Do heavy AR15 12"-12.5" barrels still exist?

[smdub]

Looking for a heavy-ish profile 12"-12.5" bbl w/ carbine gas. Chrome or Nitride. Aero/BCM/etc seem not to make them anymore Everything I find is govt profile.

Its for a reflex suppressor. I need >2.75" from the front of the gas block to the start of the muzzle threads. I don't think an 11.5" barrel will be long enough.

Found Criterion still makes one I can backorder. (Edit: I see this is a 0.625 gas block so still not 'heavy' but at least its thicker near the chamber where most of the heat is)
https://criterionbarrels.com/products/ar-15/ar-15-core-series-carbine-gas/?v=7516fd43adaa

Anyone else know of a source? Thanks!

 

[teratos]

Looking for a heavy-ish profile 12"-12.5" bbl w/ carbine gas. Chrome or Nitride. Aero/BCM/etc seem not to make them anymore Everything I find is govt profile.

Its for a reflex suppressor. I need >2.75" from the front of the gas block to the start of the muzzle threads. I don't think an 11.5" barrel will be long enough.

Found Criterion still makes one I can backorder.
https://criterionbarrels.com/products/ar-15/ar-15-core-series-carbine-gas/?v=7516fd43adaa

Anyone else know of a source? Thanks!

I have one of these, and not much use for it. Never been fired. Didn't work with the rail I wanted it for.
https://bkingsfirearms.com/shop/ar1...-w-fsb-handguard-cap-and-delta-ring-assembly/

 

[Bertfish]

11.5 HBar Colt barrels pop up on ARF somewhat frequently

 

[4g64loser]

Pretty sure I know what dub is doing. He needs a 12.5".

If all else fails, contact VA Silent Arsenal or the drew at WAR rifles. Both have done very specialized gasgun barrel work.

 

[smdub]

I could machine custom but don't want to have to fool with that.

Hmm, on further measurements an 11.5" MIGHT work. I went digging in my stash of stuff and I have an Aero 10.5" bbl w/ 0.625" of threads. It has 2.1" between the front the the gas block and the thread shoulder. So, I'd only need another 0.65" to get to the 2.75" I need. An 11.5" carbine gas bbl should have 2.1+1=3.1".

A Colt heavy 11.5 is going to be $400+. Looks like brownells has them in stock for the best price I can find. https://www.brownells.com/rifle-par...barrel-5-56mm-nato-government-prod115322.aspx
Windham has a chromed 1:7 twist in stock for $225 - https://shop.windhamweaponry.com/product/ba11hbft/
I'd have to pop the front sights off either and install a low-profile gas block.

$400 really sucks when an AP govt profile is only $140 right now.


Nix that. I forgot the take the muzzle threads into account. An 11.5" bbl will only have 3.1" INCLUDING the threads. Remove those and the shoulder to gas block will be ~2.5"

I'm back to looking for 12+" barrels...

 

[DutchV]

These guys have all sorts of profiles, including seriously heavy ones with .875" & .936" gas block journals. You can get larger threads, too.


http://www.x-caliber.net/custom-ar-barrel

They're running a sale right now.

 

[smdub]

CMMG appears to make a straight 3/4" barrel profile for $200. Backordered though. https://cmmg.com/barrel-sub-assm-12-5-mr-4140cm-sbn-5-56mm

 

[smdub]

DuchV: Thanks for the X-caliber link. They aren't chrome or nitride through. It's going to get HEAVY use so one of those is a must.

Found the CMMG 3/4" thick bbl in stock @ MGW $185 https://www.midwestgunworks.com/page/mgwi/prod/55DDF0A

 

[DutchV]

DuchV: Thanks for the X-caliber link. They aren't chrome or nitride through. It's going to get HEAVY use so one of those is a must.

