556

AR Build: A young woman's perspective

A young woman’s perspective on building an AR15

  So I pitched the idea of building an AR to my daughter and writing something about it. She thought it would be fun. I am not sure if she was humoring me or not. But either way, here we are with an awesome AR15, that she built herself. A special thank you goes out to all the great companies that helped sponsor this build, you can read about their parts later in the story. 

From Zoe:

 Putting together my AR was much more interactive than I expected it to be. In a way it was simple, yet complex. Many little pieces combine together like a delicate puzzle, but also a straightforward process to get to the final outcome. There were many different steps to complete to bring it all together. One of the most tedious was putting all the pins into place! Those slippery little rascals!

  When putting the AR together, all of the parts fit perfectly. Between all the different parts, and parts kits, almost everything needed was there, even little tools for some of the steps! Everything was beginner friendly (although having my father assisting me helped a ton). I enjoyed the experience and the reward was incredibly worth the time put into it. Building the AR also helped me feel closer to my dad and the big parts of his life. As a young woman, knowing that there are places that put these part kits together brought me a sense of safety. I am able to build something to provide protection for myself. Plus I got to learn the intimate process of building it, in turn making me a safer firearms owner and a safer young woman.

  Shooting it was a lovely experience. The parts used were all relatively light in mass and resulted in a very lightweight gun. Having to hold it for long periods was undemanding. Shooting it was like a well polished machine. There was very little recoil when firing the rifle. It also functioned flawlessly and did not jam. One thing that I did struggle with was pulling back the charging handle. Which can be a common issue as a woman, since our upper body strength is usually lower than are male counterparts. Charging the firearm is easier than other guns I have shot because of the larger size charging handle. All of the parts worked as expected and I was very satisfied with the experience as a whole. 

  I am so grateful to have had this opportunity. It provided me with important skills, and knowledge of firearms, that I did not have before building this AR. To any young woman who feels she needs confidence and a sense of security, I would highly recommend learning the safety and process of building a firearm. There are things out there to make life a little safer, and I believe this is one of those. 

Stay safe out there ladies.

Sponsored parts used in Zoe's AR build:

This AR15 is built for .223/5.56, so everything listed below is for that particle caliber rifle.

  When it comes to AR parts, there are many. We were fortunate to have some great sponsors who supplied top notch parts for this build. A lot of these are colorful, literally, but they are all high quality parts. 

  First up is the backbone of any AR build, the lower receiver. Our friends over at Foxtrot Mike Products sent one of their stripped lowers. These are billet receivers with a slightly enlarged trigger guard and a semi built-in magazine well. The Magazine well is 3D machined to give it a super smooth transition when loading magazines into the rifle. The Foxtrot Mike lower has a bunch of small added features that make it a little nicer than your run of the mill lower receiver. One of those is the ability to run a ball detent on the safety. That little detail makes a safety selector work so much smoother. 

  Since that lower receiver needs parts to make it function, ArmaSpec sent a stainless Lower Parts Kit (LPK) and their Stealth Recoil Spring. ArmaSpec’s LPK is one of my favorites. It comes with an ambi safety selector that does 45 and 90 degree throws. We did not use the ambi selector in this build, but I did install it elsewhere. All the springs and detents in the LPK are well made and I have no doubt that they will give the rifle years of use. The Stealth Recoil spring, that ArmaSpec manufactures, is a wonderful piece of equipment. Its complete unit replaces the conventional AR buffer and spring. It is called “Stealth” because it reduces the “twang” noise sometimes heard in normal AR’s. The Stealth Recoil system smooths out the cycling of the firearm and also reduces recoil, which was noticeable by how soft this AR shoots.

  If you want a barrel and need it to look fancy, Faxon Firearms has you covered. Since Zoe wanted something “pretty”, we went looking. Faxon has a match grade 16” Gunner series barrel that happens to come in “Chameleon” PVD. This color option fades from pink to purple, to blue, and then to gold. A perfect option for someone wanting color. It also looks amazing under the Robin Egg blue color scheme. Faxon also sent a gas tube and a 0.625” gas block to round out the package. This barrel is not only super accurate, but it is fairly lightweight too.

