I'm interested to know what your idea is of a perfect barrel.  I'm not talking about name brands, the focus here is just on technical specs.  For instance, right now I'm shopping for a 14.5" barrel, my ideal is 5.56 cold hammer forged and chrome lined with a 1:9 twist.  It combines  the benefits of the slick corrosion resistant properties of chrome lining with the precision and durability of CHF.    1:9 is just about perfect for shooting 55gr and 62gr exclusively.That's my ideal at the moment.  But they are hella expensive so I'll be making some compromises.

 

If money were no object, what would be your ideal barrel?

 

 

That's like asking which one is your idea of a perfect wrench socket size.  There is no perfect socket size and there is no perfect barrel because applications vary. The AR is a family of things now, not a single purpose rifle with an ideal barrel that somehow would do everything.

 

Also I'm really dubious of hammer forged barrels, and the prices people charge for them for no good reason.

Depends what your ideal gun is I guess. My next one is probably going to to be an 18 or 20 stainless steel in 1/8 I'm thinking

sale,  free bcg , free brake, $1.00 for bcm charging handle. 

http://www.slickguns.com/product/free-bcg-any-bravo-company-upper

I'm going 1:8 twist in a fluted 28'' barrel. Fluted, just cause it looks so sweet.

I'm going 1:8 twist in a fluted 28'' barrel. Fluted, just cause it looks so sweet.

 

 

Going fishing?

I'm going 1:8 twist in a fluted 28'' barrel. Fluted, just cause it looks so sweet.

 

28" is too long IMHO  I shoot a 24" which I feel is optimal.

 

If you intend on building a precision rifle forget chrome lined.  Inconsistent bore diameter does not aid accuracy and, you're not going in the jungle.

 

In order of least to most accurate barrels go like this:   Hammer forged, button rifled, cut rifled. 

 

Button rifled or cut rifled lapped barrels are the most accurate.

 

Try X-Caliber Barrels through Barrelman.com  They are good barrels in quality and bang for the buck.  

 

And we're talking Stainless Steel of course.

Going fishing?

 

Hahaha I actually laughed out loud at that.

 

I didn't get it at first, then I realized I typed 28'' barrel which was a type-o. I meant "18" barrel!

For my needs, if I was only allowed one AR, the perfect barrel would be 14.5" and lighter weight than a government profile. Chrome lined, stainless, etc doesn't matter if it's a quality barrel.

18"

Rifle gas

2lb at the most

8 twist

416R SS

Nitrided (chamber and bore too)

 

I'm building a lightweight 18" AR for my wife using a barrel that almost exactly meets this list.

For the record there is a chromed lined 18" barrel that gives pretty good accuracy, that would be the Criterion barrel that Brownells sells. It is a fairly thin and even chrome lining, leading to sub MOA barrels. People like Jerry Miculek use them as their training barrel (or they used to) because while not being as accurate as the super match type barrels they are generally very accurate and last a lot longer.

For the record there is a chromed lined 18" barrel that gives pretty good accuracy, that would be the Criterion barrel that Brownells sells. It is a fairly thin and even chrome lining, leading to sub MOA barrels. People like Jerry Miculek use them as their training barrel (or they used to) because while not being as accurate as the super match type barrels they are generally very accurate and last a lot longer.

 

And I sure if you're shooting the hell out of them they're a little easier to clean.

20", A1 profile, chrome lined, 1:7 twist.