Purchase a Colt LE6920-OEM1 or OEM2 for $820 shipped and put your own furniture on it.
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Looking to purchase a new AR any suggestions?
- Thread starter CBGJAY
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That extra step when the barrels are received is what separates the premium parts suppliers from the run of the mill parts vendors.
I'd still bet the single biggest difference between a PSA "specced" FN barrel and a SOLGW "specced" Ballistic advantage barrel is $$$$
Hard to compare because they're quit different in manufacturing processes and materials. One is CHF/CL and the other is button-rifled and nitrided.
In general, the theory is that when all QC and tolerances are equal, that a nitrided barrel should be more accurate than a chrome-lined barrel. The nitride process is much easier to control the thickness/depth of than chrome-plating. This makes for a more uniform bore, which should be more accurate.
The hardness of nitride and hard chrome are very similar, so they should wear similarly. I believe that for a steady full-auto schedule of fire, that the combination of CHF and CL will yield better results than button-rifled and nitrided, but that's a moot point to the vast majority of us.
In general, button-rifling and nitriding is less expensive to do than CHF/CL, and folks that aren't shooting full-auto can't tell the difference, so not a bad option at all. I'm a big fan of the BA Hanson profile barrels with the pinned gas blocks.
What I'm really curious about is how Glenn Hodge designed his M855A1 EPR barrels to better resist the excessive wear caused by the M855A1 AND significantly boost velocity at the same time. Both of these facts have been proven by testing. The Hodge EPR barrels are made by FN, but they're made to Hodge's specs, and cost more than "regular" FN barrels, which cost more than PSA/FN barrels.
Another example of how one company can make multiple barrels using the CHF/CL methods, but vary widely in specs and resulting retail prices.
Are the Hodge barrels 5R rifled? There is a known velocity increase in 5R compared to standard rifling. Especially compared to 4 or 6 groove.
Good info. I was talking about the biggest difference to the end user though, someone who's gonna mount a red dot on their carbine.
The difference in longevity and accuracy is probably nill, so the only real difference is $$$
Basically I'm just simping for PSA.
I have a build with a BA Hanson barrel and they are very, very , very good barrels and usually the least expensive barrel I will buy. I have to admit I am a big fan of that design. It's accurate beyond it's price point and soft shooting. They are truly an excellent barrel design.
Now about FN barrels. FN has their own specs and specialized processes when they make their barrels for their company. That's what that's what makes their barrels special and makes them unique to the FN brand. They aren't going to take all of that research and development and product testing and just make barrels and hand them over to the competition. That would be the stupidest thing I've ever heard and against everything that goes against the free market. They may make barrels for different companies but they are not the same exact Barrel they offer under the FN product line and SKU numbers. They make make barrels for other companies that say made by FN but I guarantee you they are not the same specs and quality control measures that are done on their line of barrels. To even think that they would do that it's quite simply ridiculous and completely void of of keeping special build processes and Metallurgical differences a secret. Just to give up those secrets in Hand them out would be completely asinine. So in short no I don't believe they give those company Secrets out to just anybody that orders barrels and I believe they keep them totally to themselves. Any orders that are built for a different company are going to be made to that companies specs and not to FN specs. I don't see how anybody could think that there would be no difference.
