AR Match Barrels

[Orcon]

I'm considering options for a rifle length stainless match barrel. Right now the top contender is a Douglas Service Rifle contour from Compass Lake, as I would like to try my hand at a match, but I'm a bit hung up on the particulars. Things like feed ramps (M4 v Standard), gas block style, choice of chambering, and matched bolt are unclear to me. Please help me make an informed choice.

 

[farmerboy78]

Also check white oak armament and precision... very accurate

 

[adcoch1]

M4 barrel extensions have relif ground into them to aid feeding while standard do not.
A matched bolt means the barrel comes with THE bolt that was used to headspace the barrel, meaning it's more likely to be chambered correctly.
Chamber dimensions can vary a bit, nato ones being looser, 223 ones being tighter, and 223 Wilde trying to hybrid the benefits of both. Gas blocks mostly variate in bore diameter for barrel size, and weather or not they fit beneath a foregrip, and weather or not there adjustable. For that discussion though, we'll need some specifics... Hope this helps some...

 

[BSA1]

What kind of match shooting and what distances are you wanting to do?

 

[Orcon]

The plan is to have a rifle configuration pursuant to CMP Highpower Rule 6.1.1, so everything from gas block forward requires a max diameter of .750". The rules state that adjustable gas blocks are not allowed but it's unclear to me if that means gas adjustment or windage adjustment or both. There are options for "Flats for A2 style front sight base", " Spot for use on optics upper", "Both flats and spot"

The rifle is an M16A4 clone so is it safe to assume that M4 ramps are not needed?

 

[Klint Beastwood]

Bolt and barrel combo will ensure the best headspace and timing.
Ballistic advantage makes some premium barrels.

 

[Ru4real]

I sent Krieger my Colt Match Target and they took the original colt barrel off and put on a new Krieger barrel, a contour of my choosing, finished chambered it for me, two years ago. The gunsmith replaced the gas tube because of erosion on the original. One stop shopping.

Before I had one handload that would shoot a 5 round 1 inch group at 100 yards always. Off sand bags.

Now I have at least 4 handloads that will shoot 10 round groups into 1 inch at 100 yards always. At least 2 of those handloads off a bipod no less!

 

[GooseGestapo]

I'd get a Rock River Arms National Match upper. It'll come with 1/2moa sights on rear, Wilson 1/8 stainless barrel, nickel boron bolt carrier, all st up and ready to go.
I bought a complete rifle, A3 configuration with detachable carry handle.

I shot it just this afternoon confirming rear sight zero for 200yds. At 100yds from bench, it shot a .70" 5-shot group, with IRON SIGHTS, 4 were touching, pulled one low. (Nosler Varmeggdon 55gr fbhp, over 26.0gr BLC2, CCI200 in FC 12 brass).

 

[Slamfire]

I'm considering options for a rifle length stainless match barrel. Right now the top contender is a Douglas Service Rifle contour from Compass Lake, as I would like to try my hand at a match, but I'm a bit hung up on the particulars. Things like feed ramps (M4 v Standard), gas block style, choice of chambering, and matched bolt are unclear to me. Please help me make an informed choice.

I have a couple of AR15 match rifles built by Frank. Just talk to him, tell what you want to do, and follow his recommendations. He will probably want to know the bullets you plan to use, and that you plan to shoot this as an across the course rifle, but believe me, he knows what will work, and that is what you want, something that shoots accurately and is reliable. A Douglas barrel is an excellent barrel, Frank put one on one of my NM Ar15's and it is a tack driver. I won a number of medals at Camp Perry with one of his match AR15 configurations. He knows AR's.

 

[Varminterror]

he rules state that adjustable gas blocks are not allowed but it's unclear to me if that means gas adjustment or windage adjustment or both.

It's not unclear for the shooters in it. The "no adjustable gas blocks" is the gas adjustment.

 

[Varminterror]

The rifle is an M16A4 clone so is it safe to assume that M4 ramps are not needed?

If you get an upper with M4 ramps, your barrel needs them too.

 

[ess45]

AR feed ramps comparison and compatibility.

http://www.ar15barrels.com/gfx/feedramps.jpg

 

[RussellC]

I sent Krieger my Colt Match Target and they took the original colt barrel off and put on a new Krieger barrel, a contour of my choosing, finished chambered it for me, two years ago. The gunsmith replaced the gas tube because of erosion on the original. One stop shopping.