Found the CMMG 3/4" thick bbl in stock @ MGW $185 https://www.midwestgunworks.com/page/mgwi/prod/55DDF0A

Rosco barrels are another option. They're decent, and nitrided.

https://www.roscomanufacturing.com/shop/barrels/blood-line-barrels/bloodline-12-5-5-56-nato/


BCM makes a simllar one that is chrome lined. Good luck ever seeing it in stock, though.

https://bravocompanyusa.com/bcm-standard-12-5-carbine-barrel-stripped-nfa/

 

[smdub]

^both govt profile. Those are easy to find. I'm looking for a heavy barrel.

 

[outrider58]

^both govt profile. Those are easy to find. I'm looking for a heavy barrel.

Has to be heavy throughout the entire length?

 

[Growler215]

You can get a custom length/profile nitrided stainless barrel from these guys:

https://mos-tek.com/product/custom-ar15-5-56-223-premium-stainless-barrel/

 

[outrider58]

Is stainless OK?

https://www.odinworks.com/223-Wylde-12-5-Carbine-Barrel-p/b-223-12-c-tg.htm

NM. Not the right finish.

 

[smdub]

Growler, To be honest I have no idea if nitrided stainless would hold up. Will look into that. I have a registered lower. The barrel will see mag dumps and get some abuse thermally

 

[calicojack]

Looking for a heavy-ish profile 12"-12.5" bbl w/ carbine gas. Chrome or Nitride. Aero/BCM/etc seem not to make them anymore Everything I find is govt profile.

Its for a reflex suppressor. I need >2.75" from the front of the gas block to the start of the muzzle threads. I don't think an 11.5" barrel will be long enough.

Found Criterion still makes one I can backorder. (Edit: I see this is a 0.625 gas block so still not 'heavy' but at least its thicker near the chamber where most of the heat is)
https://criterionbarrels.com/products/ar-15/ar-15-core-series-carbine-gas/?v=7516fd43adaa

Anyone else know of a source? Thanks!

I have this one from BCM and love it. It has a carbine length gas system but a mid length mounted front sight tower.

https://bravocompanyusa.com/bcm-standard-12-5-carbine-upper-receiver-group-kino-configuration/

 

[teratos]

I have this one from BCM and love it. It has a carbine length gas system but a mid length mounted front sight tower.

https://bravocompanyusa.com/bcm-standard-12-5-carbine-upper-receiver-group-kino-configuration/

That won’t work. He needs 2.5 inches of barrel in front of the gas block. He’s doing a reflex suppressor.

 

[smdub]

Yeah I have one of these, just need it a little longer. Thats 0.850" up to the gas block and 0.750" after. I'm pretty sure I have a similar BCM heavy barrel around here too but nothing 12.5". You used to be able to pick all sorts of profiles from the big name guys from heavy to socom to govt to pencil. Seems everything but govt is gone now. Not just back ordered but gone.
Either EVERYBODY is getting their barrels from the same people (doubtful) or EVERYONE made the exact same (bad) decision on which one to make if there could only be one due to supply problems.

 

[Growler215]

Growler, To be honest I have no idea if nitrided stainless would hold up. Will look into that. I have a registered lower. The barrel will see mag dumps and get some abuse thermally

Roger that. I have no clue either. But their "Xray" profile Bull Barrel kinda sounds like what you want.

 

[4g64loser]

While this would not be an apples to apples comparison, on two 20" m16 uppers, the chrome lined barrel started loosing chrome before the nitrided barrel lost discernable material. Chrome barrel was dpms iirc. Nitride was criterion. Both were used on m16 lowers (not mine, post samples that are property of an SOT) and saw mostly mag dumps.

That said, neither was suppressed much and the 20" guns tend to be overall more reliable than shorties. Both continued to run fine as they lost their rifling. The chrome one was especially impressive at night once warmed up good......lots of sparks going downrange.

 

[atblis]

Larue

ETA: Lothar Walther would be a good option. The do semi custom barrels and can do an HBAR 12.5” with carbine gas in nitride. I’d be tempted to try their stainless steels as they have a proprietary 17-4 they call LW50 which is known to be much more durable than the typically used SS. Very good barrels.

I would not order a barrel from Mos-tek. I just got one and I am not impressed.