Faxon Pencil Barrel
Was shooting a Faxon Match Series 14.5” Pencil barrel, 416R .223 Wylde chamber using a Faxon Upper and Lower with a XTSP trigger. Three different people besides myself shot a softball target at 300 yards and consistently hit it. This was also using a Vortex Red Dot. Nobody could believe it shot this well. Hats off to Faxon what a great barrel.
So far so good
Its a pencil barrel with all the pros and cons of that so I wont talk about that aspect of the barrel. I have about 250 rounds through the barrel so far and the accuracy is as good as the ammunition I was shooting can achieve. I was very happy with the price and the installation process. Ive had not one malfunction (after we got the gas setting right) with no feed or extraction problems. I didnt notice any quality problems with barrel before I installed it. So far Ive had a very good experience and would buy other products of theirs.
Outstanding lightweight barrel.
I bought this for a minimalist, lightweight AR build for coyote hunting. I put 100 rounds of 4 different loads through it so far using a Vortex Crossfire 2 MOA red dot. Even with the 2 MOA optic, it shot MOA at 100 yds with everything. It really liked factory Hornady 55gr GMX, coming in at 3/4" at 100 yds. What really impressed me was that it didn't heat up like I thought it might being thinner, yet it cooled down quickly when it did, and I didn't see any difference in group sizes when it got warm. Definitely a high quality piece of hardware. I followed Faxon's break-in procedure, which wasn't too labor intensive, though I've read from others that you don't really need to. I also used the Faxon low-profile gas block with it.
Exellent barrel
This barrel went on an ultralite build and the end result was just under 5 pounds and just went to 6 pounds with a full mag and red dot sight. Very accurate even when it got hot. Barrel got hot after 5 rounds and smoking hot after a mag full.
Everything I wanted
This is an overall fantastic addition to my build. Good quality, the finish seems pretty durable and corrosion resistant (I live in Washington state and went shooting on a very wet day), it is very light at 1 pound, and is pretty accurate for a pencil barrel that isnt extremely expensive. I was getting about 1.25 MOA with hand loads. I was a bit concerned about the fact that it had a mid length gas port instead of a standard carbine length gas port for a 14.5 inch barrel when I purchased it, but with a standard buffer and spring the rifle is perfectly tuned, throwing hotter brass out at the 2:30 position and wolf 223 out at 4:30 to 5 position, the reduced dwel time also reduces the felt recoil. If youre looking to build a light rifle this barrel can be beat for the price point. Cant recommend this enough.
Lightweight
This thing is definitely lightweight. If you have a bumpfire stock, it can bump fire 22's with some technique (minus optics w/CMMG 22 conv kit). It is also incredibly thin. I was worried that if I did not have a thin handguard it would look unbalanced. This barrel is pretty precise at 25 yards with 22's (plenty good for squirrels) and handled .223 ammo without any worry. It will kick a little more than usual, but that is to be expected. For me that was encouraged.
Awesome
Awesome lightweight barrel, after break-in was shooting 5 shot groups at 1/4 MOA @ 100 yards. Very surprised. Was my 1st AR build.
Excellent choice for a lightweight build
I bought this barrel for a lightweight AR project and assembled it with a BCM KMR Alpha tube. The completed upper assembly is just incredibly light weight. It moves around so much faster from target to target. The accuracy is very, very good. Ive only run a few loads through this particular gun, so I cant say its close to match grade or not, but I have no complaints. Zeroing sights and red dot was easy and trouble free. Assembly, also without a hitch.
Buy with confidence
I bought this for a light weigh build. I put a 15" Midwest Industries rail with Daniel Defense fixed irons. I put a clamp on Daniel Defense low profile gas block as well. All in a shade under 6 pounds. Barrel was broken in with Black Hills 69 grain match BTHP. First 100 rounds after break in (50 round break) it shot 1.5 - 2" groups. Not bad but wanted a little more. After 300 rounds of all 69 match it shoots 3/4 all day long. I shoot 62 grain Gold Dot bonded now and it shoots flawless 3/4 inch groups. Shoots about everything in the 3/4 to 1.5 range. The barrel seems to do well with 62-77 grain. Mine was very well made with flawless finish. My only complaint as it has been noted was the 1-8 marking on the barrel was cut leaving bare metal. It does rust if you don't watch it. This is a patrol rifle that spends many days in the trunk of a squad. Hot in summer bitter cold in the winter. Barrel shoots the same at 90 degrees or 0 degrees. After 2 or 3 times of getting rust out with steel wool I covered the markings with fingernail polish. No problems since. Good barrel for a light weight gun at a good price. I have close to 3000 rounds through mine now and rifling still looks great. Many rounds left to go down the pipe
