There are a lot of AR-15 barrel manufacturers out there.
Even if you have some idea of which to go with…you also have to decide which specific barrel.
Whether you’re doing a new build or swapping out a worn one…your barrel isn’t something where you cut corners.
We’ve built a lot of ARs and tested countless more.
Follow us as we cover our favorite barrel manufacturers…from the affordable to the very cutting edge of carbon fiber.
And also specific models for all your kinds of builds…from M4-style to pistol, SPR, and even exotic calibers.
If you need a refresher on gas lengths, barrel profiles, or different metals, check out the barrel section of our AR-15 guide before you get started.
Summary of Our Top Picks
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Affordable PickFaxon 16" Gunner, 5.56 NATO, Mid-Length
Budget friendly, good quality, all-around pick
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Best .223 WyldeBallistic Advantage 16" Hanson, .223 Wylde, Mid-Length
Accurate, softer shooting, and Wylde chamber for both 5.56 and .223
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Editor's Pick for Under 16"Softer shooting than carbine and more reliable than mid-length gas systems
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Best AR-15 Barrels
1. Faxon Firearms
Faxon is my go-to pick for affordable barrels. And I don’t mean cheap…they are just fairly priced in my mind.
They have a great online reputation and utilize their aerospace background to produce their barrels in-house (harder and harder to find nowadays).
Their claim to fame is their “Gunner” profile which utilizes the best from Government and Pencil profiles. Check out my art skills:
The Government section is thicker to maximize heat resistance and lower barrel whip. While at the gas block segment, it becomes a Pencil profile for a .625-inch gas block and reduced weight.
I also like how you can bundle gas blocks AND they have my favorite…the Superlative Arms Adjustable Gas Block (full review).
Here are our specific picks:
The Goldilocks Barrel
Has everything I’d want for an all-around build:
- 16-inches to avoid permanently attaching a muzzle device
- Mid-length gas system for softer shooting compared to carbine
- Gunner profile
- 5.56 chamber to eat up anything
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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I did a full review of it here…Faxon 16″ Gunner Barrel Review where it passed my fit, feel, install, shootability, and accuracy criteria.
If you’re looking for the shortest barrel without requiring a tax stamp or moving into pistol category, check out their 14.5-inch barrel with a permanently attached muzzle device.
I did a full review here of the pencil version.
And if you’re looking at weight savings…you can’t go wrong with the 16-inch pencil barrel.
Note that going pencil will open up your groups a little under rapid fire. If you’re shooting close range or okay simply hitting 6-inch targets at 100-yards…it’s worth the weight savings.
Match Accuracy Barrel
Not content with a 5.56 chamber? Upgrade to the more accurate .223 Wylde chamber (which still allows both 5.56 and .223). I have one on the way to test for accuracy so stay tuned.
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The Short Barrel
Going short for an SBR or AR-pistol (Best Pistol Braces)?
I prefer 11.5-inch since it has a much longer dwell time compared to even 10.5-inches and shorter. Most problems I’ve seen with AR pistols have been with people going too short.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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DMR/SPR Barrel
Whatever you want to call it…if you’re going long distance and want that even softer-shooting rifle-length gas system?
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Faxon’s stainless heavy fluted barrels give great rigidity for the weight…plus they look super cool.
Other Calibers
Faxon was also one of the first companies to move into 9mm pistol caliber carbines (PCC) so they definitely excel there too. Plus other offerings for AR-15 and AR-10.
Oh…and did I mention…
Faxon is hooking up Pew Pew Tactical readers like yourself with a 10% off barrel code: FXPPTBARREL10
What’s your take on Faxon? Rate them below.
2. Ballistic Advantage
Ballistic Advantage is another of my favorite barrel manufacturers that build their own in-house.
What’s cool about BA barrels is that the company doesn’t take a one-size-fits-all approach to barrel design.
In fact, they’ve diversified their offerings into eleven different profiles, so you can pick according to your build. Some folks may want a pencil profile, while others might prefer a heavy or even DMR application. These groups allow you to peruse options by category.