Before I had one handload that would shoot a 5 round 1 inch group at 100 yards always. Off sand bags.

Now I have at least 4 handloads that will shoot 10 round groups into 1 inch at 100 yards always. At least 2 of those handloads off a bipod no less!

Did you send the entire gun, or just the upper to them? Also, what contour and length did you use? This sounds like something I would like to do.

Russellc

 

[tuj]

Another vote for White Oak Precision. They are building winning barrels.

 

[Gtscotty]

I went with an Odin Works barrel for an 18" SPR. It's ok, but if I were to do it over again, I'd go White Oak Armory.

 

[rskent]

There are options for "Flats for A2 style front sight base", " Spot for use on optics upper", "Both flats and spot"

Are you planning to go optics or irons? Unless you are thinking about irons you probably don’t need the flats to adjust the front sight for windage.

The rifle is an M16A4 clone so is it safe to assume that M4 ramps are not needed?

I like the cutouts even in a rifle upper. If there is a downside to having them, I have not seen it.

Bolt and barrel combo will ensure the best headspace and timing.

They check the headspace, so that’s good. Timing, I have no idea. The last service rifle barrels I bought I didn’t get new bolts. I checked 9 bolts (if I remember correctly). Measuring from the bolt face to the back of the lugs I found an overall variation across all of the bolts of less than one thousandths.Having said that, there is no downside that I can see to having a new bolt.

Another vote for White Oak Precision. They are building winning barrels.

I have liked White Oak stuff for a long time. But I have been beaten by guys using Compass Lake stuff a bunch.

 

[Ru4real]

Did you send the entire gun, or just the upper to them? Also, what contour and length did you use? This sounds like something I would like to do.

Russellc

I sent just the upper, thus sent back and forth thru regular shipping, no FFL. I just checked their website, services section. They will only do JP bolts now, which was not the policy when I had work done. I went with a 24 inch heavy contour, but I was specifically building a 100 plus yard automatic bipod gun.

 

[RussellC]

I sent just the upper, thus sent back and forth thru regular shipping, no FFL. I just checked their website, services section. They will only do JP bolts now, which was not the policy when I had work done. I went with a 24 inch heavy contour, but I was specifically building a 100 plus yard automatic bipod gun.

Great, just what I am wanting to do. Did they supply the JP bolt, or do I supply? I guess I can call and find out!

Russellc

 

[Ru4real]

I'd get a Rock River Arms National Match upper. It'll come with 1/2moa sights on rear, Wilson 1/8 stainless barrel, nickel boron bolt carrier, all st up and ready to go.
I bought a complete rifle, A3 configuration with detachable carry handle.

I shot it just this afternoon confirming rear sight zero for 200yds. At 100yds from bench, it shot a .70" 5-shot group, with IRON SIGHTS, 4 were touching, pulled one low. (Nosler Varmeggdon 55gr fbhp, over 26.0gr BLC2, CCI200 in FC 12 brass).

Thanks for posting this info.
I'm looking for an iron sighted, lightish, short .223. RRA website, I like the same rifle you chose. I see they guarantee 3/4 MOA with that rifle. How do 10 round groups look, on average?

 

[GooseGestapo]

Well, easily .75moa. With match grade ammo, .5.
When I first got it in '15, I put a 4-16x AO scope on it for load work up.
First 2-300rds were unimpressive, but at around 300rd mark, it "turned the corner" so to speak, and really tightened up.
It is ambivalent about Hornady bullets, 75's shooting better than 68's by a considerable margin. However, at 200,300yds with a 69gr Sierra over H4895 it easily holds the X-ring.
With the Sierra 80gr MK, I started with RL15 at 2.550" which is what the manuals and other HP shooters suggested. Results were so-so.
However, by soft-seating some bullets and closing the bolt manually and measuring the seated bullet, showed the throat wanted a tad more at 2.555"

Finally, I tried H4895. Voila! 22.8gr of H4895 @ 2.555" was the ticket. Shot a 0.45" cluster.
Took it to Talladega to 600yds. Exactly 1-turn up of rear sight elevation drum puts it Center, with 1-click (1/2moa) correcting windage. (From 300yd zero).

If it's not an X, it's my fault. First EIC match I shot it in, I missed getting my first distinguished points by 1-point! Really gotta work on my off-hand! I've only shot three matches to date. Not enough time, or matches. Besides, it's a 2-hour drive to Talladega, and they're always closed Monday and Tuesday, my typical shooting days...

