243 Xcaliber barrel build....

Kino M

Kino M

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In the process of building an AR10 in 243 and after a lot of reading and calls I narrowed it down to McGowan and Xcaliber. I've never owned either but it seems like a Ford/Chevy deal with lots of happy campers for both. Today I noticed Xcaliber had a 20% off sale so I took the plunge, hopefully it turns out to be a shooter.
 
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I have 6 X-caliber barrels and all shoot great. Put one on my daughters AR 15 and have shot several 5 shot 1/4” groups. They make very good barrels. My turn around time has been about half the time they say.
 
Originally Posted By: reb8600I have 6 X-caliber barrels and all shoot great. Put one on my daughters AR 15 and have shot several 5 shot 1/4” groups. They make very good barrels. My turn around time has been about half the time they say. . Thats good to see. I put a 243 together this winter and used a McGowen. No complaints about accuracy. I’m going to do a 22-250 and could save a hundred by using X caliber.
 
Originally Posted By: reb8600I have 6 X-caliber barrels and all shoot great. Put one on my daughters AR 15 and have shot several 5 shot 1/4” groups. They make very good barrels. My turn around time has been about half the time they say.

Did you have them headspace to a certain bolt or just spin up a barrel? I mulled it around but since I don't own any and don't have any guys close to me with experience with them I went ahead and bought a rubber city bolt with it to get the 1MOA accuracy guarantee.
 
What are the details of your barrel like length and diameter? I'm going to be building a 243 also but dont want it to get too heavy. How long did they quote you to get it?
 
Originally Posted By: OakhillWhat are the details of your barrel like length and diameter? I'm going to be building a 243 also but dont want it to get too heavy. How long did they quote you to get it?

I ordered a SAAMI spec 243 in 1/10 twist, 22" barrel with SPR contour and a rifle length +2 gas system setup for adjustable gas block. That's exactly how my 6x6.8 I've ran is except the longer gas system. AR10s are notoriously hard on brass so I strongly recommend the rifle +2 gas length plus an adjustable gas block.

I shoot suppressed always unless I'm in Illinois and that's only about 6 nights a year now, 99% of my hunting is in suppressor friendly states. 22" and a can seems kinda long but I'm rarely more than a couple hundred yards from the truck so I don't mind the extra weight and I'm not carrying it far, its built exclusively for thermal night hunting. The extra length and weight on stand is a huge advantage for velocity and easier to shoot. I shoot off a tripod and it works well as a night hunting system. The SPR contour is my favorite of all AR contours, its stiff where it needs to be but still light enough to be handy. I have 7 different SPR guns and for a hunting gun IMO its the best contour.

Timeline I'm not sure on because I bought it online but it says 12-16 weeks but I've heard its usually much shorter.

Their sale ends on 24 March so you may wanna move fast, good luck and give us a report when you get it done and on the range, I'll do the same!
 
Originally Posted By: Kino MOriginally Posted By: reb8600I have 6 X-caliber barrels and all shoot great. Put one on my daughters AR 15 and have shot several 5 shot 1/4” groups. They make very good barrels. My turn around time has been about half the time they say.

Did you have them headspace to a certain bolt or just spin up a barrel? I mulled it around but since I don't own any and don't have any guys close to me with experience with them I went ahead and bought a rubber city bolt with it to get the 1MOA accuracy guarantee.

On my AR’s I bought my bolts separate and just ordered the barrel from them.
 
I don't think headspace is an issue if you reload and can control case head to shoulder length unless your trying to nail down a length for multiple rifles with the same ammo.

Fwiw my .243 is a 24" .936 gb profile. I'd call it a bull but manufacturers probably have variances in profiles. It balances on my tripod with a full mag with almost no ballhead tension. I machine a rail section that allows me to mount a cretac mount all the back bring the rifle forward so my mag just clears the ballhead.
 
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Originally Posted By: varminter .223I don't think headspace is an issue if you reload and can control case head to shoulder length unless your trying to nail down a length for multiple rifles with the same ammo.

Fwiw my .243 is a 24" .936 gb profile. I'd call it a bull but manufacturers probably have variances in profiles. It balances on my tripod with a full mag with almost no ballhead tension. I machine a rail section that allows me to mount a cretac mount all the back bring the rifle forward so my mag just clears the ballhead.