Hanson Barrel
A barrel profile unique to Ballistic advantage…the Hanson (part of the Performance Series) is shoulder-less at the gas block area which keeps the barrel more symmetrical and cuts down on barrel whip. Art time…
There are 5.56 Hanson Barrels but I went with the .223 Wylde to squeeze a little more accuracy out of the chamber while still able to shoot both 5.56 and .223.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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This was perfect for me since it had:
- .223 Wylde chamber for more accuracy
- 16-inches to avoid any length problems
- Mid-length to be softer shooting
I’m currently running this barrel for my rifle competition gun and it’s been kicking butt from close range all the way up to 400-yards. You can check my complete build in my How to Build An AR-15 article.
And the full review of the barrel.
Premium Series
For your precision 18-inch+ needs. Fluted for your pleasure and extra rigidity when shooting.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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I have this one coming in so I’ll be posting up accuracy groups soon!
The Short One
They have an 11.3-inch Hanson profile if you’re more serious about your SBR or AR-pistol. But for me, since my AR pistols are more range toys I would recommend the more affordable Government profile barrel.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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.224 Valkyrie and Other Calibers
I’m pretty excited for the .224 Valkyrie…I got to shoot this exact barrel at SHOT Show 2018 and you get the ability to hit up to 1,300-yards with the same recoil of a .223. Plus it goes into the AR-15 platform and not its big brother the AR-10 (Best AR-10s). I’ve pre-ordered mine so I’ll have results soon!
3. Rosco Manufacturing
An up-and-comer that’s a mix of reliability, accuracy, and affordability.
However my favorite options from them are their K9 11.5″ and 12.5″ barrels with a proprietary “Patrol Length” gas system that lowers the felt recoil vs carbine and is more reliable than mid-length.
Plus a continuous taper that brings the weight back towards the back for a more balanced rifle and more even heat dissipation.
I’ve been shooting the 12.5″ K9 lately and it is kicking butt. Accuracy testing is coming soon but right now it’s 100% reliable and accurate on steel.
There’s a couple of ways to get Rosco barrels…first is by themselves.
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But I recommend going the “Sauce Pack” route since then you get matching gas block, gas tube, and BCG.
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Or you can also opt for it to be completely built for you. Right now they come with SOLGW NOX flash hiders which also mount popular Dead Air suppressors.
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4. Rainier Arms
Want to upgrade your accuracy game?
Check out Rainier Arms’ Ultramatch in 18-inches, rifle-length gas system, .223 Wylde, stainless steel, and TiN-coated extension.
Made from top-grade Shilen barrel blanks…the barrel is dead sexy with the TiN extension which should add lubricity to loading…but we’ll be testing more to see.
Plus the combo of 18-inches, rifle-length gas system, and aggressive fluting should give you a super soft shooting impulse with great velocity and rigidity.
I opted for their special .800-inch thick gas block for a slight accuracy edge.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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5. Christensen Arms
Christensen Arms was founded by aerospace engineer Roland Christensen who envisioned a new way to build superior firearms. The company has a two-decade-long reputation of developing some of the finest rifle parts and fully-assembled gun builds around.
Christensen is also the first company to develop the carbon fiber barrel, which tends to trump other barrels in pretty much every way except price.
And boy do they cost more — approximately double the price tag of your finest steel barrel, to be exact.
Still, your carbon fiber barrel delivers better accuracy, durability, and barrel life than other barrels on the market, all while being significantly lighter in weight.
AR-15 Carbon Fiber Barrel with 2-inch Gas Seat
It comes chambered for the following calibers:
- .204 Ruger – length of 16” or 20”; twist rate of 1:10” or 1:12”
- .223 Wylde – length of 11.5”, 14.5”, 16”, or 18”; twist rate of 1:7”, 1:8”, or 1:9”
- 5.56 NATO – length of 16”; twist rate of 1:8”
- 6.5 Grendel – length of 24”; twist rate of 1:8”
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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If you’re looking for a good, lightweight barrel that can carry you through competitive shooting and hunting, Christensen’s carbon fiber AR-15 barrel is a pretty solid choice.
