed308 Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2016 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 1,147	Those BCA barrels seem to be hit or miss when it comes to accuracy.

November 9, 2018, 08:32 PM	#8
ed308 Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2016 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 1,147	Nice barrel. I like that it's a mid gas and nitride treated. Could be why it was so cheap since mids aren't as popular for that barrel style. Hope you got one before they sold out.

November 11, 2018, 05:58 PM	#10
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,331	That BA in mid gas looks sweet. You really hit the nail on the head!

November 22, 2018, 11:38 PM	#11
Phidelt208 member Join Date: May 8, 2013 Posts: 27	Get the Anderson, I just returned 2 Bear Creek barrels because they were so bad. They functioned just fine, but they might as well of not had any rifling.

November 22, 2018, 11:50 PM	#12
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	I have barrels from several makers two of them being anderson. One of them is a 1:8 twist unlined 4150 16” carbine gassed. Built it as a cheap little rifle for the wife to use; it happens to be one of my most accurate barrels. May be a fluke, but it works. I have other anderson parts among other projects. The only Anderson product I’d avoid is their LPKs. I also have some BA barrels that work well too, the finish is real nice on the BA barrels.

November 22, 2018, 11:56 PM	#13
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,299	I did get the BCA barrel down to 1 inch at 50 yards with good loads. I have another on the way from the Veterans Day giveaway from Bear Creek for the next build, and we'll see how that one does.

November 24, 2018, 06:17 PM	#17
stagpanther Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2014 Posts: 11,784	Very tough choice--I'd probably pass on both. __________________ "Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill *I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk!*

November 24, 2018, 09:31 PM	#18
MagnumWill Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Location: Central Colorado Posts: 1,001	Currently have a BCA 9mm 7.5" heavy barrel, got it for $69. I have no regrets so far, it's had almost 1,000 rounds through it. __________________ Those who hammer their swords into plow shares will plow for those who didn't...

November 27, 2018, 05:41 PM	#19
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,132	Out of those two barrels, I'd opt for the $48 barrel. You won't ware it out, but if you do, then you can invest another $48 for another barrel.

November 27, 2018, 07:22 PM	#20
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	You could get 4 of the barrels, and I bet you might get one or two of them that will shoot as good as a $200 barrel. While I consider myself to be a decent shooter, I don’t consider myself good enough to benefit from $150 difference in barrels. Or at least, be able to perceive the extra cost; in ARs specifically. I’ve gambled on budget barrels and won... others may experience the same. If we had this market when I built my first few, I wouldn’t have probably tried a budget barrel.

November 27, 2018, 09:10 PM	#22
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	Well, my budget barrels were Anderson, I’d buy more in the future.

November 28, 2018, 01:43 AM	#24
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	Seems a gamble with most budget barrels. Some not-so-budget barrel can be a gamble too.