  When you are building an AR of this quality, you do not want to skimp on the Bolt Carrier Group (BCG). After all, this is what makes the firearm function. Walker Defense sent us one of their Nickel Boron BCG’s. Nickel Boron provides enhanced reliability, easier cleaning, and better lubricity. Walker’s BCG is super slick, literally, and has all the top tier options someone would want. It uses a properly hardened 9310 bolt, has properly staked OCKS screws, is magnetic particle inspected, uses a hard chrome firing pin, and has a M16 carrier profile. Walker Defense’s products are also 100% made in the USA with US components. 

  To finish out the build, and add a whole lot of color, Timber Creek sent an Enforcer build kit. These are fairly lightweight kits which work well when you are worried about the final weight of the rifle. Zoe opted for the Robin Egg Blue cerakote color version. The Enforcer kit comes with a ton of parts for your build. In this case, the Robin Egg Blue parts we used were the 15” handguard, pistol grip, charging handle, safety selector, buffer tube, end plate, port door, extended mag release, forward assist, and takedown pins. We also used the supplied muzzle brake, but it only comes in basic black. Timber Creek's Enforcer kit also comes with a 0.750 gas block, which we didn't use due to using a 0.625 barrel. We also did not use the trigger guard since we used a billet lower that has the trigger guard built in. 

  I want to mention two things about the Enforcer kit. First up is the Ultra Light M-Lok handguard. These handguards, by themselves, are stupid lightweight. They also have holes for QD swivels. Making it easier to add a sling. There are also plenty of M-Lok slots along the whole rail for adding whatever you want. The second thing I want to mention is the oversized charging handle. This handle is significantly larger than most. Zoe mentioned it made charging the rifle easier due to its size. I had never thought of this, but because you can get a good grip on it, it works better for those that have a smaller stature. 

  As we all know, you need a way of aiming a rifle. Since this AR is not being used for distance shooting, She opted for a red dot. Why? Because it is lighter than a 1x prism sight. Primary Arms Optics sent us one of their MD-25's with the 2 MOA dot. The Primary Arms MD-25 is a great red dot. It has a large window size and is pretty lightweight. Battery life is really good thanks to it having Primary Arms’ Autolive function. The Autolive turns the dot off after a few minutes of non use, and then turns it back on when it gets moved. The MD-25 is a great option for a defensive rifle. 

  Now you may have noticed that we are missing a few parts. We supplied the stripped upper receiver, stock, and trigger. Most stripped uppers are very similar and fairly cheap, so I just purchased one. When it comes to stocks, there are a lot of personal preferences. We just opted for a Hogue AR stock. They lock up tight, have a good feel, and are inexpensive. If you noticed, the LPK was not one that included a trigger. I had a TriggerTech Duty Trigger laying around. It is the 3.5lb version. This trigger is a really good option for someone that doesn't shoot a lot. Yes, it feels really good, but with the 3.5lb pull weight, it works well for beginners and seasoned pros alike. 

  Now my daughter has her own AR15. The experience of helping her build her own rifle will not be forgotten anytime soon. She has a life saving tool that will give her a lifetime of protection and enjoyment. 

Walker Defense Titanium BCG

  Titanium bolt carrier groups (BCG) are one of the mysteries of the AR world. A few companies manufacture them, but what are they really for? I’ll try to answer that with the Walker Defense Research Titanium BCG.

  If you are looking at a Titanium (Ti) BCG, like the Walker Defense one, it is probably because of weight. Meaning you are trying to get the lightest possible parts around. The Walker Ti BCG weighs 7.8 ounces complete. A standard BCG weighs 11.8 ounces on my scale. That’s an off the shelf weight saving of 4 ounces. I know, that doesn’t seem like a lot, but when every ounce counts, that's a bunch. An important note is that the bolt is not titanium, it is 9130 steel with a Nickel Boron coating. The bolt is also magnetic partical inspected (MPI). A Ti bolt just doesn’t have the correct metallurgy to work, but for the carrier, it’s great. The Ti carrier, without the bolt, only weighs 5.7 ounces. 

