223 Wylde Barrel options

[diveski11]

I currently have a BCA side charger upper and lower with Timber Creek lightweight furniture and a 16 in Faxon pencil barrel. This rig is SNAPPY and not great groupings, in general, vs a more standard build. My first pass will be to play around with an adjustable buffer weight (easy, inexpensive, not permanent). 1:8 twist is a good range for 69-77 grain decent ammo.

I'm 5'2", in the lower AARP age group, not extremely strong, and don't get to shoot very often. I want a less snappy and improved precision barrel for this rifle for 100-400 yds KD "square" range shooting a few days per year. I'm not competing, per se, but want to do reasonably well amongst more serious shooters on the line. Not willing to put more than $300 into a new barrel for these reasons.

Initial thoughts for a slightly better barrel that increase weight slightly and affordable:
Faxon 16 in heavy fluted (mid length gas system)
Faxon 18 in Gunner (rifle length gas system)

 

[VinceU1]

I think there's a reason the run and gun crowd tend use to 18inch barrels. You can use a long/thin barrel with a good brake on the end of it and end up with an accurate rifle. I used to use the JP breaks and they work really well. Though I would caution anyone standing just to your left or your right.

 

[Sc1873]

Go with the Faxon 18 inch and my favorite are the Dead Air Key-Mo brakes

 

[natdscott]

I currently have a BCA side charger upper and lower with Timber Creek lightweight furniture and a 16 in Faxon pencil barrel. This rig is SNAPPY and not great groupings, in general, vs a more standard build. My first pass will be to play around with an adjustable buffer weight (easy, inexpensive, not permanent). 1:8 twist is a good range for 69-77 grain decent ammo.

I'm 5'2", in the lower AARP age group, not extremely strong, and don't get to shoot very often. I want a less snappy and improved precision barrel for this rifle for 100-400 yds KD "square" range shooting a few days per year. I'm not competing, per se, but want to do reasonably well amongst more serious shooters on the line. Not willing to put more than $300 into a new barrel for these reasons.

Initial thoughts for a slightly better barrel that increase weight slightly and affordable:
Faxon 16 in heavy fluted (mid length gas system)
Faxon 18 in Gunner (rifle length gas system)

With a solid budget of $300, I can think of no good reason to avoid a real match grade barrel.

Shop Barrels | White Oak Armament

Find the best selection and prices on in-stock Barrels.

www.whiteoakarmament.com

Not mass-produced. A lot of guys here have garages bigger than John's whole shop. Not many garages have won more titles, though.

 

[diveski11]

With a solid budget of $300, I can think of no good reason to avoid a real match grade barrel.

Shop Barrels | White Oak Armament

Find the best selection and prices on in-stock Barrels.

www.whiteoakarmament.com

Not mass-produced. A lot of guys here have garages bigger than John's whole shop. Not many garages have won more titles, though.

Which WOA would you recommend?

 

[natdscott]

The standard White Oak branded barrels are made with Wilson blanks.

They fit your usage pattern, budget, and needed precision...generally about 3/4 Minute barrels; they are non-chromed stainless, but you won't be shooting it enough, or hot enough, that you need chrome. NO premium accuracy barrel is chromed.

So, choose the 18" or 20" RIFLE gas barrel (1-7" twist is fine. So are 1-7.5, 1-7.7, and 1-8.0)...

...that fits your weight tolerance, and if you want threads or not.

If it's in stock, you could have it by Thursday or Friday...or just road trip to Carlock yourself.

 

[diveski11]

This WOA isn't super heavy, which is a major concern for me (arthritis/FM). It is 1:7 so it might nudge me into heavier ammo, which probably isn't a negative. 69 grain is probably right at the edge of being OK at 400 yds?

White Oak 16" Barrel, 1-7 Twist (Fluted behind gas block)

 

[55fairlane]

I had no idea WOA made a 16 inch barrel.....you cannot go wrong with WOA........

 

[diveski11]

Another option in 1.9 lbs 3 Gun WOA MK1.9

"The tapered design will shift weight away from the muzzle and toward the shooter. White Oak custom length gas system provides the best reliability while maintaining the lighter felt recoil characteristics of a rifle-gas 18” barrel."

 

[natdscott]

This WOA isn't super heavy, which is a major concern for me (arthritis/FM). It is 1:7 so it might nudge me into heavier ammo, which probably isn't a negative. 69 grain is probably right at the edge of being OK at 400 yds?

