do cheap bull barrels shoot?

[sportbikeco]

Thinking about building a bull bbl ar .223, are the cheap stainless barrels on the market for $100ish bucks capable of good accuracy or do you need the spend the dough on more "name brand" barrels to get the most out of an AR?

[ray1970]

If $100 barrels were real tack drivers then why even bother selling barrels for $300, $450, or whatever? There's a reason a cheaper barrel doesn't cost as much as a more expensive barrel.

Now, that being said, I'm not bashing the lower priced stuff. Some of it can be surprisingly good. But, since you mentioned the heavy barrel, what are your expectations for this? 1/4" groups at 100 yards? Or will sub 1" groups make you happy.

I was just doing a bunch of research and was going to build a precision type AR. If I know what your objective or intended purpose for the rifle is I might be able to share some of what I've learned.

[Hoser]

Run away.

Cry once and get a decent barrel. It does not have to be a bull barrel to shoot well.

[ray1970]

It does not have to be a bull barrel to shoot well.

Yep. That's one thing I found during all of my research. There are plenty of standard profile barrels capable of excellent accuracy.

[Tim K]

White Oak Armament. I've used lots of these. One is responsible for the best group I've ever shot, 5 shots into 1/8". Every one I've personally tried has shot in the 1/4" range.

https://www.whiteoakarmament.com/xcart/product.php?productid=17518&cat=312&page=2

[Great-Kazoo]

You get what you pay for. However having a $300+ bbl doesn't mean squat. IF you don't have a load for it and the tool behind the tool isn't up to par.

[Alpha2]

I believe that an expensive barrel with an incompatible load will not shoot as well as a cheap barrel with a compatible load. But...an expensive barrel, with a compatible load, now that will do something special. Assuming you do your part!

[68Charger]

It's all relative- but don't get a bull profile because you think the thicker walls will make it more accurate- the reasoning is that the heavier barrel is more stable... the extra mass helps to keep it from moving around as much (inertia), and because the extra mass takes longer to heat up & string (an excellent barrel won't string too much when it heats up anyway)

you have to wonder why it's cheap... sometimes it's because the tooling was getting dull, so the lands and grooves wind up malformed... or various other process issues that result in poor quality, so they sell it as seconds.

And just because it's expensive doesn't mean it will be accurate... but if the company stands behind it, they'll work with you to resolve it.

As others have said, there are other factors- if you take a great 1 in 12 twist .223 barrel, and run 77gr ammo, it'll shoot like crap (won't spin fast enough to stabilize bullets that weight.) Think of it as a system, and the barrel is just one part of that system.

What do you mean by 'good' accuracy? sub MOA probably is very unlikely with a budget barrel

[sportbikeco]

I guess I'd like it to shoot 1" or less groups at 100yds with hand loaded ammo.

I would mostly use it to punch paper and maybe shoot some p-dogs.

[ray1970]

There are probably more than a couple of companies out there that guarantee their barrels to shoot under 1" @ 100 yards. I've seen standard profile barrels from Rainier and Mega Arms shoot some pretty impressive groups out of a $250 barrel.

[Great-Kazoo]

I guess I'd like it to shoot 1" or less groups at 100yds with hand loaded ammo.

I would mostly use it to punch paper and maybe shoot some p-dogs.

An off the rack factory build can do that. As mentioned before, load development.

[TheBelly]

http://youtu.be/HHcSQ3d7nVY

93m .4" group from a 16" Rainier Ultra Match barrel.

[davsel]

I've shot my best groups with an AR Stoner barrel (18", Stainless, 1 in 8, mid-weight, fluted, Wylde chamber) from Midway for just over $260.
I've also shot great groups with a Rainier (16", Stainless, 1 in 8, mid-weight, Wylde chamber) from Rainier for just over $250.

"They" say coated barrels, chrome or otherwise, can have varying thickness of coating, which may lead to less accuracy.
"Others" say not.