  The Walker Defense Ti BCG is of the standard M16 profile. This is done so that it will work in almost every scenario, except piston guns. It is for direct impingement AR’s only. The M16 profile also gives the BCG strength and reliability. Cutting away material can weaken a BCG or make it not function correctly. Walker makes the BCG out of 6AL-4V grade 5 titanium. This even goes above my material knowledge, but I bet that they know what they are doing, especially since this titanium seems to be the standard for Ti BCG’s. An Ionbond Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) is then put on the carrier. This DLC coating gives the BCG a longer lifespan and makes it super smooth. Of course you need excellent machining to have a smooth coating, and the Walker Defense BCG definitely is machined super smooth. 

  Another reason for choosing a titanium BCG is for reduced recoil. The Ti BCG reduces recoil because there is less moving mass. This does come at a price. One also needs an adjustable gas block. This is a must for any lightweight BCG, not just the Walker Ti one. Then you have to tune the adjustable gas block. Good ones come with instructions on how to do this. Some might say that you can “tune” the Ti BCG by using heavier buffers and stuff. But a heavier buffer just adds more weight and more recoil. Isn’t one reason you would choose a Ti bcg is for weight? I can attest to the lower recoil of the Ti BCG. I have a Superlative arms adjustable gas block, tuned to eject the brass at about 3:30. According to the Mantis x, it reduced muzzle rise by over 50% and recoil width by over 80%. You can see in the short video that even with an A2 flash hider, there is hardly any recoil or muzzle climb. I could definitely feel the difference. 

  I was a little hesitant to try the Walker titanium BCG out. I just didn’t understand why I needed it. After using it thoroughly for some time, I can say it definitely makes the AR shoot so much smoother. All the claims are correct. Reduced muzzle rise. Reduced felt recoil. Faster follow up shots, due to those previously mentioned reductions. Yes, the BCG price can make you gasp a little. But in the end, it’s not much more expensive, if any, than other low mass BCG’s. Even some enhanced BCG’s are in the $250 range. The Walker Ti BCG also has forward assist notches, something a lot of the other lightweight carriers don’t have. For me, I just can’t get over how smooth the recoil impulse is with the Walker Ti BCG.

  Probably the last reason to choose Walker’s Ti BCG is durability. Titanium tends to be more resistant to heat and pressure. What do direct impingement guns have? Hot gasses being directly blown into the carrier. So anything that is more resistant to heat is a good thing. Walker also correctly stakes the gas key on, so it won’t be moving around causing problems. Just lube your Ti BCG as normal, and you should get a long life span from it. 

  The Walker Defense Titanium BCG does everything a BCG should do and more. The “more” is why I really like it. It’s lightweight, reduces recoil, is durable, and has a standard M16 profile. Hopefully you have a better understanding of why you would want the Walker Ti BCG. So if you want that “lightweight everything”, or just a super quality bolt carrier, head over to the Walker Defense Research website and give them a look. Everything I have from Walker is top notch and is always made in the USA.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Lightweight M16 FA Bolt Carrier Group

Target Market:

Lightweight builds, competition shooters, or anyone wanting a high quality BCG

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Compatibility: M16/ M4 / AR-15 Direct Gas Impingement (not for use in piston guns)

  • Calibers: 5.56x45mm NATO / .223 Remington / .300 AAC Blackout

  • Profile: Full Auto Style Carrier w/ Properly Staked Gas Key

  • Carrier Material: 6AL-4V (Grade 5) Titanium

  • Bolt Material: 9310 Steel

  • Carrier Coating: Ionbond DLC (Diamond Like Carbon)

  • Bolt Coating: Nickel Boron

  • Firing Pin: Steel w/ Chrome Finish

  • Made in the USA

  • Weight: Carrier-only (titanium): 5.7 oz, Total (Carrier, Bolt, firing pin, etc.): 7.8 oz

  • Adjustable gas block is highly recommended 

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Carrier only

What others are saying?:

