Build Thread A2 build starting soon, barrel makers?

[CamoDeafie]

Got an A2 complete (minus BCG and charging handle) upper receiver with rear sight, forward assist and dust cover assemblies coming in the next week or two from M & A Parts Inc;

I have a choice of these two lowers ; or I can go and acquire an Aero Precision gen 2 stripped lower or something like that...

Barrels. I'm set on either 16" Midlength or 18" Rifle length SPR type...

For the 16" Mid Length..

Del-Ton Lightweight CMV 1:9 with either A2 or F marked front sight base, $125 or $160 for chrome lined, plus ship


Or


Ballistic Advantage Barrel; 1:7 CMV pencil profile with F marked front sight base and related parts; $240 (+60 from 180)

or

Aero Precision 1:7 CMV 16" midlength, standard weight? .750 , F marked front sight base and same parts, $245

Or..

Sons of Liberty Gun Works unknown twist rate? Govt profile
CMV pinned FSB, $265

Or

Daniel Defense Lightweight 1:7 CMV, CHF, midlength; stripped only, $328 (FSB pinned is out of stock), means I'd need to acquire FSB and then send to John at Retro AR Works for the work, likely. Unless someone here wants to do that



Then there's Noveske's pinned FSB 1:7 CHF Chrome Lined at $550


For 18", I seem to only find Ballistic Advantage SPR with OPS 12 option; at JSE Surplus and calculated to cost $260+ because of FSB and parts and install from JSE Surplus (extra $25 for drill/ream/install of front sight tower)

Alternately.. the cheapest option would be to acquire a vise block (clamshell), a clamp on vise, and swap receivers and use my Sarco .223 Wylde M4 profile barrel that has a F height front sight, and carbine gas length on the A2 upper.

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[coreymet]

You might look at this. Not saying each of the above manufacturers do not make their own barrels but it may help in your search.

 

[CamoDeafie]

You might look at this. Not saying each of the above manufacturers do not make their own barrels but it may help in your search.

Far as I know; Del-ton uses Mossberg blanks and does final machining and installation of things. Not sure where Ballistic Advantage and Aero Precision gets their barrel blanks.

 

[solv3nt]

BA and Aero are the same company. If DD is in the budget, I'd personally go that route.

 

[CamoDeafie]

BA and Aero are the same company. If DD is in the budget, I'd personally go that route.

Really. So literally $5 difference for the same items for the name?

 

[User 1234]

I would pass on DelTon. Last year I got a complete upper from them. The receiver holes were so out of spec it would not attach to any lower.

 

[solv3nt]

Really. So literally $5 difference for the same items for the name?

As of December 2014, Ballistic Advantage is operating as a majority owned subsidiary of Aero Precision.

About Ballistic Advantage

Default Description

www.ballisticadvantage.com

 

[CamoDeafie]

Just did a little research, SOLGW uses BA(ballistic advantage) but offers lifetime warranty and BA machines them to SOLGW's specs.

So it looks like 3 out of 6 barrels are made by the same parent company that does Ballistic Advantage barrels. .

Daniel Defense and Noveske makes their own?

 

[Oro]

If the whole "m16a2" aspect is appealing, why not use this lower?

https://palmettostatearmory.com/blem-psa-ar-15-lower-12102019-m16a2.html

Only $50, and then get an LPK sans FCG and then a 2-stage trigger. Would be a nice upgrade.

If 18" is in your realm of consideration, this barrel may interest you. Has a proper height FSB, not F (also adjustable).

https://www.northwestfirearms.com/t...riterion-ar-barrel-match-223-wylde-18.431617/

 

[CamoDeafie]

Forgot to mention, A2 carry handle upper I'm getting has M4 feed ramps

 

[Oro]

Forgot to mention, A2 carry handle upper I'm getting has M4 feed ramps

 

[CamoDeafie]

View attachment 1742202

Right. The barrels I'm looking at have either M4 extensions, or whatever Daniel Defense calls their A4 extension (supposedly just the same as M4 extension for the most part?)

M&A Parts Inc has two different A2 fixed carry handle upper receivers; one with M4 feed ramps (what I'm getting), the other with standard no M4 Feed Ramps

 

[Heyjoe]

Get the Delton CLCHF barrel.

 

[TTSX]

I just assume anymore that BA made the barrel if it's not explicitly made by someone else. My luck with them has been superb so I generally just go with them because I know I'll be happy.

 

[ORhutner]

Just did a little research, SOLGW uses BA(ballistic advantage) but offers lifetime warranty and BA machines them to SOLGW's specs.

So it looks like 3 out of 6 barrels are made by the same parent company that does Ballistic Advantage barrels. .

Daniel Defense and Noveske makes their own?

Noveske doesn't make their own barrels. Pac-Nor used to make their SS barrels but burned down so not sure who makes those now. Unsure who makes their cold hammer forged barrels but a quick search has most speculating that FN makes them.

 

[ScottInPDX]

Regarding Daniel Defense pinned front sight post barrels: they don't come with a barrel nut installed. So even if it was in stock, you'd have to plan on removing the FSP, installing a barrel nut, and re-pinning it.

It's dumb and I don't understand why they do that.

 

[CamoDeafie]

Regarding Daniel Defense pinned front sight post barrels: they don't come with a barrel nut installed. So even if it was in stock, you'd have to plan on removing the FSP, installing a barrel nut, and re-pinning it.

It's dumb and I don't understand why they do that.

Sounds like the exact same thing that the Sarco m4 kit had for me; it came with FS tower pinned on the 16" M4 barrel but the handguard cap and the barrel nut and delta ring assembly weren't on it

 

[CamoDeafie]

I'm also looking at Faxon now and apparently Rosco Manufacturing is making US govt contract Colt M4 barrels?

 

[DirectDrive]

Just did a little research, SOLGW uses BA(ballistic advantage) but offers lifetime warranty and BA machines them to SOLGW's specs.

So it looks like 3 out of 6 barrels are made by the same parent company that does Ballistic Advantage barrels. .

Daniel Defense and Noveske makes their own?

Noveske barrels are made by PacNor another Southern Oregon company.
And that could change, but it's always been PacNor doing Noveske barrels.
Maybe their CHF are made elsewhere ?

 

[DirectDrive]

Forgot to mention, A2 carry handle upper I'm getting has M4 feed ramps

Make sure that your barrel extension has M4 ramps as well.
Most AR barrels these days will have M4 ramps, but if you were to buy a Rock River barrel (for example) it would most likely not have M4 ramps.

I'd also get mid-gas on either the 16" or 18"
The 16" carbine gassed with M203 notch works, but looks odd IMO.
Rifle gas on the 18" might be finicky and require some tuning (you're giving up some dwell time).