Application is key to any choice for me.
I see no reason to expect a $600.00 AR to be the end all of them. I see no reason to spend $1600.00 on one that'll be used for plinking or hunting.
I've repeated this many times, unless you just want a specific name brand the horsey for example, you can buy a $700.00 to $900.00 AR and make what you want out of it. Odds are it will outperform most shooters.
If I were going into battle, then yea, give me the best of the best, but I punch paper, shoot a groundhog, crow or two and on occasion deer hunt with most of mine.
If you want the best accuracy from 55 grain bullets, my experience shows that the 1/9 stainless works great. I don't buy any type of lined barrel when I'm looking for top accuracy. The 1/7 can induce a significant amount of spin drift when shooting stubby length bullets. Many will say theirs do great with anything, and they may get different results than I have. Any lined barrel must be produced oversized then lined to size. Not exactly a desirable product for my use. I own lined barrel AR's, but only in plinkers and HD apps.
It cost no more to produce a 1/7 than any other rate. Chrome and other linings are for harsh conditions and corrosive ammos. My AR's are rarely subjected to these. Choose the rate best suited for your application and expectations with what you intend to feed it.
Anal precision shooters choose the slowest rate that will stabilize their favorite bullets. They find the best accuracy is usually running right at the edge before tumbling. It's the bullets length, not weight that dictates the necessary rate of twist for best result. Every 1/9 I've tried the 75 grain Hornady in has performed great. However that same barrel may not shoot a much lighter yet longer mono-component from Barnes etc. I'm not as anal as I once was, nor am I into ordering custom barrels when today's off the rack ones shoot so well.
I see no reason to expect a $600.00 AR to be the end all of them. I see no reason to spend $1600.00 on one that'll be used for plinking or hunting.
I've repeated this many times, unless you just want a specific name brand the horsey for example, you can buy a $700.00 to $900.00 AR and make what you want out of it. Odds are it will outperform most shooters.
If I were going into battle, then yea, give me the best of the best, but I punch paper, shoot a groundhog, crow or two and on occasion deer hunt with most of mine.
If you want the best accuracy from 55 grain bullets, my experience shows that the 1/9 stainless works great. I don't buy any type of lined barrel when I'm looking for top accuracy. The 1/7 can induce a significant amount of spin drift when shooting stubby length bullets. Many will say theirs do great with anything, and they may get different results than I have. Any lined barrel must be produced oversized then lined to size. Not exactly a desirable product for my use. I own lined barrel AR's, but only in plinkers and HD apps.
It cost no more to produce a 1/7 than any other rate. Chrome and other linings are for harsh conditions and corrosive ammos. My AR's are rarely subjected to these. Choose the rate best suited for your application and expectations with what you intend to feed it.
Anal precision shooters choose the slowest rate that will stabilize their favorite bullets. They find the best accuracy is usually running right at the edge before tumbling. It's the bullets length, not weight that dictates the necessary rate of twist for best result. Every 1/9 I've tried the 75 grain Hornady in has performed great. However that same barrel may not shoot a much lighter yet longer mono-component from Barnes etc. I'm not as anal as I once was, nor am I into ordering custom barrels when today's off the rack ones shoot so well.
