can't find a barrel, suggestions?

[a77ssii]

Presently have a 1:7 16" on my AR but I've gotten tired of having to sort and separate my ammo for the AR & bolt gun. Does anyone know if there's a barrel for the AR that's 16" standard contour (don't need a bull) that's chambered in .223/5.56 with a 1:14 twist rate? I shoot Nosler 35gr BT's or 30gr Varmint Grenades out of the bolt gun (1:14 barrel) and want to share ammo, needless to say the 1:7 twist rate doesn't handle the light bullet very well. I've put up with it for 2 years now and finally decided it's change barrels to the slow twist (if I can find one) or sell it. Because of this I've only put 2 mag loads through it in 2 years, yes 60 rounds in 2 years. Whereas I've put 1000+ through the bolt gun.

[Byte Stryke]

have you tried a 1/9?

[a77ssii]

No I haven't but from my understanding my little 30-35 grainers won't be very stable with that quick of a twist. I've been told it needed to be at least 1:12, I was looking at 1:14 because that's what my bolt gun is and it loves the light stuff, quarter sized groups. I'm trying to streamline, I got rid of my .308 so I didn't have multiple boxes of .308 bullets and powder floating around now I just upload/download the .300WM with 1 powder and 1 bullet. I'm trying to do the same with the .223

[Hoser]

Any twist faster than a 1-14 will stabilize a 35 gn bullet.

[a77ssii]

That's strange. I've put some of my 30 & 35 grain loads through it and get horrific groups, the same rounds going through the bolt gun are touchers. I've ruled out bbl length, the AR is 16, the bolt is 18, IMO 2" isn't going to change much. If anything the AR barrel is heavier than the bolt barrel. The only thing it cold be is the twist, my handloads for the AR are in the 3200fps realm with a 55gr bullet, my handloads for the bolt gun are a little beyond the red level for pressure/velocity at 4050fps which is why I was going for the twist rate. The bullets are so small I can't discern keyholing just bad groups. And before anyone comments about the reloads, I worked up to them and have no case damage or ejection issues, they slide right out of the chamber. In fact I can rechamber a piece or fired brass with no problem.

[jerrymrc]

I would try and find one of the ex A1 uppers or barrel. I have a 1-12 on my A1. Even a good one will not be what your bolt gun is. Or just have one made.

[Hoser]

And before anyone comments about the reloads, I worked up to them and have no case damage or ejection issues, they slide right out of the chamber. In fact I can rechamber a piece or fired brass with no problem.

Just because your bolt gun thinks your ammo is accurate doesent mean your AR will.

I have shot 35 gn bullets out of my 22BR with an 1-8 twist Lilja barrel into under 0.5 MOA.

My 1-8 twist ARs put most 55 gn bullets into 0.5-1.0 MOA.

It just might be that your AR doesnt like that load or it just isnt an accurate gun.

Keep in mind that shooting groups with an AR is *much* more difficult than shooting a bolt gun.

[Byte Stryke]

Keep in mind that shooting groups with an AR is *much* more difficult than shooting a bolt gun.

QFT
the AR isnt exactly a long range target-match grade, " knock a mite off of a gnats ass" type of weapon

as where Bolt weapons are intended to be (or somewhere near that.)

[a77ssii]

I'm shooting about .5-1MOA depending upon whether or not my eyes are crossed with the bolt gun whereas regardless of what I do the best I can squeeze out of the AR is 3MOA which is unacceptable. A custom barrel is out of the question, IMO it's not worth it. I'll find it a new home first. Thanks for the A1 info, I'm gonna see if anything pops up and at the same time I'm researching Daewoo so if nothing works out with the barrel swap I can try and trade it off.

[jerrymrc]

I'm shooting about .5-1MOA depending upon whether or not my eyes are crossed with the bolt gun whereas regardless of what I do the best I can squeeze out of the AR is 3MOA which is unacceptable. A custom barrel is out of the question, IMO it's not worth it. I'll find it a new home first. Thanks for the A1 info, I'm gonna see if anything pops up and at the same time I'm researching Daewoo so if nothing works out with the barrel swap I can try and trade it off.

Since ya brought it up I know you are aware that the Daewoo you are looking for is a DR200 (1-12) Ace makes the pieces to make one nice. ;)

[a77ssii]

That depends, while I've seen the parts Ace makes I would either leave it thumbhole or see about a clubfoot. I have no desire for a side folder, underfolder or any other kind of folder nor another 6 position. I shoot for accuracy and without a stock it's spray and pray which IMO is a waste of ammo. I just have to look at reliability, parts cost/availability and whether I'll gain in accuracy or if I should just say screw it and trade it off for a .338RUM. But first and foremost I want to exhaust every effort to find an affordable A1 barrel since I do already have the AR.

[Hoser]

Define affordable.

[a77ssii]

Affordable would be around $200, I paid $400 for the complete upper and $100 for the complete RR lower.

[KimberLover]

http://www.gunkings.com/
16" $139.00
Jim seemed to be a good guy to deal with.
Phone number on the site.

[GunsRBadMMMMKay]

seen these while I was killing time on gb. non-lined military http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=248841974

[Great-Kazoo]

Olympic Arms SUM bbl. their stainless ultra match 1:10 is an excellent bbl to run your ammo out of. OR the pencil bbl 1:12 twist colts.

[NW CO Raptor Feeding]

Check Out the AR Stoner barrels from Midway, they are very reasonable, Wylde Chamber, 1n8 spin. Both mine shoot 40gr Vmax @ 3800 under .5 MOA. At those speeds they do unspeakable things to P-dogs, and vaporize Ground Squirrels.

[alexc]

i always thought barnes v grenades were good in faster barrels since they are longer bullets per their weight? (no lead)