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New, Lighter Hanson Profile from Ballistic Advantage

By on September 19, 2015 in Guns

The Hanson Profile barrels from Ballistic Advantage (BA) were designed to be a lighter weight barrel without some of the limitations typically encountered with lighter weight barrels. However, the original Hanson profile with its continuous taper and lack of right angles is really more of a medium contour barrel compared to a true “pencil” barrel.

lightweight hanson

Clint Hanson and BA have just released details of a brand new, true lightweight Hanson profile barrel. The new profile is lighter and features the same continuous taper and lack of right angles. You can basically think of this as an even lighter version of the original. The principles at play in the original Hanson profile should also work hear helping to reduce whip and produce solid accuracy.

Being a true lightweight profile, it features a .625″ gas block journal. It will initially be available in BA’s Premium Series (416 stainless, 1 in 8″ twist, and NiB barrel extension) but will eventually be offered in the Performance Series as well. 10.3″, 14.5″ mid-length, and 16″ lengths are planned.

These barrels will also come with a 1 MOA guarantee which is a pretty bold move for a lightweight barrel profile. They will be available soon at Ballistic Advantage.

Review: Faxon Firearms 16″ Pencil, Mid-Length, 5.56, 416R Stainless Barrel with QPQ Finish

By on September 18, 2015 in Guns, Reviews

It is no secret that Faxon Firearms’ barrels are affordable but just because something is affordable, doesn’t mean it is worth its asking price. I have spent the last several months and over a 1000 rounds with one of their 16″ Pencil, Mid-Length, 5.56, 416R Stainless Barrels and I am happy to report it is worth the asking price and probably more.

Faxon Firearms Barrel

Overview

The name of the barrel tells you much of what you need to know in terms of specs and features. Faxon Firearms makes this barrel in both 4150 steel and 416R stainless steel. Both are finished throughout with QPQ (a nitriding process). The particular barrel that I used for the test was the 416R version but I also own a 4150 version and have had similar results with it.

  • Barrel Material: 416-R Stainless Steel
  • Rifling Type: Button Rifled
  • Chamber: 5.56
  • Twist Rate: 1 in 8″
  • Length: 16”
  • Profile:  Pencil
  • Gas System: Mid
  • Finish: QPQ Nitride
  • Muzzle Thread: 1/2-28
  • Gas Block Diameter: .625″
  • Gas Port Diameter: .078
  • Barrel Extension: M4
  • Weight:  1.19  lbs
  • MP Inspected
  • 11-degree Target Crown

Observations from Use

The fit and finish on these barrels is quite good. The QPQ finish has a deep, dark, slightly lustrous black color. The markings appear to to be laser etched on the barrel and are not garish. Overall, the impression given from handling the barrel is one of quality.

Faxon Firearms Barrel Extension and Logo

Reliability has been excellent. I have just over 1200 rounds through this barrel. I built the upper with an Aero Precision upper receiver, LMT bolt carrier group, ALG Defense 12″ EMR, and the Faxon Firearms barrel. I ran a wet patch followed by a few dry ones down the barrel before I assembled the upper and haven’t cleaned it since. Oil has been added during shooting sessions. American Eagle XM855 and Prvi Partisan 75gr Match were used throughout the testing and the carbine did not have a single stoppage.

Lest you think this is just a sample size of one, I also have the 4150 version of this barrel that I purchased myself. It has just over 800 rounds through it with no cleaning and without a stoppage. Certainly, two is still a small sample size but it is a good start.

Accuracy has been very good. I used a Trijicon TR-24 Accupoint for the testing (not necessarily the best for shooting groups but still a capable optic). I shot two separate five shot groups when the barrel was brand new, three separate five shot groups at just over 500 rounds, and two more at almost 1000 rounds. That is a total of seven 5 shot groups, all shot with Prvi 75gr Match ammo at 100 yards. The average center to center measurement for all seven groups was 1.23″. I have included an image of the fourth group below that represents the median group in terms of center to center measurement. I suspect that better groups could be accomplished with a more precision oriented optic and different ammo but I was pleased enough with its performance and practical accuracy to not pursue it further.

faxon group

Pencil barrels are the topic of all sorts of theoretical conversation on gun forums and the like. If you spend much time reading you might think that your barrel will turn to a wet noodle at the end of a long and fast string of fire and that any chance of hitting what you are aiming at will go out the window. I simply haven’t found that to be the case. This barrel, even after a mag dump, was still capable of hitting a full size steel silhouette at 300 yards 10 out of 10 times from a magazine monopod position at a fairly fast cadence. Accuracy certainly decreases as the barrel gets very hot but given reasonable conditions, if you are missing at 300 yards, it is probably you and not the barrel. Unless you have some specific purpose for a carbine that precludes the use of a pencil barrel (like a dedicated precision build or use with a suppressor), I highly recommend looking at a lighter barrel profiles for general purpose rifles.

Wrap Up

An AR-15’s chamber, gas port, and their associated dimensions play a large role in the reliability of an AR-15. The 1990’s and early 2000’s were full of over gassed AR-15s with poorly executed chambers that required reaming to function reliably. The quality of the barrel is also directly tied to the accuracy potential of the carbine. When you think about it, a lot of your AR-15’s potential is tied up in the barrel which is why sometimes, it isn’t worth it to go cheap on the barrel.

Faxon Firearms barrels appear to be affordable, not cheap. This barrel hasn’t just been impressive for the price or impressive for a pencil barrel. It has just been impressive.

Check out this barrel and all the barrel options at Faxon Firearms.

Disclosure: This barrel was provided to me by Faxon Firearms free of charge for review.

faxon barrel build

Austere Provisions Company Combating Fake CAT Tourniquets

By on September 18, 2015 in Survival

It seems like knock-off gear is a fact of life at this point. We don’t like it but apparently people buy it so it perpetuates. However, there is something especially irresponsible about the creation and subsequent sales of fake life saving gear like tourniquets. The Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT) has been knocked-off and the fakes have actually been finding their way into real situations.

NARP-CAT-30-0001-2

The failure of these TQs is not only dangerous for the person it is being applied to but it casts a shadow of doubt on any CAT purchased from sources other than North American Rescue. Austere Provisions Company has taken an extraordinary steps to show the authenticity of their CATs.

From Austere Provisions Company:

ANNOUNCEMENT: While placing an order for a batch of CAT TQs today and thinking about the huge issue of counterfeits on the market I have made a decision. Going forward any order that includes one or more CAT TQs will include a copy of the invoice from NA Rescue with non-pertinent information redacted. While it cannot 100% guarantee the authenticity I think it goes a long way to that end.

If you are buying CAT TQs off ebay, Facebook, surplus stores, etc you run the risk of getting a TQ that may not work when you need it. If the price seems too good to be true it probably is.

Austere Provisions Company only sources TQs direct from the manufacturer to insure that we are providing legitimate products to the end user.

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