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.

[alexc]

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