so other than Rainier, who makes a 5R polygonal bbl for ARs?

[rukwikenuf]

i looked at Blackhole, they are 3R.

i'm specifically looking for a 14.5" bbl, much prefer stainless, don't want or need lightweight or fluted, but i'm also not wanting a heavy-barrel. i'm half tempted to grab a longer bbl and cut it down to length, but i'd rather not go through all that hassle. another thing, i want a mid-length gas system.

any ideas?

[Rip Van Winkle]

Which are you looking for? 5R and Polygonal aren't the same thing.

Polygonal barrels:
Lothar-Walther
Schneider Rifle Barrels

Krieger and Obermeyer are the only barrel smiths I know who cut 5R rifling.

Krieger has this note on their site.

PLEASE NOTE: We are not currently, and have no future plans to offer 5-R™ rifling in our finished 'Gas Gun' lines of M14, M1 Garand, AR-15, and AR-10 variants. Nor will we make a 5-R™ blank longer than 33" (32" finish length).

So you might be out of luck there.

[AR-15collector]

Smith and Wesson AR's come with 1/8 5R barrels. You could cannibalize a sport model for the barrel.

Or with a little leg work, you could probably locate their supplier.

[Squib Joe]

Some of the LMT barrels are 5R but good luck finding one

[BC98]

Some of the LMT barrels are 5R but good luck finding one

Doesn't Rock Creek supply LMT's 5R barrels?

[rukwikenuf]

Some of the LMT barrels are 5R but good luck finding one

Doesn't Rock Creek supply LMT's 5R barrels?

i think i heard that. i wouldn't put much stock in that though, privvy information isn't usually devulged on the interweb.

s&w does use 5R bbls, but i shoulda specified, i want a STAINLESS, non-plated bore, 5R bbl

[rukwikenuf]

Which are you looking for? 5R and Polygonal aren't the same thing.

Polygonal barrels:
Lothar-Walther
Schneider Rifle Barrels

Krieger and Obermeyer are the only barrel smiths I know who cut 5R rifling.

Krieger has this note on their site.

PLEASE NOTE: We are not currently, and have no future plans to offer 5-R™ rifling in our finished 'Gas Gun' lines of M14, M1 Garand, AR-15, and AR-10 variants. Nor will we make a 5-R™ blank longer than 33" (32" finish length).

So you might be out of luck there.

you know barrels better than i, but i thought that the polygonal was the type of rifling, and the 5 r meant 5 lands and grooves, avoiding the perfectly opposing rifling of a conventional 4 land barrel

[rukwikenuf]

ideally, this is the one i want. however, the CS at Rainier is less than ideal, and they have no ETA for when these will be available

[Rip Van Winkle]

5R rifling has nothing to do with the number of lands and grooves in a barrel it has to do with the profile the lands & grooves are cut. See pict bellow. Conventional rifle barrels can have anywhere between 2 to six grooves, and sometimes more.


This is the best image I can find of Polygonal rifling. You find these a lot on Glocks, HK's and higher end air rifles.

[Squib Joe]

Some of the LMT barrels are 5R but good luck finding one

Doesn't Rock Creek supply LMT's 5R barrels?

Probably, but I think they are only selling barrels to manufacturers, not direct

[shooter115]

Not exactly what you are looking for, but it's in stock and has 5R rifling. Never put my hands on one, so I can offer no personal feedback. I'll admit I've been tempted to grab one to try out though.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/794051/ar-stoner-barrel-ar-15-223-remington-wylde-medium-contour-1-in-8-twist-18-fluted-stainless-steel?cm_vc=wishList

[UnaStamus]

Smith and Wesson AR's come with 1/8 5R barrels. You could cannibalize a sport model for the barrel.

Or with a little leg work, you could probably locate their supplier.

Thompson/Center makes the barrels for S&W. S&W owns T/C.
It should be noted that not all M&P15 barrels are 1:8 5R. They generally reserve those barrels for the Performance Center and Tactical models, IIRC.

[AR-15collector]

Smith and Wesson AR's come with 1/8 5R barrels. You could cannibalize a sport model for the barrel.

Or with a little leg work, you could probably locate their supplier.

Thompson/Center makes the barrels for S&W. S&W owns T/C.
It should be noted that not all M&P15 barrels are 1:8 5R. They generally reserve those barrels for the Performance Center and Tactical models, IIRC.

I must have been lucky, my sub $600 mp sport came with one. My MOE edition has one too but it's not just chrome lined, It has some special coating. I Forget what it is.

[slo squeezin]

OK, I shoot AR's but have only used DPMS and Stag barrels, standard land/groove arrangement. Can any of you see the difference in your groups between standard land/groove and 3R, 5R or polygon ?? I would like to separate fact / experience from fiction. Your experience would be appreciated.
Using a 9" twist I can shoot .5" groups or better with handloads with some consistency. The 9" twist likes 50/52 grain Speer ( the 50 TNT is marginally better ). The 8" twist did not like the 50/52 grain bullets. I had trouble holding 1". The 8" would hold .5" or better, repeatedly, with 69 grain Noslers.
So my question is whether the 3R, 5R or polygon rifling variations are worth the premium price some of them demand. Do you get better accuracy, longer barrel life, or ???
Thanks.