Blackout Defense AR-15 Performance Series barrels are excellent button-rifled barrels that are designed for performance. It is not unusual for customers of Blackout Defense Performance Series barrels to shoot 1 MOA or better in optimal conditions using match-grade ammunition and other quality components.
The Performance Series barrels start with premium 416-R stainless steel bars that are gun-drilled and reamed at standard production speeds in 5R rifling and 1:8 twist. The blanks are then fully stress relieved and precision air gauged before profiling, threading, and chambering begins.
Profiling and threading are completed on an ultra-precision 5-axis mill turn machine. The profile design includes three thermal expansion rings to limit distortion of the barrel during heavy use, as well as an extended gas block journal to accommodate enhanced gas blocks. The muzzle thread is machined to ½ – 28 with an 11-degree crown. The barrels are then chambered in .223 Wylde and individually inspected with a dummy round in addition to precision go and no-go gauges to ensure an accurate headspace. Finally, the barrels are hand deburred and polished to a consistent finish and salt bath nitrided for enhanced durability and corrosion resistance. The barrel extensions are separately nitrided, cleaned, and then installed to ensure a perfect torque.
The dwell time and gas port diameter for our midlength gas system barrels is as follows:
- 13.9″ Mid: 0.100 ms dwell time | 0.081” gas port diameter
- 14.5″ Mid: 0.139 ms dwell time | 0.081” gas port diameter
- 16.0″ Mid: 0.181 ms dwell time | 0.081” gas port diameter
Our carbine gas system barrels are optimized to run suppressed. The dwell time and gas port diameter for our carbine gas system barrels is as follows:
- 11.5″ Car: 0.120 ms dwell time | 0.081” gas port diameter
- 12.5″ Car: 0.150 ms dwell time | 0.073” gas port diameter
- 13.9″ Car: 0.159 ms dwell time | 0.073” gas port diameter
A NOTE ABOUT OUR CARBINE BARRELS: Although our carbine barrels are optimized to run suppressed, they can be run unsuppressed under certain conditions. We recommend ammunition 62 grain or heaver and that the gas flow not be restricted at the gas port.
**We no longer offer midlength barrels under 13.9″ due to shortages of ammunition heavier than 65 grain.**
- Button Rifled
- M4 Feed Ramps
- 11º Target Crown
Question
William –
Will the 11.5” mid length barrel cycle unsuppressed with a low mass bolt carrier, standard 3oz buffer, and standard/reduced power buffer spring, shooting .223 Remington factory ammo?
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Blackout Defense –
Under the conditions you mention, and with ammunition 65 grain or heavier, your rifle will cycle reliably with our 11.5″ midlength barrel.
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William Jewell –
What is the recommended buffer set up for the 11.5″ Mid-length barrel? Will a VLTOR A5 buffer system work with unsuppressed fire? (As long as the BCG and gas block/tube are effective as well).
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Blackout Defense –
Because of the shorter dwell times on shorter barrels, we highly recommend that our midlength barrels less than 13.9″ run suppressed. If running unsuppressed, however, we recommend ammunition 65 grain or heavier and the lightest possible spring, buffer, and bolt carrier setup. Heavier ammunition is slower, and thereby increases the dwell time. A lighter setup, because it has less mass, will cycle more quickly, thereby increasing the likelihood that the firearm will cycle before the dwell time expires.
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Will –
Are the barrels dimpled for the gas block?
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Blackout Defense –
This is a custom service that we provide. Please call us at 480-781-0573 if you are interested in a dimpled barrel.
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Blackout Defense –
NOTICE: We are suspending our manufacturing of our 11.5″ and 12.5″ midlength barrels due to shortages of ammunition heavier than 65 grain. Due to their short lengths and dwell times, we cannot guarantee reliable cycling of these barrels if they are run unsuppressed with lightweight ammunition. We are committed to making these popular barrels available again when heavier ammunition becomes more widely available.
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