I woke up today...I was thinking...  If I get a quality mid $200 barrel and then I get a couple $600+ Barrels in .224 (AR15)...would it compare? Is it worth it to spend $350-$500 more for a barrel in your AR if accuracy is what you want?  LETS DISCOVER!  All Barrels are 20".

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Here are all the loads:
Precision Rifle 23.8 77 SMK Lapua Brass Neck turned GM Primer
N135 22.7 Berger 77 OTM, Sig Brass/Primer
Benchmark 21.6 Berger 77 OTM, Lapua Brass, CCI41 Primer
N140 23.5 77 SMK, Starline 556 Brass, Fed GM Primer
Varmint 22.5 77 Custom Competition, Nammo Brass, CCI41
Benchmark 22.0 77 CC, Sig Brass/Primer
Accurate 2230  26.0, Lapua Brass, Fed AR Match Primer
N135 22.0, Lapua 77 Scenar, Starline 556 Brass, GM Primer
Reloader 15 Midsouth SS 77 Classic Match, SL556/GM Primer
Accurate 2520 Midsouth SS 77 Classic Match, SL556/GM Primer

Barrel #1 Wilson Combat Super Sniper
Sometimes, this barrel goes on sale for Mid $200's.  I picked one up.  I like it overall.  But its more "picky" than the $600+ Barrels.  You judge.

Measurement method:
Group with all 6 shots
Group with "best" 5 shots
Group with "best" 4 shots

I like this method, because with AR15, there are so many variables, sometimes you can an unexplainable flyer thats .5" off from main group, etc. So I shot 6 shots with each barrel, same exact loads.

The loads used same brass, same primer, weighed, all powder within .02 grains.
OAL 2.255 across the board.


Barrel #2 BRUX
The Unicorn AR15 Barrel almost nobody has.  I bought it from WOA.  It was expensive.  All these barrels are 20".
As you can see, several groups under 1", not 1 MOA, 1 INCH at 100 yards. All 6 shots.  So its a quality barrel for sure.  But can it beat the age old champ called Bartlien?
Barrel #3 Bartlien
First of all...how do you say "Bartlien??"
I think it is "BART - LIN"
I bought this barrel from Compass Lake in Florida. It was around $750 because its the only barrel here that is Fluted.
I quite like it, it shoots very well. Of all the barrels I ever owned, this one is right up there with 1 Shilen barrel I got from WOA many years ago.  Most groups under 1"? Good showing.  How does it compare to the unicorn Brux barrel and the Value Barrel from Wilson Combat?
Statistics
Many stories can come of all these stats.  Why? Because the perception of what barrel wins will depend on what you value most.  Here are some examples.
These are things people value for different reasons:
1) Best group accuracy using all 6 bullets
2) Best Group average across all 10 loads
3) Best Groups removing 1 shot, so best 5 shots per 6 shot group because AR15's do "small" flyers. All of them.
Probably....people in the community will value 1) the most, counting all 6.
1) All 6, best group:  Bartlien Wins.  .39 MOA
2) Avg across all loads:  Brux Wins.  .92 MOA across 10 loads compared with Bartlien at 1.04.  But the Bartlien had a 2.2" Group, remove that, it wins.  But we keep it in...Brux Wins.
3)  Remove 1 shot, best 5:  Bartlien Wins, and it wins top 2 spots.  2 loads .35 MOA or less.  That is super good.

If I had to pick a winner, I would pick Bartlien, because 4 different groups are UNDER .6MOA with all 6 bullets.  Compared to Brux with 1, and Wilson with 1 
Summary:
Brux was most "consistent" across all 10 groups, as you can see it  won the averages for 6 shots and best 5 shots.  With Bartlien taking the best 4 shots.   But what about Wilson Combat?  Since shooters want to find 1 load and go with that, the Wilson Combat had a more accurate group than Brux, the N135 22.7 Grains.  Very consistent group.  So we can say, without question, the Wilson Combat wins on Value, without a shadow of a doubt.  Overall ranking it achieved 2 in top 5 (out of 30), Bartlien had 2 in top 5, and Brux 1 in top 5 overall.  This adds up 6 shots, best 5, best 4 and SD ranks to get a score. Lower score is best.   Wilson Combat not as consistent and we can say...more "picky" than the high dollar match barrels.  Its 1/3 the price of the Bartlien.  
If money were no object?  I will take either the Brux or the Bartlien, but if I could only have 1, I will take the Bartlien.  

More Brux comparo...
Did another batch with 75 Grain Hornady BTHP, which is very common bullet people like.  You be judge who won
Bartlien for comparo
looks like Brux is competitive?
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