Faxon 20" SOCOM barrel for A4 Build

[airman23]

I'm currently building a retro A4 rifle so I've been shopping around for 20" Government profile barrels. I know that 20" barrels are rather passe these days but the A4 does use a 20" barrel. I was going to purchase a Ballistic Advantage 20" Modern series Government profile Nitrided barrel however I saw a Faxon 20" Gov't / Socom, 5.56 NATO, Rifle-Length, 4150 QPQ

http://faxonfirearms.com/20-govt-socom-5-56-nato-rifle-length-4150-qpq/

I saw it on Opticsplanet for $157 as opposed to $185 for the Ballistic Advantage Barrel however the Faxon Barrel is a Gov/t / SOCOM profile barrel and I'm not familiar with this type of barrel profile. Can anyone fill me in on the details of what a SOCOM profile barrel is and what are the benefits as opposed to a Government Profile 20" Barrel. You prompt replies will be appreciated.

[Lightstrider]

It kind of looks like the SOCOM is a slight step up from pencil (govt profile)

Pencil


Socom

[OpenSightsOnly]

I know that 20" barrels are rather passe these days but the A4 does use a 20" barrel.

Passe?

Nah, SDM uppers are 20" and 1:7 while the 77 gr. match grade ammo were based on the 20"

Knowing what I know now from 223 reloading and shooting that platform, 1:7 and 20" is the only way to go

Check out Compass Lake Engineering or WOA for service rifle barrels.

[airman23]

Passe?

Nah, SDM uppers are 20" and 1:7 while the 77 gr. match grade ammo were based on the 20"

Knowing what I know now from 223 reloading and shooting that platform, 1:7 and 20" is the only way to go

Check out Compass Lake Engineering or WOA for service rifle barrels.

The Faxon 20" Barrel is a 1:8 twist rate which I thought would be better than a 1:7 twist rate so as to be able to use a wider variety of Loads such as 62 gran FMJ to 77grain SMK or even 55 grain M193 if that's all I can get (Remember we live in the People's Republic of California) although I'm saving my 77grain SMK for my Mark12 Mod0 SPR and will just shoot 62 to 69 grain FMJ out of the A4.

The Faxon Web site doesn't give too much detail about this barrel they call a "Govt / SOCOM profile. I'm just wondering what's the difference from a regular 20" Government profile barrel the Military M16A4 uses.

[OpenSightsOnly]

ok . . .

The response is based on my experience with the WOA A2 upper.

Have used the 52 gr and 53 gr Sierra Matchking bullets out of that upper as well as the 69s, 75s, 77s, 80s, and 82 grain match-grade bullets. Not one issue

You should be good to go with the Faxon barrel

[FaxonFirearms]

The Faxon 20" Barrel is a 1:8 twist rate which I thought would be better than a 1:7 twist rate so as to be able to use a wider variety of Loads such as 62 gran FMJ to 77grain SMK or even 55 grain M193 if that's all I can get (Remember we live in the People's Republic of California) although I'm saving my 77grain SMK for my Mark12 Mod0 SPR and will just shoot 62 to 69 grain FMJ out of the A4.

The Faxon Web site doesn't give too much detail about this barrel they call a "Govt / SOCOM profile. I'm just wondering what's the difference from a regular 20" Government profile barrel the Military M16A4 uses.

No difference other than M4 feed ramps instead of M16 on the 20"

The 1/8 will stabilize any projective to 85 grains with ease.

[ChuckDizzle]

I have a 20" HBAR from Black Hole Weaponry. It's awesome. I still use my 16" LW for hunting medium game and home defense because it is lighter and has a 1.5-4x as opposed to the 3-9x on the 20".

For varmints and target work 20" all day.

[Gowking]

LaRue 20" Stealth gets my vote:

http://www.larue.com/556-stealth-barrel