5/5 stars at Walker Defense   

Surprisingly Good

When I decided to upgrade my mil-spec bolt carrier group ("BCG"), I did a lot of research. I found a review of the Walker Defense Research BCG on Pew Pew Tactical. I was impressed by the statistics . I there and when I went to the site, found the NERO, a three-d printed muzzle device. I was impressed by the willingness to explore new technologies. I bought both a NERO and this BCG. I have a JP captured spring and a Superlative Arms adjustable gas block. With the mil-spec BCG, I could only tune the rifle to 1.5 turns into bleed (22 clicks on the detentes). It was a good result. The Walker DR BCG allowed me to bleed off another 1.5 turns (28 clicks). Because of that, I have extremely little barrel movement and keep my targets well (understand that the NERO is not on this rifle so there is no effect--this is strictly the BCG. With less mass, there is less slam. Whenever I take it to the range, others notice the smoothness and my targets. I have offhanded 120 rounds at a session and it is only my wallet that caused me to hang it up in a session. Two other things to mention: 1) my clockworks stay noticeably cleaner because I am able to bleed off so much dirty gas; and 2) the coating quality goes all the way out to the edges. This second issue needs a bit more explanation. On the mil-spec BCG the edges wore nearly immediately. The quality of the finish is so good that the edges remain crisp at 1,250 rounds. I have no reservations about recommending this BCG. I would suggest that you take full advantage by getting an adjustable gas block as well. The two together really make the gun a sweet shooter. My sons have various ARs but they always find an excuse for shooting mine.

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found

Price point:

MSRP = $359.99

Retail = $306.00 with “INSIDER15” discount code

I need it now! Availability:

Walker Defense Research 

Use “INSIDER15” FOR 15% OFF

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Super lightweight

  • DLC coating on carrier

  • Nickel Boron coating on bolt

  • M16 Full Auto carrier specs

  • Super smooth operation

  • Less felt recoil

  • 100% Made in USA

Cons:

  • Price

  • Needs adjustable gas block

Score: 8.50 Great

Favorite Link: JSD Supply  

Walker Defense NERO 556 muzzle brake

  Walker Defense has come on the market with some truly innovative products. One of those is the NERO 556, a 3D printed hybrid muzzle brake/compensator manufactured from Inconel.. By using state of the art 3D manufacturing, Walker Defense was able to design the NERO without the constraints of normal machining. I had watched one of their videos on the NERO and needed to see if it was really that good, so I reached out to them for a review sample.

  3D manufacturing brings a whole new level to muzzle brakes. Walker Defense uses an additive manufacturing process called DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering). Basically this process uses a laser to melt powdered metal together. By using this process, Walker Defense was able to design a muzzle brake that doesn’t have to use standard machining processes. Instead, they designed it using fluid dynamics for the best possible reduction in muzzle rise and recoil.

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  The NERO 556 is manufactured using inconel. Inconel is a superalloy known for its resistance to heat, pressure, and corrosion. You may have heard about inconel because some suppressor companies use it for the initial blast baffle. Inconel is not the easiest metal to machine and thus can add a huge cost. By laser sintering the inconel, costs can be kept down some. 

  Walker designed the NERO for zero muzzle rise. It is optimized for a 14.5” or 16” 5.56 (.223) barrel length. If you run it on a shorter barrel, it definitely pushes the muzzle down. I know this because I tried it on a 11.5” and a 7.5”. It does this because the pressure going through the NERO is much larger on the shorter barrels. Walker Defense actually sent me a cutaway diagram (see picture). The diagram helps to understand what is going on with the NERO, and why it looks the way it does. As Walker Defense mentioned:

“It (nero) was designed using fluid dynamics to force the gases to take a different trajectory than the bullet. Upon entering the muzzle device, the vectored flow nozzle (#1) acts as an inverted ramp, and along the dimpled compression ramp (#2), focuses a jet of gas into the curved blast surface (#3) directly below the bore. This focused gas striking the curved blast surface is intended to create a balanced counter-recoil force that directly counteracts the rearward and upward recoil with a downward and forward counter force.”