That's why I suggested the RRA as an "entry" level set-up. The RRA with the stainless match barrel will easily get you to "distinguished" level, and High Master.
If looking to win Camp Perry, YES! You'll want a Brux, or White Oak, or Compass Lake. But, just one of their barrels will set you back more than the cost of my entire set-up.
Your money, your choice.

With 3lbs of lead in butt stock and 12oz of stick-on tire weights under forearm, mine weighs 14lbs. Crew served AR???

 

[Ru4real]

Took it to Talladega to 600yds. Exactly 1-turn up of rear sight elevation drum puts it Center, with 1-click (1/2moa) correcting windage.

What aperture did you go with, 0.030" or 0.040"? I was thinking 1/4moa. Why did you get 1/2? All very helpful info. We shoot a lot of the same powders and bullets, except I shoot IMR3031 as well, when possible.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Mine came with 1/2moa. You can get a 1/4moa, but you'll also need to get one that's pinned (eliminates slop and hysteresis).
I'm not nearly to that level.
I believe a 0.062" is standard, what's on mine. It takes a LOT of light to see through a .030 .040. Not sure you could use that at Talladega on a cloudy day (covered firing points).
12moa between 300 and 600yd zero is a LOT of clicking. I doubt I'll ever get to the skill level to be able to use the difference. X-ring is 1.5moa. Black is 6moa.
Now that optics are the new game in town for high power, metallic sights are becoming passé.
I'm seeing $1,800 rifles with $2,500 scopes shooting $2/shot ammo by 2-bit Shooters. You can by technology, but not talent/skill. One you are born with, the other you earn. Mostly blood, sweat, tears, and elbow grease. Had to wash the bed sheets to get the blood out from bleeding elbows from 4-days shooting. Even with mat, shooting jacket, polypropylene base layer, shirt and sweat shirt, I managed friction burns on both elbows.

Except for offhand at 200yds, I have little difficulty shooting in the low-mid 90's. I'm happy when they land in the scoring rings off-hand.
And to think I'm double distinguished in NRA PPC, and 1490 club.
High Power is a quite different discipline, and I'm no longer a spring chicken. (62 in March).
But I was very successful in PPC with far inferior equipment to what I'm shooting in High Power.
Now that I'm able to afford the hardware, my "soft ware" isn't up to the task.
The conundrum of life...
But what a grand time I had!

 

[Walkalong]

Had to wash the bed sheets to get the blood out from bleeding elbows from 4-days shooting. Even with mat, shooting jacket, polypropylene base layer, shirt and sweat shirt,I managed friction burns on both elbows.

Or you can shoot 4 or 5 rounds of .458 Mag off the bench after forgetting to bring something for your elbow.

Yep, did that.

I have been considering the White Oak or Compass Lake uppers for a couple of years now, it's just hard to decide, and the ones from CLE can get pricey depending on the barrel. Not that I am going to go shoot matches, I just like to shoot very accurate rifles sometimes. My "accurate" AR right now is a home made upper with an AR Stoner barrel. It does OK, but I would like to upgrade one day. I had not really considered the RRA, maybe I should.

 

[cfullgraf]

I have a Compass Lake service rifle AR-15 match rifle from around 2005. Nice rifle but I know they have evolved the product since then.

I've built a couple of rifles around a White Oak Armament barrels. They are good barrels and have been good folks to work with. My best build has been a 26" long barrel 204 Ruger AR-15 that I have used on a couple prairie dog hunts. The barrel has about 1500 rounds through it and still shoots well but I bought a replacement barrel last year to have on hand.

My suggestion is if you have a particular match game that you are going to participate in, I'd buy a complete rifle set up for the competition. The builders know their business and will build a rifle that will work well. Either Compass Lake or White oak Armament will serve you well although I am sure there are other folks that build good rifles.

If you are like me with my prairie dog AR-15 and not planning on competing with the rifle, a home build will be fun, educational, and will fill you needs. Any of the top barrel makers will make a barrel that will serve you well.

 

[tuj]

My "accurate" AR right now is a home made upper with an AR Stoner barrel. It does OK, but I would like to upgrade one day. I had not really considered the RRA, maybe I should.

My target AR is a RRA upper and yes, it is pretty accurate. I have it in .223 Wylde and it shoots the 77gr Federal GM really well, under 0.5MOA at 100 yards for 5-shot groups off a bipod.