I am building a new upper. I came across the Wilson Arms barrels on JSE. Price is solid which always makes me wonder. I am looking for a "Do-All" gun so I'm thinking a 16" bull barrel. I like the pricing on the carbon steel.

 

This gun will see about 3-500 rounds a year. I'm not much of an AR guy but feel like I need to own one.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

http://www.jsesurplus.com/wilsonarms16bull1x8molystrippedbarrel.aspx **Carbon

 

http://www.jsesurplus.com/WilsonArms16.223Wylde1x8StainlessSteelBullBarrelStripped.aspx **Stainless

 

Christopher

I have a wilson AR with a wilson barrel and it is fantastic.  I am in the process of building two ARs, one in 5.56 and one in 6.8 II, and they are both using wilson barrels.  I can show you one of the barrels, the guns aren't built, if you'd like to look one over.  However, I find them to be excellent.   The stainless .223 Wylde is really nice a nice one.  

Chris:

 

When I bought my first AR, the original idea was a do-it-all. I started with a RRA Varmint with a Wilson 16" bull barrel (.920"). The idea was to use all QR accessories - scope/red dot etc and switch back & forth from a CQB gun to a mid to long range precision AR. That idea lasted until I actually had the gun in hand. It weighs a ton. So I went ahead and built that up into a scoped gun...

 

 

I then bought another RRA lower and found a 14.5" POF upper (16" w/perm attached brake) and had my CQB gun...

 

 

The gun with the Wilson bull barrel will shoot sub-MOA no problem, but it was way too heavy to be a do everything rifle.

 

Good luck with your build.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

Thanks gents.

 

Rob, the Wilson Arms is not Wilson Combat. Just an FYI.

 

Bob, that top gun is pretty close to what I have in my head. Kind of a short barreled DMR (Don't laugh too hard if I have that wrong, I'm not an AR guy after all) or precision rifle that can be pressed into service as a HD gun if the need ever arises, which I highly doubt. But, it's there.

 

C

Thanks for clarifying.  If you are looking for SPR style gun (slightly longer barrel) but can do a few things I built one from spikes components using a WOA SPR barrel 18" in .223 Wylde.  WOA are good well priced barrels.  If you are looking more varmint they do an awesome varmint upper bull barrel 16" tac driver.  I had one and like a jack ass sold it and have regretted it.  I believe complete with free float tube I paid about 550 bucks for it.  You can just get the barrels though.

 

http://www.whiteoakarmament.com/xcart/product.php?productid=17555&cat=261&page=1

Thanks for clarifying.  If you are looking for SPR style gun (slightly longer barrel) but can do a few things I built one from spikes components using a WOA SPR barrel 18" in .223 Wylde.  WOA are good well priced barrels.  If you are looking more varmint they do an awesome varmint upper bull barrel 16" tac driver.  I had one and like a jack ass sold it and have regretted it.  I believe complete with free float tube I paid about 550 bucks for it.  You can just get the barrels though.

 

http://www.whiteoakarmament.com/xcart/product.php?productid=17555&cat=261&page=1

Awesome and thank you.

 

C

Does anyone have any hands on experience with the Wilson Arms stuff?

 

C

Here is my parts list. All off the JSE site. I have the correct gas block in hand, for those with eagle eyes.

 

1 Forward Assist Assembly

1 Vltor BCM-GFH BCM Gunfighter 5.56mm Charging Handle

1 YHM 15" TJ Handguard Todd Jarrett

1 Mega Arms AR-15 Forged Upper with M4 Feed Ramps Stripped

1 Ejection Port Cover Rod ONLY

1 Ejection Port Cover Assembly Spring ONLY

1 Ejection Port Cover EClip ONLY

1 Ejection Port Cover Assembly Door ONLY

1 Wilson Arms 16" Bull 5.56 1x8 Moly Stripped Barrel Stripped

1 Carbine Length Gas Tube w/ pin Nitride Black - BLEM NO RETURNS

 

The blem gas tube is cosmetic. The nitride didn't take well in some spots. It's completely under the handguard so that's fine with me.

 

C

Does anyone have any hands on experience with the Wilson Arms stuff?