  Now that we know the technical description, here is my take. The NERO 556 works like nothing else I have ever used before! Like I mentioned earlier, I did try it on a 11.5” and 7.5”, but most of the use was on a 16” barrel. Running the NERO on the 16” did exactly as stated. Recoil was reduced extremely. Most importantly, muzzle rise was effectively eliminated. The recoil impulse almost felt as if it was slightly pulling away from my shoulder. When I tried it on the short barrels, results varied. On the 11.5”, recoil was reduced and the muzzle dipped a little during recoil. On the 7.5”, recoil was reduced also, but more importantly was the huge downward force pushing the muzzle down. I would recommend also running it on a 14.5” or 16”, as it was designed for that. With the shorter barrels, there was also more concussion from the blast. With the 16”, I didn’t really notice it, as it is less than other muzzle brakes I own. While shooting a standard USPSA target, at ranges from 5-25 yards, A-zone hits were really easy. Even when I shot really fast, the muzzle stayed on target and the hits were all on the target. FYI, the AR15 that the NERO resides on weighs in at 6 pounds empty.

  Walker Defense also noted about handling the rifle differently. When shooters use the NERO for the first time, some have a tendency to pull the muzzle down during recoil. With the NERO, this is definitely not needed. Since I was warned about this, I literally shot the rifle with the handguard resting on a flat hand, after first installing the NERO. Yes, it shot very flat with no support. However, I did go back to my standard grip without any problems. 

  I was trying to measure recoil and give a comparison, but the data wasn’t there. I did get a few decent readings on muzzle rise (see attached screenshots). The last one in the group is always off because I moved the rifle after the last round was fired. All of the ones I have are in the standing, off hand, position. The average muzzle rise is near zero. This is consistent with what Walker Defense say about the NERO.

  The NERO 556 may not be for everyone, but it should be. If you are a competitive shooter, you need this. If you just want reduced muzzle climb, you need this. If you want faster follow up shots, this will definitely help. The NERO may seem pricey at first, but after shooting with it, you will probably change your mind. The videos put out by Walker Defense really are how the NERO shoots.

  The NERO is definitely innovative. Just by looking at it, the NERO 556 doesn’t look like your normal compensator/muzzle brake. Well, it isn’t, thanks to the 3D design and sintering. If you want an awesome, recoil and muzzle rise reducing, muzzle brake, look no further than the NERO from Walker Defense Research.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

3D printed muzzle brake with soft recoil and ZERO muzzle rise

Target Market:

Those wanting the best technology in a muzzle brake

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Reduced Recoil

  • Minimal muzzle climb

  • Standard ½-28 thread pitch

  • Use on .223 Remington, 5.56 NATO, .224 Valkyrie

  • Inconel 718

  • PVD coated

  • Pre-drilled hole for pinning and welding on 14.5” barrel

  • Direct Metal Laser Sintered

  • Weight: 3 ⅝ ounces

  • Length: 2.6 inches

  • Individual Serial Numbers

  • Optimized for 14.5”-16” barrels

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

NERO 9 and NERO 762

What others are saying?:

5/5 stars  Carl @ Walker Defense Research

Incredible Upgrade

There are lots of ways to spend money on AR-15’s these days... The Nero 556 is one modification that made an immediate, substantial improvement to performance of my AR. Muzzle rise was virtually eliminated allowing for faster and more accurate follow up shots. My buddy’s girlfriend had never shot a rifle and handled it with ease. It is well made and installed easily. I will be buying more!

Link to other reviews:

Jerking the Trigger

Price point:

MSRP = $179.99

I need it now! Availability:

Walker Defense

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Zero muzzle rise

  • Reduced recoil

  • Faster follow up shots

  • PVD coating

  • 3D printed Inconel 

Cons:

  • Price

Score: 9.00 Amazing

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Favorite Link:   Gun & Gear Cult

Velocity Adjustable Gas Block

  Velocity Precision is known mainly for their triggers. They have introduced some other items lately, One of those is an adjustable gas block for AR15 rifles. If you are looking to tune a suppressed rifle, or just want less strain on your rifle’s parts, an adjustable gas block just might be what you need.

