One for the games...

Anyone have any recommendations for a barrel? Would like to have .223 Wylde chambering in 18” with rifle length gas. I was hoping to go with Ballistic Advantage but their 18” Hanson is a mid length gas system.

I run an Odin Works 18" that has been awesome. It's not what I'd call light weight, but the accuracy is very good.
 
Anyone have any recommendations for a barrel? Would like to have .223 Wylde chambering in 18” with rifle length gas. I was hoping to go with Ballistic Advantage but their 18” Hanson is a mid length gas system.

Craddock Precision... They make great product, and they supply product to some big name AR mfgrs./vendors...

https://craddockprecision.com/
 
personally, id skip the 18in. The need for rifle length gas is overrated when you build with good lightweight internal components and tune the gas way down.

However, if you are planning on running adjustable gas (and "for the games" you should be) 18in middy wont matter that much.

Ballistic Advantage is by far my favorite barrel manufacturer. I have several of theirs and they shoot lights out. personal pick would be one of their 14.5 middies. All of their barrels I have come across are gassed correctly so ultimately, if you really want the 18in buy with confidence.

edited to add: in scrolling up i see i commented years ago that i dont run adjustable gas. a lot has changed on my game rifle. adjustable gas, lightweight carrier, and lightweight buffer is king in the games. no contest.
 
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personally, id skip the 18in. The need for rifle length gas is overrated when you build with good lightweight internal components and tune the gas way down.

However, if you are planning on running adjustable gas (and "for the games" you should be) 18in middy wont matter that much.

Ballistic Advantage is by far my favorite barrel manufacturer. I have several of theirs and they shoot lights out. personal pick would be one of their 14.5 middies. All of their barrels I have come across are gassed correctly so ultimately, if you really want the 18in buy with confidence.
BA is my favorite as well. I have an 18” on my DMR/SPR rifle and it’s awesome!

I had 100% full intentions of going with a mid length BA in 16” but everyone I’ve talked to said 18” rifle length is the way to go for the games. This gun will be strictly for the carbine style and 2 gun matches. Adjustable gas with lightweight internals will be used as well.
 
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I had 100% full intentions of going with a mid length BA in 16” but everyone I’ve talked to said 18” rifle length is the way to go for the games. This gun will be strictly for the carbine style and 2 gun matches. Adjustable gas with lightweight integrals will be used as well.

i run a 14.5in BA Hanson (5.56 chamber) exclusively for all games.. rifle only, 2gun, 3 gun, you name it. no issues what so ever.

best advice i can give you is run what you want to run anywhere between a 14.5 and 18. its all about preference, balance and weight. youll be the one running and shooting it.

any reputable manufacturer will be gtg.
 
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If a better option doesn’t present itself by Sunday evening I will just go with the mid length 16” Hanson from BA. I know it’s a good barrel and likely more than I will ever need. I still want to explore the 18” rifle length options in the meantime.
 
If a better option doesn’t present itself by Sunday evening I will just go with the mid length 16” Hanson from BA. I know it’s a good barrel and likely more than I will ever need. I still want to explore the 18” rifle length options in the meantime.

you will love it. 16in middy is the perfect do all type length. i have one of these one a different setup and it is one hell of a shooter.

stages are getting more complex. short rifles are more handy. (imo)

223wylde vs 556 is a hotly debated topic. i dont shoot anything except 556 so i went with a 556 chamber. i also like the QPQ offered by BA which is not available with the 223wylde chambering.

if you have any match grade 223 you plan to use, get the 223 wylde.

in the end, its a game gun. you arent shooting groups. just need to make hits at fast.

also, if you dont mind assembling an upper get one of the "blem" bcm4 upper from bcm. they are cheap, like $60 and come with an undersized barrel extension. nice and tight fit helps with accuracy for sure. also, once you toss it in a few dump barrels, the blem (if you can even find it) will be irrelevant. https://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM...-Flat-Top-demo-p/flat top -upper -m4 demo.htm
 
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I run an Odin Works 18" that has been awesome. It's not what I'd call light weight, but the accuracy is very good.
This one?

https://www.odinworks.com/223_Wylde_Barrel_18_3_Gun_Rifle_p/b-223-18-3g-r-tg.htm

Weight seems about on par with everything else in that price range. Price is pretty good too being that it comes with the adjustable gas block.

