Flawless
Barrel looks phenomenal! Accuracy is exceptional. Machine work is perfect and the rifling looks great. Installed this in a lightweight 308AR platform, making for a sub 7lbs rifle. BSF customer service is great and Brownells had the best price!
Would you recommend this?
Yes, I would recommend to a friend
My 2nd BSF Barrel
I liked the BSF barrel so much in 6mm Creedmoor that I recommended it to a friend in 243 Winchester. That barrel shoots great as well.
When it can time for a new 308 Winchester, the brand of barrel was BSF. I expect this barrel to shoot great.
Continued performance.
This is a follow up review. I wanted to post after the break in, and make sure I didn't just get a fluke. This barrel is performing well. I am sure that with more time behind the gun I can make the groups even better. This is the first AR platform I am shooting for tight groups. Most of my time is behind bolt actions. So, with that said, here are some new targets of the rifle I had built. All shots were factory loads on target. On the first target, warm-up for the day was some Blackhills 175 grain Sierra Matchking, followed by Federal Gold Medal Match(FGMM) 168 grain Sierra Matchking. In order of succession, first FGMM was shot at the center, then clockwise from bottom left, to top left, top right, bottom right. FGMM groups were about 2 minutes between strings. The bottom right target was just over 1 MOA not counting the left flyer. All brass from this gun goes consistently to the 4 O'clock, and lands within 6 inches of the rest. The flyer shot, threw the brass forward out of the gun. So I think it had a slight charge issue. But, who knows. On the other target, Nosler Custom 150gr Accubond produced great repeatable results. Even a little more so than the original groups with Federal and just the standard 150 Nosler Ballistic Tip.
Took a risk. Came with a reward.
First AR-10 build and first .308 I own. I went with the 20" offering from BSF. This barrel is super light. For being .875" around and 20" long, this particular barrel weighed in at 1lb-14.8oz on my kitchen scale. Seems to be in keeping with BSF's listed weights. Although the entire gun is heavier than my Remington Model 7, the barrel being so light keeps it manageable to hold on target. The weight is much closer to the center of the gun. Headspace was pretty tight on the "GO" gauge, and not a chance in the world on the "No-GO". Clymer gauges. Barrel took no pressure to seat into the M5E1 Upper. Felt rock solid after torquing the nut. I was worried about accuracy as the only tension style barrels I could find info on were .22lr. I was pleasantly surprised when I shot multiple Sub-MOA groups with factory hunting ammo. This gun really likes Federal loaded with the 150gr Nosler Ballistic tip. My Dad also tried his handloads from his Remington 700. They were Winchester brass, Reloader 12, Federal Primer, and 150gr Nosler Ballistic tip. These bolt gun loads are over 17 years old...Also Sub-MOA. I broke the barrel in following closely to their provided recommendation sheet. I've shot more 3 shot groups than 5 shot, but both were very acceptable. Only thing I have any gripe about would be the labeling of 5R Rifling. This barrel is 6 lands and grooves. That's all. Not sure if these are from an old lot or?.....But it is labeled this way on here and BSF's website....... Rifle is comprised of an Aero Precision M5E1 15" MLOK builder set, Lantac BCG, Superlative Arms gas block, Magpul MOE rifle stock, Rifle buffer set up, Geissele SD-E trigger, Silencerco Trifecta Brake, Lancer 10RD magazine. Total Weight minus optic - 8lbs 14 ounces with empty mag.
I guess it's match grade
It is light, shoots 1 moa, doesn't get too hot, and cools fast. I was just hoping for better than 1 moa. I reload my own and have a variety of semi-autos that perform better than 1 moa. Keeping weight low w/ match accuracy was my goal and I guess I succeeded. 6 pounds 3 ounces before optic on a .308 win AR is light. I guess I'm a little disappointed in the amount of free bore. My Lancer mags will allow a COAL of just shy 2.83" but ogive measures I've taken with a few of my favorite projectiles ranging from 150 to 175 grain have left me with quite a jump. The speer 150 SBT gets the closest at .050" but a 175 SMK loaded to a COAL of 2.83 is .075" from the lands. The free bore just seems a bit much for a semiautomatic designed to be magazine fed.
Not as accurate as expected
Have built many ARs and Several AR308s. All of the other components in the build are high quality precision parts. Tried three good factory loads and several hand loads. Taking care with good optic the best group at 100 yards was six inches. My 16 inch build with nearly the same other components does better than one inch at the same range with a barrel costing 1/2 as much using bargain ammo. Expected better out of a 24 inch barrel at the price point this barrel cost. Love Brownells return police. Returned for credit.
poor grouping
Bought the 24" version in hopes of having something that would be consistent and efficient. But it's never been able to group better than 6" .The barrel actually feels flexible. Suppose a light down the barrel and some scale to visualize the deflection wouldn't be to difficult to arrange, regardless I think I'll be returning this one .