  An adjustable gas block can be very useful. By allowing the gas system to be adjusted, one can “tune” the rifle. If you run a low mass bolt carrier group (BCG), adjusting the gas down, will smoothen out the recoil impulse, and not beat the crap out of your equipment. Suppressors are notorious for “over” gassing the recoil system. So tuning the gas block, when running suppressed, is also a big plus. Another advantage to an adjustable gas block is being able to tune your rifle or pistol for the specific ammunition you use. As you can see, there are numerous reasons why someone might want an adjustable gas block.

  The Velocity adjustable gas block has many features. It is of the “low profile” design, manufactured from stainless steel, and then black nitride coated. So it should last a lifetime. Velocity also cuts some diamond shapes in the gas block to help lighten it up. The gas block has a 0.750” journal diameter, which is pretty much the industry standard. Though I would like to see a 0.625” one for lightweight builds. The Velocity gas block uses 2 set screws on the bottom to clamp it down tight. Also included is a new gas tube roll pin, which was nice. Since the one that came with the gas tube went flying across my garage. It also comes with the allen wrenches to adjust it.

  Adjustment on the gas block is pretty straight forward. On the front of the gas block, is a brass set screw. The brass screw is used as a lock screw, to keep your adjustment from wandering. Loosen it first before making any adjustment on the adjustment screw. The gas adjustment screw is stainless steel, and located on the left side of the gas block. To adjust the gas flow, turn the SS screw clockwise to decrease the amount of gas being sent to the BCG, and turn it counter clockwise to increase the amount of gas to the BCG. Once you have it adjusted where you want it, tighten the brass screw back down. The SS adjustment screw just blocks off flow by making the gas hole smaller, simple as that. If you are switching between suppressed and un-suppressed, the gas block can get annoying to keep adjusting. But, Velocity coats both screws in hi-temp anti-seize for a lifetime of easy adjustability.

  I installed the Velocity adjustable gas block on a 7.5” AR pistol build. In my opinion, the shorter the barrel, the harsher the gas system is on the BCG. The barrel I used was not dimpled for a set screw style gas block. So I just lined up the Velocity gas block, and tightened those set screws down. The gas block hasn’t loosened up, or moved, on me yet. I did use some medium strength thread locker on the screws. I opened up the adjustment screw, all the way, at first. The pistol ran fine on an assortment of ammunition. I then proceeded to adjust it in, 1 turn at a time, until it started malfunctioning with the lightest loads that I regularly shoot. Then I backed it out ½ turn and locked it down with the brass screw. I get a much softer recoil impulse now that the gas system is adjusted for the AR pistol. It really did make for a much nicer shooting pistol. The only problem I ran into, was that the allen wrench provided was to short to tighten the lock screw, at least with my chosen handguard. This is not a Velocity Precision problem, it’s a handguard problem. So check your handguard to see if it blocks the adjustment screw. 

  The Velocity adjustable gas block can be useful. If you need some gas system adjustment, but won’t be adjusting it a lot, this might be exactly what you are looking for. The gas block is well made, fairly light, and won’t break the bank. Go take a look at Velocity Precision, gas blocks aren’t the only thing they make!

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

0.750 sized adjustable gas block for AR15 type rifles

Target Market:

Builders, Suppressor users, competition shooters

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • 0.750” journal diameter

  • 1.7 ounces

  • 303 Stainless Steel

  • Black Nitride coating

  • SS adjustment screw

  • Brass lock screw

  • Set Screw installation

  • Includes adjustment wrenches

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None

What others are saying?:

Jon B. 5/5 stars at Velocity Precision

Can’t believe the quality of this gas block for the price. Fits great..installs easy…easy to adjust. What more could you ask for?!?!?

Link to other reviews:

None found

Price point:

MSRP = $59.95

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

Velocity Precision

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Lightweight

  • SS adjustment screw

  • Brass lock screw

  • Nitride coating

Cons:

  • Only Available for 0.750” barrel journals

  • Handguard can get in the way of adjustment

Score:  7.50 Good

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Favorite Link:   





Tactical Kinetics AR15 Barrel

Tactical Kinetics is an aftermarket or OEM barrel manufacturer. I had not heard of them until I talked with them at Triggrcon. They produce all of their barrels, in house, from start to finish, in Tennessee. Currently they are offering AR15, AR10, and Glock style barrels. I was sent a 7.5” AR15 barrel for review, partly because that was the length I was looking for.

