Thread: NEA AR 18'' barrel re-profile

I have changed the barrel on my NEA 18'' heavy barrel to a faxon 16 gunner series. So now what to do with the spare barrel, thinking of getting it turned down to a lighter profile of .640 under the handguards tand .640 from the gas block to the muzzle and maybe shortening down to 16'' in the view to suppress it later with a adjustable gas block. Anyone been down this path.

A new barrel is getting over $400 now and scarce to source and the way things are going they probably wont be available much longer. I figured the cost wouldn't be more than 1/2 cost of new barrel. Have found a club member /gunsmith with all the lathes and gear will look at it for me, he has built numerous suppressed uppers. Will be a project and interesting to see if the accuracy remains.

Originally Posted by foxhound

A new barrel is getting over $400 now and scarce to source and the way things are going they probably wont be available much longer. I figured the cost wouldn't be more than 1/2 cost of new barrel. Have found a club member /gunsmith with all the lathes and gear will look at it for me, he has built numerous suppressed uppers. Will be a project and interesting to see if the accuracy remains.

@foxhound

With a half decent crown your shortened barrel will whip less and group better, with negligible velocity loss. It is harder though to predict what the monetary worth of your barrel is in its present state -- especially now NZP has been making it difficult to import AR parts.

I have contacted a gunsmith who has just done a similar job for an AR. Around $175 cost plus extra for ceracoat. The barrel at the moment gives under 1 inch groups with a particular bullet.

if you are a cunning cookie set up a thread offering a swap for the profile you desire


factor in some $ for parkerisation or similar if its not stainless

what length gas tube for the 18 inch barrel and for your 16 Faxon gunner ?

i dunno, but to me it just seems like you are going to end up with 2 very similar barrels...

Both the NEA and faxon barrels are both mid length gas, the faxon is very light and is pencil forward of the gas block. I had the NEA barrel as spare so i figured ill build a dedicated suppressed upper. The faxon barrel is on my E cat gun which i use in practical events, and was just too heavy with the NEA 18 inch barrel.

I got the barrel back after ceracoat and re profile very pleased with the result. it is a lot lighter than previously, So all assembled and went to the range for testing .
After testing and adjusting the gas block with suppressor fitted at 50m i set the target up at 100m.
Settling down careful 3 round group using 60grain hornady softpoint, the first group was outstanding of less than 1/2 inch. Next few groups opened up to 3/4 inch and just on 1 inch and at this stage getting heat mirage off the suppressor. With the armaworx gas block and the adjustment open between 1/4 and 1/2 turn ejection is around 1 meter at 4 0clock and cycling is perfect.

Good result, bet the rifle is much more practical now

Good project and good result, running my 243 dpt suppressor on it will get a stainless blast baffle for it then hopefully cull a few goats.

*Looks at 18" NEA barrel doing nothing*
"Looks at lathe sitting idle at work*

Hmmm..... you would mind posting a couple of pics of yours would you? Nothing to loose, but a lightweight midlength 16" bbl would be a nice project

Originally Posted by svt40

*Looks at 18" NEA barrel doing nothing*
"Looks at lathe sitting idle at work*

Hmmm..... you would mind posting a couple of pics of yours would you? Nothing to loose, but a lightweight midlength 16" bbl would be a nice project

before and after, lighting a bit crap