White Oak 16" Barrel, 1-7 Twist (Fluted behind gas block)

69 SMK shoot great in 7 twist barrels. It's actually one of the most BALANCED accuracy bullets made for the .224 caliber. At 400, they will still shoot well, and...

...are the single-handed reason the AR became what it did WHEN it did, for several competition disciplines; that bled back into the military, leading to things like Mk 262, and the Mark 12 to use it.

The 69 Sierra was the first good "heavy" for .224, and it was used magnificently at 600 yards for quite a few years. It led to everything else, and killed the M14.

The 75 Hornady and 77 SMK magazine ammo is, however, a better choice if you can make that decision.

In the wind, any bullet will get beaten up. It's your job to learn to tame that.

 

[55fairlane]

Another option in 1.9 lbs 3 Gun WOA MK1.9

"The tapered design will shift weight away from the muzzle and toward the shooter. White Oak custom length gas system provides the best reliability while maintaining the lighter felt recoil characteristics of a rifle-gas 18” barrel."

I like this option

 

[indyjohn]

I run the Wylde contour in all my ARs where precision is the goal. Right now, I'm having fun with 75gr BTHPs in my 1:8 twist Wylde chamber DMR.


Becki, I know natscott personally. Between him and 55fairlane, they will not steer you wrong.

 

[natdscott]

I run the Wylde contour in all my ARs where precision is the goal. Right now, I'm having fun with 75gr BTHPs in my 1:8 twist Wylde chamber DMR.


Becki, I know natscott personally. Between him and 55fairlane, they will not steer you wrong.

Thanks, John.

And, thank you for making the neurons align:

Becki, you and I shot together on at least one occasion. Several years back, I came down to Seelyville to observe/shoot a Revere with you all, to see what it was about. Had a great time burning powder for an afternoon.

 

[diveski11]

The 75 Hornady and 77 SMK magazine ammo is, however, a better choice if you can make that decision.

In the wind, any bullet will get beaten up. It's your job to learn to tame that.

Upside of not shooting many rounds per year is I can afford to try slightly more expensive rounds. I'm currently shooting Winchester SMK at $1.00-1.20 a pop. Downside is lacking the opportunity to get new DOPE outside of a match. There will be more one-day and two-day KD classes in Ohio prior to the Marty Brown Invitational each year. I just attended a one-day KD to knock the dust off and came home questioning (learning from) my build choices for my "pretty" rifle. I could always use MBMI day 2 to get dope on 75 grain with current build.

I definitely need more experience dealing with wind. Went from very calm year 1 to hurricane conditions the next. Glad to have had a good jacket and pants vs the guys in shredded Frogg Toggs

Thanks, John.

And, thank you for making the neurons align:

Becki, you and I shot together on at least one occasion. Several years back, I came down to Seelyville to observe/shoot a Revere with you all, to see what it was about. Had a great time burning powder for an afternoon.

It's been a minute since I shot at Seelyville. Was it a pistol/rifle 2-day? I'll be out there next weekend for a new Def Shotgun class. Much for me to learn there as well!

 

[diveski11]

Just got back from quick trip to the range to try the Odin Works Heavy Adjustable Buffer Weight Kit with my Faxon 16 in pencil barrel and the results were significant IMHO. Pretty amazing what +0.8 ounces does to the performance of a pencil barrel at 25 yards!

Std Buffer (3.73 oz): casing trajectory ~2:00, snappy, groups 6-8 MOA (not typical for me at 25 yds)

"H1" (4.14 oz): casing trajectory 3:00, less snappy, groups 4 MOA, 10/13 Morgan's 13, missed the shingle

"Custom 1" (4.55 oz): casing trajectory ~4:30, no noticeable snappiness, groups 2-3 MOA (typical for me at 25 yds), cleared Morgan's 13

Pro Tip: if you use an old plastic tarp to see where your brass is landing, the casings will melt it a tad and stay right where they landed. Excellent data

 

[natdscott]

I did that on my carpet one winter, as a bachelor, load testing. Easy to pick up, hell to clean.

 

[jrh84]

What all these guys have said....

69 smks aren't giving up anything to 77's at 300 yards and in. 400 yards...maaaybe the 77's start to pull away, but if you're holding center and make a halfway decent wind call, you'll be well within the AQT target.

For $250(ish), you can't go wrong with anything White Oak offers. I'm convinced their 20" WOA (Wilson button blank) service rifle barrel is the best value in firearms. Their 18" SPR barrels would be just fine, too.