So, I'm in the process of building my first .300 Blackout SBR, and I'm down to the barrel selection part of my journey. I know I want a 10.5" barrel and pistol gas system, but past that I'm not sure what I should be looking for. It seems that Noveske and Daniel Defense get the most internet love, but neither is in stock anywhere I can find. Ranier Arms (whose barrels I know almost nothing about) has three versions - Ultra Match, Match and Select - but I can't really tell the difference (other than price). There's also a Mega Arms, which "matches" my upper and lower (both of which I would highly recommend - seem to be very high quality, and the fit/finish is awesome), but I haven't been able to find a single review of this barrel.

Do any of you have any experience with any of these brands? Would you recommend one over the others? Is it "worth it" to wait until a Noveske or DD comes back in stock somewhere to buy one of theirs? As you can see below, I've tended toward "high quality" parts for every thing else (and taken the hit in the pocketbook), as I intend for this to be a "forever" gun, so cost isn't really a determining factor. Having said that, I don't really want to overpay for something if I there isn't a benefit I'm buying. So what say you, oh great and powerful Outdoors Board?

I had a Noveske and it was incredibly accurate for a SBR. 1" SUBSONIC groups at 100 yards. Shoot me an email, my barrel may be available. Txaggie00 at live dot com

I can get the DD barrel. $250.

Check out CORE Rifle Systems.
I have one of their 16" uppers on my 300BLK. Been running it for a few years without a problem.

I've also been looking to SBR a 300BLK.

www.core15.com

One question I have for you - You are looking for a pistol length gas system on the 10.25" BBL. I've heard there have been some issue with pistol length gas on the SBR 300BLK (shorter barrels) running suppressed. That's why I'm still working on mine - Go a little longer in the barrel with a carbine length gas system.

I'll see if I can find the article/info that got my attention.

I'd look toward buying an AAC barrel. They designed the 300blk cartridge, and I've seen their barrels run sub-MOA. I'm using a 9" for my next 300 build.

Another option to consider is the 11.3" Wilson Combat Match grade barrel. I'm running it on my hunting rifle along with a Seekins adjustable gas block. Cycles subs/supers w/no issue.

http://shopwilsoncombat.com/Wilson-Combat-Match-Grade-Barrel-300-AAC-Blackout-SBR-Tactical-113-1-8-Twist-Stainless/productinfo/TR-300SBR11/

I'm a homer for Satern or Liberty barrels. Ask Puryear Playboy how his Satern barrel shoots.

No real helpful info other than 1) I wouldn't buy anything from AAC since their support is basically nonexistent due to their never-ending relocation and 2) I've got a Noveske 8.2" on my 300blk that shoots great.

I have a Rainier Match .223 Wylde 10.5" and Rainier Select Series 18" 5.56 barrel on my 3gun AR's. Both shoot MOA with mediocre ammo. I would have no reason to suspect less performance from their .300 blk barrels, either comes with 90 day return, so if you don't like them, you could return.

+1, forgot that I have a 10.5 select 5.56 barrel from Rainier that shoots well.

Good luck finding the Noveske barrels. Like trying to find unicorn tears.

I originally wanted to roll with their 8" for my 300 BLK build. I ended up going with the 9" from AAC and I've been really pleased with it.

What rail is that, and length? I'm trying to stay with 10.5" barrel because I feel like I need at least 9.5" or rail (TWSS), but I want to keep the overall length as short as possible. I ordered the Geissele MK8, but I looked at damn near everything else on the planet, I think (and wish Geissele still had a Key Mod version).

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What rail is that, and length? I'm trying to stay with 10.5" barrel because I feel like I need at least 9.5" or rail (TWSS), but I want to keep the overall length as short as possible. I ordered the Geissele MK8, but I looked at damn near everything else on the planet, I think (and wish Geissele still had a Key Mod version).

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That is the Knight's URX III 8.0". I really liked the Geissele rails too.

Here's what I used to build my sbr upper:
http://www.model1sales.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=664

Came highly recommended by a class 3 dealer who has built dozens of uppers with this barrel. I think I paid $199 but not completely sure. It's perfect and is a tack driver with the can on it. Put a 12" rail on it and it's perfect with the YHM QD mount. Just covers the first inch or so of the can.

Let's see if this works. Don't really have a good picture of the weapon by itself. Only action shots.

Found one without the can

OP, you tossed away a lot of money on the billet upper and lower and the BCG, but that's just me.

On barrels, I cant say enough good stuff about my 8.5" Saturn barrel. With Rem 220's it will go under an inch at 100 for five round groups when I do my part. I have a bud that picked up one and his is pretty much the same.