And if you’re looking for more carbon fiber…check out our Best Carbon Fiber Picks including Proof Research and BSF.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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And BSF which I have in hand with the full review here!
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Honorable Mentions
Don’t see your favorite manufacturer above? Here are some more popular ones that I’ll be updating as I get my hands on more barrels and test them out.
- White Oak Armament: no frills…they are just accurate
- Daniel Defense: cold-hammer forged for extreme durability
Conclusion
From carbon fiber to various lengths, we know there are lots of options when it comes to AR-15 barrels.
But hopefully, you’ve found one on our list that will work for your AR build.
What’s your favorite barrel brand? Let us know below. If you’re new to AR modding, take a look at our AR-15 Definitive Resource. It has everything you need to get started.
72 Leave a Reply
Can someone explain how Noveske and JP did not make the list? This is crazy negligent...
I am honestly very surprised FN didn't get at least an honorable mention. Their barrels are at least on par with DD's.
Ballistic Advantage, Ranier Arms, etc make a list of “THE BEST BARRELS” w/ no mention of Criterion. It’s farcical. This is why I can’t read PPT with a straight face anymore. Do I think BA & Co make solid budget barrels? Absolutely. But BA, Ranier etc couldn’t even hold Criterion’s beer. And Criterion is a random example of one. Noveske, Knights, POF, LWRC, etc all smoke every barrel on that list except for Proof. This isn’t elitism or snobbery. This is objectivity based on science & data. Nobody should take PPT as an “authoritative source on firearms” when they’re putting out bad info. If the article was titled “Who I think Makes the Best barrels”, it’d be fine. But no one who knows anything about the subject would read this and say, “yup… Ranier Arms definitely makes better barrels than Criterion”. I’d be willing to bet PPT’s reader/follower base is comprised of 99% beginner/intermediates. And this is the problem… Those new to the 2A community looking for education are being misled. In this case, the only barrel worthy of making this list is Proof. But as I said, Criterion/POF/Knights/Noveske/LWRC/etc all smoke every barrel bar Proof Research. So these misled beginners will go to their friends new to the community and pass along the info they learned from PPT as “fact”. Its just a cyclical spreading of incorrect info that ultimately helps no one. Are Criterion’s better than POF’s or Noveske or Knight’s barrels? I’m not sure. But I’d bet the deed to my house that Ranier/Ballistic Adv/etc all pale in comparison to all 4. It’s chalk and cheese. Please step up your content, PPT. I don’t mind opinions and preferences. But you’re doing a disservice to everyone saying “this” is better than “that” when a little research proves this wrong.
Hey Pete, thanks for the feedback. We are a beginner-friendly site, so a good chunk of our content is geared toward those just entering the scene and those on a budget. That said, we are looking to add more intermediate-style articles to our rotation soon. Not to mention, we also update our articles frequently with new recommendations. If you don't see what you want on here now, that doesn't mean we won't add it later. Thanks for reading.
Seek help. It’s an AR barrel on a caliber platform designed for an average of, say 300 yards - any well manufactured barrel will shoot nearly identical at even 500 yards I’d bet, much less exactly the same at 300. To come unglued on an article, stating "proof" at the end of every sentence is sad. Argue the best shooters out there, the top 5% will NOT outshoot the bottom 95% with the lowest tier off the shelf PSA AR, to say otherwise feeds into your delusion of "the best" of anything in modern day manufacturing. PewPewTac is doing just fine in their reporting and articles.