Wow that rifle has some heft to it but I'm sure that weight really makes it nice and forgiving to shoot when the time comes.

The big thing with headspace was they would only guarantee 1MOA if it was headspaced to a Rubber City or JP bolt and unlike a lot of AR barrel manufacturers that headspace to an average, they will headspace to your bolt exactly. They was very adamant about this.
 
I'm mean if you gotta buy a bolt anyway it seems like a no brainer to let em headspace it and get the accuracy guarrentee.
I'm guessing that guarantee is based off of factory ammo and that's where headspace matters more. Can you imaginine chambering barrels and guaranteeing moa accuracy for every lead slinger on the interweb. Has to be a nightmare.
Imo accuracy off of a pod is much easier to attain with a neutral or near neutral gun ballance when on the pod. I'd say next year I will most likely be shooting off of a two vets. I will get to test one Saturday that a fellow member here is bringing by.
 
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I'm running the QDT 2vets and the only "issue" I've had is once in awhile I've had to tighten the bolts in the legs (3 of them) that literally takes 20 seconds. I'm sure its because of the amount of use it works loose. No biggie and I'd buy again. Its a little heavier than a RRS but its definitely heavier duty legs.
 
Wished I'd seen their sale earlier.

I was ready to order a barrel, built one, & put it in my cart, but sent them an email first to get an answer on freebore on their 223 Rem AR-15 chamber.

Never heard back, so I guess I'll pass........
 
Well I'm almost ashamed to say this but I just ordered 2 more barrels! Another identical 243 barrel which between the two will last the rest of my hunting years and a barrel for an AR15 to shoot steel with. I have one last AR15 lower to build so I bought another 18" SPR 1/7" twist, 5R rifling, 223 Wylde chamber, rifle length gas.

With the sale ending today the 243 AR10 barrels was $308 ea. and the AR15 barrel was $264.

Now the wait.....
 
Luckily you have one or two others to get you by during the wait....
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I had the itch to build a slow 10" twist, and chamber it in a 223 Rem (not Wylde)to shoot 53 Vmax & smaller. My question was if they have a shorter freebore for the slow twists, as I didn't want it throated for 90 SMK's.

I didn't want to roll the dice on an unknown, as their return & restocking fees are a little stout.
 
Originally Posted By: alfLuckily you have one or two others to get you by during the wait....
smile.gif


I had the itch to build a slow 10" twist, and chamber it in a 223 Rem (not Wylde)to shoot 53 Vmax & smaller. My question was if they have a shorter freebore for the slow twists, as I didn't want it throated for 90 SMK's.

I didn't want to roll the dice on an unknown, as their return & restocking fees are a little stout.

I can’t tell you what their freebore is but I built 2 AR’s with a 10 twist. My daughters are shooting the 50 grain Vmax and they short great. The one I mentioned earlier is one of them. The second one is not as good but several loads are shooting 5/8-3/4” consistently.
 
I have two X-caliber barrels for my AR-15's. Both shoot fabulous. I sent them my bolts to headspace to the barrel. I really like them.
 
Originally Posted By: crazyyoteI have two X-caliber barrels for my AR-15's. Both shoot fabulous. I sent them my bolts to headspace to the barrel. I really like them.

When you say fabulous, are you saying 1/2" or better groups all the time? 1" or 1.5"
 
CoyoteJunkie,
Both shoot in the 1/2 inch range at 100 yards consistently if I'm shooting straight. Some better groups, some worse but rarely a full inch with anything they like. Almost anything I've loaded up shoots under an inch.
 
243 barrels have shipped, will be here Saturday!! Thats WAY faster than quoted, will be on the range next week and follow up with results.
 
Barrel has been KG guncoated and is all put together, weighs 9.3lbs but really doesn't feel that heavy with the slim handguard. Its exactly 1lb heavier than my 6x6.8 with the same profile and length, only difference is a +2" gas system.
Ran some loads yesterday to see about pressure and 44.6gr of Varget and 58vmax shows little to none.
I have various charges loaded with 58vmax to run and I'm going to try the 55NBTs as well as the 55BKs. Once I run that stuff I'll try the 70gr Nosler and Sierra.
 


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