 

C

 

 

Lots of people do, weather they know it or not. Wilson Arms makes barrels for other people, for example JP barrels and Nordic barrels which are used a heck of a lot in 3gun rifles are actually made by Wilson Arms (which is not Willson Combat). They make blanks for WOA and I think one of Rainer's grades of barrels is also Wilson. 

 

However Wilson will make you a batch of barrels to your spec, but that doesn't mean all specs are the same. They can make awesome barrels, the questions is are all their barrels awesome? I dunno the answer to that one. 

Lots of people do, weather they know it or not. Wilson Arms makes barrels for other people, for example JP barrels and Nordic barrels which are used a heck of a lot in 3gun rifles are actually made by Wilson Arms (which is not Willson Combat). They make blanks for WOA and I think one of Rainer's grades of barrels is also Wilson. 

 

However Wilson will make you a batch of barrels to your spec, but that doesn't mean all specs are the same. They can make awesome barrels, the questions is are all their barrels awesome? I dunno the answer to that one.

 

Thank you Vlad. Much appreciated.

 

C

The charging handle come in a couple different sizes so be mindful. What lower are you using I didn't see it in the parts list. Assuming you have it? BCG? Sounds like you have a nice list there.

The charging handle come in a couple different sizes so be mindful.   What lower are you using I didn't see it in the parts list. Assuming you have it? BCG? Sounds like you have a nice list there.

Rob,

Thanks for the reminder on the charging handle. I believe I am getting the medium sized one.

I have a built Mega Arms lower with a Midwest PX lpk and an aftermarket trigger. It's the ALG.

I have a BCG as well.

 

I ditched my 300Blk upper and am going with commonality of caliber w/in a small circle of friends.

 

C

Excellent. I have a matched mega set that I'm working on. Really like the fit and finish of them. I tend to use the medium latch handles myself for some reason. I have no experience the the ALG FCG but they are getting positive reviews. Appears to be a very nice rifle that you'll be be putting together.

Excellent. I have a matched mega set that I'm working on. Really like the fit and finish of them. I tend to use the medium latch handles myself for some reason. I have no experience the the ALG FCG but they are getting positive reviews. Appears to be a very nice rifle that you'll be be putting together.

Again, thank you.

 

So, I've reconsidered my choice of barrel...

 

The "bull" barrel is not going to do what I want. Thanks to Pizza Bob and a few other folks and reviews, it's just gonna be too heavy. So, I'm looking for a SOCOM or H-Bar in either threaded 14.5" or target crowned 16".

 

Any and all suggestions are welcome with this caveat: I'm on a budget. I just can't realistically swing much more than 200 on a barrel.

 

C

Weight is a relative thing. Do you plan to hump it all over creation? I'm a fan of light rifles but not every rifle needs to be a light weight. The barrel is one place it makes sense to spend some of your weight budget, and go lighter on handguards and other things.  Also, don't save too much money on your barrel, eat pasta for a week and come up with an extra few dollars. If you can spend 250-300 on your barrel you have a heck of a lot more options.

 

.

Weight is a relative thing. Do you plan to hump it all over creation? I'm a fan of light rifles but not every rifle needs to be a light weight. The barrel is one place it makes sense to spend some of your weight budget, and go lighter on handguards and other things.  Also, don't save too much money on your barrel, eat pasta for a week and come up with an extra few dollars. If you can spend 250-300 on your barrel you have a heck of a lot more options.

As for humping it all over creation, probably not. But, you never know. I'm beginning to hunt in my mildly advanced age and it could conceivably wind up on a hog hunt down by my mom.

 

For the barrel it looks like it's gonna be right around 200. I just spoke with Michael at Tier 1 and he has a barrel in stock. Sounds like it's close enough to what I'm looking for that it could work. I've also seen and researched the Faxon Barrels (there's not a lot on them as they're kinda new) and they seem decent enough that I might take a chance. I found a Del-Ton but have not heard great things about them.

 

The search continues. Who knows, someone on here may come thru with something. The rest of the parts are getting ordered Friday.

 

 

C

Barrel choice made and done. My buddy has something from a build that isn't happening. Thanks for the feedback.

 

C

Good deal let's see a picture when it's done.

For sure I will.

 

C