Hey Guys, need help. I'm an old guy, been shooting 3 gun over 35 years. When I started we bought IMI or GD 55gr bullets for 30-33 dollars a thousand and loaded our own. I still have a bunch of this ammo and can't really afford buy heavy bullets even if I could get primers. The problem is that I shot out my old go to AR and am having trouble finding a barrel that will shoot my 55s well. I have tried several big name barrels with 1-8 twist with wylde chambers and have found nothing that will out shoot my 80s era 1-9 Bushmaster. Thinking of trying a 1-11 or 1-10. Looking for a 14.5 inch chrome lined not too heavy. I actually did try a new bushmaster 1-9 barrel- it was junk. I still have my spare 80s era bushmaster and it also shoots my cheap ammo better than I can, just nervous because I haven't found anything to replace it with. Need guidance-brian
At 70, I'm still pretty new to "building" my own firearms. The barrel I've chosen for a new 24", .224 Valkyrie build is not on the list but SO WHAT! I'm certain that my choice is a good one and that I will not be disappointed with my investment. I don't plan on going out and winning a national shooting competition at my age. My goal is being able to occasionally enjoy the 170 mile ride and punch some holes at 800+ yds. Enjoy what you have!
Comment section never fails to disappoint, a bunch of whiney grown adults complaining because their choice wasn't selected and therefore they didn't get the positive affirmation they were seeking.
The tile of this article should be "Best AR-15 barrels by manufactures that sponsor us". At best this is a popularity contest. It's not objectively the best of anything. I'm about to block this site from my feed. It's a complete joke 95% of the time
Hey Ned, just wanted to clarify that we are not sponsored by these manufacturers to put them on this list. This list is based on our own personal experiences. If a certain brand is not listed, it doesn't mean that it's not good -- just that we haven't had hands-on time with it. Thanks for reading!
Another joke of a "best" series written by a guy who has never carried a gun professionally in any capacity. The real "best" barrels were ALL left out (FN, Noveske, DD, and so on...).
So no mention of CHF FN barrels??? I have a 16" FN CHF barrel 1/7 twist with M4 feed ramps and it shoots 1/2" groups at 100 yards with 55 grain Australian Outback Sierra "Blitzking" match ammo. It is govt profile and I could not be happier with it. Got it on a PSA Premium upper.
What is the best barrel length for an AR pistol? Hoping to have it as a home defense gun, will probably run suppressed eventually, and want a superlative arms adjustable gas block with a pri gas buster charging handle
Go with the small radian gas buster instead, you'll thank me. I'd generally suggest an 11.5 or a 12.5, but choose your muzzle device on the basis of what suppressor you want. I'd suggest a flash hider as a muzzle break on a short barrel indoors will ring you round the Rosie.
I like my Wilson Combat barrels. One that is chrome lined and 556 and a stainless 20" 223 Wylde. They both shoot great. I want to try a stainless proof barrel in 6mm ARC but I want a 22" barrel. I dont like cheap barrels because when I build a gun I want it to be as accurate as possible so using quality parts makes it a lot easier to achieve that goal. I have a Dracos straighjacket barrel in 308 that shoots amazing and a Criterion 6.5 Creedmoor barrel that is chrome lined and shoot great as well. Criterion should be on this list because they make very accurate AR barrels as well bolt action barrels.
Ballistic advantage gets my vote consistent moa accuracy same with Wilson combat and Odin works they are all good. I usually buy the one Ivan get the best price on
What about Rosco Manufacturing i would put them up with ballistic advantage
Rosco and ballistic are commercial grade barrels for civilians who intend to poke holes in paper. They are the Honda of the gun world.
I have a Stoner barrel that I picked up from Midway USA, The barrel is a thing of beauty, stainless H-bar, fluted , 16 inch, but it will not shoot worth a damn. I tried 6 brands of ammo, three scopes, iron sights and fired over 500 rounds through it, hoping it would "break in", and start grouping better.But alas, no luck , my groups look like a load of buckshot at 50 yards. I can shoot my Ruger 1022 with iron sights better than this thing. Should I just toss it on the scrap heap and chalk it up to bad luck, or is there something I can try ?
Stoner is MidwayUSAs house brand and is actually made by Bear Creek Armory. BCA is known for having very hit and miss quality.
Sadly, there is likely nothing you can do other than see if Midway will let you return it.