Shooting subs you really want a pistol gas system, for supers carbine is fine. I settled on an H3 buffer after bouncing around between that and a 9mm.

You don't need it necessarily but I've found the Nemo .300BLK carbine buffer spring to be a problem solver if you have any issues cycling subs/supers

No kidding on that BCG. Damn thing better be able to give you a rub and tug

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OP, you tossed away a lot of money on the billet upper and lower and the BCG, but that's just me.

On barrels, I cant say enough good stuff about my 8.5" Saturn barrel. With Rem 220's it will go under an inch at 100 for five round groups when I do my part. I have a bud that picked up one and his is pretty much the same.

Shooting subs you really want a pistol gas system, for supers carbine is fine. I settled on an H3 buffer after bouncing around between that and a 9mm.

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Yeah, I know I spent a lot of money on things whose advantages over "standard" parts are debatable (and hotly debated on all the various forums), but I am willing to pay the premium on this build. The lower will actually likely be used for several different uppers (including a long range 6.5 Grendel and longer 5.56 SBR), and I loved the Mega, so I didn't mind spending more on it. I bought the billet upper because I have a thing about symmetry, and it locks up to that lower extremely well/tight - to the degree that I really, really need it to loosen up with some shooting. I'll likely throw together a "truck gun" in the near future (this building ARs thing is HIGHLY addictive!) from more "standard" parts, but I wanted this one to be higher end.

I'm looking into that Satern - they seem to get a lot of love on the 6.5 forums.

Upper and lower fit is the big lie about ARs...it appeals to our sense of need for order and machined precision, but it matters not in terms of accuracy.

My most accurate rifle has a gap big enough to read the paper through. But I know what you mean about building it the way you want it. There is just a lot of "value added" stuff out there that is just snake oil.

Lilja just posted on their Facebook page that they are about to do a run on 300 BL 9" oal, 5/8-20 threaded muzzle, .750 gas block, and 1-7 twist.

I just picked up a KAK Industries 8.5" barrel. Will give a full report when I get it installed. Produced from Green Mountain blanks.

You guys that are 300 blk fans, what's the draw to the cartridge? Subsonic, easy transition to sbr?

Considering. a 300 blk as my next build but also have my eye on a 6.8 spc (obviously quite different) for deer and a bit more reach. Would a 300 blk sbr suppressed function well as a hog gun and for home defense? I have read that subsonics out of the 300 blk develop accuracy and energy issues when delivered w an sbr barrel out past 125-150 yds. Thanks for the input!

Here's a good PDF on 300blk

Basically, it's versatile. You can run supers and have the ballistic equivalent (I hate to use those words but for this purpose it'll do) of a 14.5" 5.56 in a 9" package, or you can run subsonics and be about as quiet as an AR will get. It's designed for short barrels so unlike 5.56 you're not giving up much when you go down to 9" or so. It also uses standard AR mags, and for that matter standard AR everything except the barrel. It also uses common brass and common bullets, so reloading is not a big deal. If you're not into reloading, you can buy 300blk on the shelf at Academy and others.

I don't own one yet, but loved the one I shot...talk about quiet! Need to get the funds together to do a 300blk SBR and a suppressor ASAP.

300BLK is a great short barrel/pistol caliber. If you already have an AR-15 platform or want access to lots of part options, it is a great solution. sure, 458/450/454/338 specter are bigger and better, but they all use non-standard AR components (besides the barrel of course). That PDF sums it up pretty well.

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300BLK is a great short barrel/pistol caliber.

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That really does sum it up nicely.

There's video of Travis Haley making hits on steel at 1000 yards with a 9" 300 blk, so it can reach out there if you want it to....just not what it was designed for.

If you're going to branch out into other ARs besides your standard 5.56, 300 blk seems like a no brainer way to get into the alternatives to me. Ammo, barrel, done....with one caveat: Make very sure you mark and separate what magazines/guns are 300 blk and what guns/magazines are 5.56. Mixing the two up can be ugly.

The greatest thing to me is the ability to instantly switch from 220 gr super quiet subsonic loads to say, 110 gr V-Max supersonic by only changing a magazine. No need to swap out buffers, adjust the gas, anything.

It really can do the same things that make guns like the MP5SD and the M4 so great....with only a magazine change.

Here's a great video that gives you an idea how it shoots/sounds without a suppressor and with one, with both supersonic and subsonic ammo.

I built a sbr with the 8.5 Rainer Arms Ultra Match. Definitely recommend them