  What drew me to Tactical Kinetics was the all in house manufacturing. In my opinion, other barrel manufacturers buy barrel blanks, and then machine them for the intended purpose. Tactical Kinetics starts with a bar of raw steel, either 4150V grade Mil-spec B-11595E Chrome Moly Vanadium (CrMoV) or 416R stainless steel. They precision air-gauge and button rifle the barrels for accuracy. Drill appropriate size gas holes in them, if needed. Then thread, profile and heat treat them as needed. All in the USA.

  As mentioned, I received a 7.5” barrel from Tactical Kinetics. It is beautiful, to say the least. Superbly machined and Black Nitride coated. It came in a medium profile and chambered in .223 Wylde, with a 1:7 twist. It is made from 4150 CrMoV steel. Because it is a 7.5” AR barrel, it has the gas port drilled for a pistol length gas system and uses a 0.750 diameter gas block. The barrel is not dimpled or drilled at the gas block. The barrel extension is also installed, as it should be. The barrel extension is the M4 style. Being a .223 barrel, the muzzle is threaded ½-28. There is not a recessed, or target crown on the muzzle, most likely because the intended use is to screw a muzzle device on it anyhow.

  I installed the Tactical Kinetics barrel in an AR15 pistol. Installation was easy, as expected. I did use a Velocity Precision adjustable gas block. Mainly because this pistol may get suppressed. I first ran the gas block wide open, just to see how the pistol worked. Because Tactical Kinetics drills the proper gas port size, the pistol ran flawlessly with a standard buffer weight and BCG. I then adjusted down the gas block. I was pretty happy with the way the barrel helped make the pistol function.

  I may have been made fun of, but I did check barrel accuracy at 100 yards. So I mounted up a 3x9x40 scope and headed out to the range. Yes, it looked like a sci-fi weapon, but what else was I suppose to do to check the accuracy. Well, as expected, the barrel shoots. I was consistently getting 1.5” to 2.5” groups, off of a rest, with cheap plinking ammo. I did also shoot some 75 grain reloads I had, they shot a ¾” 3 round group, and then the flyer opened it up to 1.6” 5 round group. For a 7.5” 223 barrel, I couldn’t be happier with the accuracy. What am I really going to shoot at 100yds with a super short barrel anyhow? I even ran some 50 grain loads through the barrel to see if maybe they wouldn’t stabilize, but they shot fine.

  The short barrel makes for a real nice maneuverable rifle. I also put this barrelled upper on my SBR. Wow, what a dream this thing is to move from target to target. Then, I shot a steel plate match with a .22lr conversion kit in the Tactical Kinetics barrel. It also shot great with the slightly smaller .22lr bullets. What can I say, I like this barrel.

  Just because this is a short AR barrel, don’t rule out Tactical Kinetics for your next barrel purchase. They machine them from start to finish and even have reasonable prices. I’m happy with the performance of this barrel. Go give them a look at https://www.tacticalkinetics.com/

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

In house made AR barrel

Target Market:

AR builders or OEM manufacturers 

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • SAAMI spec .223 Wylde chambering

  • 1 in 7 twist rate

  • Button rifled

  • 7.5”

  • Pistol gas length

  • Uses .750” gas block

  • Medium profile

  • M4 extension

  • Black Nitride coated

  • 4150 CrMoV steel

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Different Lengths, chamberings, and profiles. Also Glock barrels

Link to other reviews:

Gun World

Price point:

MSRP = $92.00

Retail = $87.00 at Tactical Kinetics

I need it now! Availability:

Tactical Kinetics

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • 100% made in house

  • .750 gas block diameter

  • 1:7 twist

  • .223 Wylde chambering

  • Accuracy

  • Proper gas port size

  • Made in USA

Cons:

  • Non recessed crown

Score: 8.50 GREAT

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Favorite Link:   Black Bag Resources