If you want a high quality and highly accurate barrel at a very reasonable price, you should try Larue Tactical's "Stealth" barrels or their "PredatAR" barrels. With match grade ammo (either store bought or hand loaded), I can easily get 1/2 moa accuracy on a consistent basis.
Atheris is an outstanding barrel.
Any opinions on the fn herstal ar barrels? Love their pistols, but haven’t played with their AR platform.
Grab the FN, they are good to go. When I was in the service we had FN M16’s and changed over to Colt M4’s, I preferred the FN, albeit the Colt was nicer to carry on a daily basis.
What do you think of the Rosco barrel.
i have a old hbar ss dmps...its 16 1/8 im thinking off swapping but i want the same only new
Which barrel would you go with for a 16" .223 Wylde rifle in Maryland, with our HBAR barrel requirement on an AR rifle?
Which barrel would you go with for a 16" .223 Wylde rifle in Maryland, with our HBAR barrel requirement on an AR rifle?
I live in MD, and as I understand it, there is no written definition of a HBAR barrel. What the State Police seem to be going on is a .750" gas block seat, so pick your barrel with that in mind. If you want it a bit lighter, go for fluting.
Who makes the best barrel in the 13.5 length? If I have to I'll go 13.7 but 13.5 would be perfect because it would be exactly 16.1 after I pin and weld a surefire warcomp... Thanks
Sons of Liberty
Do you have any experience with AR Performance barrels? I’m looking at doing a 6.8 SPC build and keep seeing them mentioned positively in forums.
It appears they make their 6.8 barrels with a special chamber to take advantage of hand loads that are stronger than factory. The comparison I’ve seen is 6.8 SPC chamber = .223, SPC 2 chamber = 5.56, and their custom chamber = .223 wylde. Sounds great if they shoot well. They make a special bolt too.
pencil barrel just look goofy with a skinny little noodle sticking out of handguard with muzzle attachment that fatter than barrel.
If I wanted to attach a hybrid 46 silencer on a ar15, let’s say a DDM4 V7. Would I need to purchase a threaded barrel? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
No, you do not need to purchase another barrel. The DDM4v7's barrel is already threaded, as are most barrels for AR platforms. This is done to allow for the attachment of flash hiders, compensators, muzzle brakes and suppressors. According to Daniel Defense's website, the DDM4v7 has a muzzle thread of 1⁄2"×28 TPI (Threads Per Inch). The exception to this is if you buy a DDM4v7 that has been modified to be non-NFA by a gun dealer by having a pinned and welded flash hider, muzzle brake or compensator that extends a 14.5" barrel to 16". If you have a pinned and welded barrel, which is not standard from Daniel Defense, then you would need to buy a new barrel.
Keep in mind that suppressors are NFA items. (also keep in mind that most firearm enthusiasts despise the term "silencer" as a suppressor does not make a firearm anywhere near "silent") If adding a suppressor to an existing firearm, then you will need to purchase the suppressor, pay the $200 NFA tax and fill out an ATF form 1 to manufacture an NFA item. If purchasing a firearm with a suppressor already attached, then you will need to fill out an ATF form 4. Your local FFL dealer should be able to guide you through this process. Keep in mind that NFA items can take months to a year to be approved.
The author doesn't even realize that Ballistics does not make a gun barrel, they buy from other companies.
Actually Ballistic advantage does make their own barrels and the partnered with Aero Precision because they manufacture all of the other AR parts needed
How in the balls did Noveske not make this list...
Criterion barrels are match grade and they are chrome lined . I know . I had never heard of a chrome lined match grade barrel either. They are a part of Krieger barrels . Criterion has successfully integraded the best both worlds.
Try the Wilson Combat barrels
I cant believe the barrels you chose as the best.Colt,Daniel Defense,FN are milspec,accurate,affordable and tough.Those other barrels are fine commercial barrels for plinkers but if you shoot alot or train hard you should go with barrels listed and a few more not mentioned.
Milspec barrels are a fairly obsolescent design unless you are using them in a military application - ie mass produced, good for anything, and might need to mount under-barrel launchers. For a civilian shooter, of any flavor, the government profile is outdated.