I have his barrel. Sorry if it seems like I’m an AR whore. But I am.

It’s killer. First time I shot it, I zeroed at 200 with a 1-6 rested on my range bag. Was shocked to walk up range and find about a 3-4” tight group of ten shots. I’m in no way a precision shooter. But have zeroed quite a few rifles at 200 and nothing has been thisbgood for me. With bigger glass and real bullets (was using 55gn fiocchi) I’d bet money it’s sub MOA.
The gas block is icing on the cake.

I built it for 3gun. Where you could be shooting off of barriers and whatnot. So a little weight helps imo.
For 2gun and uspsa carbine matches I feel like 18” is a bit long and the weight doesn’t really help. Lots of walls and getting into positions and whatnot. For these I use a 14.5”lightweight middy. It’s 6lbs 8oz with the 1x4 Steiner. It’s a lot faster for me on these bay stages
I also have a 12.5” carbine A1 irons gun with front post that I just shot my first irons match with. Dang that’s fun!! 5.5pounds and shoots super flat.

All three guns use the lowmass recoil system and adjustable gas. Just my opinions.
 
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Wish you could try all three Harold. Should come up to my range and try them out. It will at least give you an idea on weight, length, recoil impulse, etc.
You can bring that CZ to sell to me, if you still have it.
 
Wish you could try all three Harold. Should come up to my range and try them out. It will at least give you an idea on weight, length, recoil impulse, etc.
You can bring that CZ to sell to me, if you still have it.
I can arrange the trip up for sure! But unfortunately the P10 has went down the road.
 
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So, maybe I just go with the 16” mid length for now. Guess I could always swap it out, or better yet, build another rifle!

This is strictly a bay gun for carbine and 2 gun matches. No 3 Gun in my future. Just not my cup.
 
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@NKD

I run 77gr and am better tha 1MOA. With a 1-8x, hits at 600 are not a problem.
 
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So, maybe I just go with the 16” mid length for now. Guess I could always swap it out, or better yet, build another rifle!

This is strictly a bay gun for carbine and 2 gun matches. No 3 Gun in my future. Just not my cup.


In that case, Form 1 times are pretty quick right now. SBR a lower and go with the BA Hanson 10.3". I have that setup and it's awesome for bay style matches.
 
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I’d have a 16” mid lightweight if not for my SBR, which enabled shorter.

Tim makes a good point: the 200$ stamp for SBR seems cheap when you consider just how flexible it is. Any barrel, any upper, so you can configure gun for match styles.

Next time you are up this way get in touch. I can often get out during the week too.
 
Update with a list of parts on the way. Let me know if there is anything that you see that I should need/want.

Aero Precision lower
Aero Precision upper
Spikes basic LPK
Hiperfire Comp trigger
Ergo grip
MFT minimalist stock
JP SCS recoil system
Brownells lightweight BCG
16” Hanson mid length Hanson barrel from BA
F-1 Firearms Miculek Handguard 15”
Odin Works adjustable gas block

Still need to decided on a nice safety and compensator. Any recommendations? I have a Seekins safety on my 18” gun that’s really nice but wasn’t sure if there were other options that I should look at.
 
Update with a list of parts on the way. Let me know if there is anything that you see that I should need/want.

Aero Precision lower
Aero Precision upper
Spikes basic LPK
Hiperfire Comp trigger
Ergo grip
MFT minimalist stock
JP SCS recoil system
Brownells lightweight BCG
16” Hanson mid length Hanson barrel from BA
F-1 Firearms Miculek Handguard 15”
Odin Works adjustable gas block

Still need to decided on a nice safety and compensator. Any recommendations? I have a Seekins safety on my 18” gun that’s really nice but wasn’t sure if there were other options that I should look at.

That's going to be very nice!
IMO, for what you want to do this is a better option than the 18".

Brakes are going to be subjective.
SLC Titan, Ultradyne Appolo are both hard to beat for recoil elimination. (very loud).

A lot of guys are raving about this one. It is easily tuneable. It will be my next brake if I can, at some point, swallow the hideous pricing. https://www.americanprecisionarms.c...er/products/the-answer?variant=18482358583393

A Miculek brake is cheap and works great. I have had very good luck with the VG6 Epsilon brakes on two SBR's as well.
 
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