As we explained earlier in an article about AR15 ammo, there are some differences between .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO ammo.
The main difference between these two bullets is the pressure they generate. For example, the 5.56 NATO pressure level is 58,000 psi while .223 Remington pressure level is 55,000 psi.
Because of this, you can shoot .223 Rem from a 5.56 NATO barrel, but you can’t do the opposite.
However, there is a solution to this - .223 Wylde barrels. These barrels are made to sustain both pressures and work with both calibers interchangeably.
In this article, we will list a few best .223 Wylde barrels you can buy for your next build.
Also, if you don’t know where to start and want to learn more about AR15 barrels, check out our recent article about it so you can pick the right one when you decide to buy.
7 Best .223 Wylde Barrels
- Rainier Arms Ultramatch MOD2
- Faxon Firearms AR-15 Match Series
- Ballistic Advantage Premium Series 416R
- Rainier Arms Match Lightweight
- Faxon Firearms AR-15 .223 Wylde Pencil Barrel
- Christensen Arms Carbon Fiber .223 Wylde Barrel
- CMC Triggers AR-15 .223 Wylde
1. Rainier Arms Ultramatch MOD2
The MOD2 Ultramatch barrel is a high-performance barrel crafted from a stainless steel match-grade blank and has a TiN (titanium nitride) extension which both improves durability and corrosion resistance.
With a length of 18 inches and a 1:7.5 twist rate, MOD2 Ultramatch provides good balance and optimal bullet stabilization. You can also add various muzzle devices to the barrel as it has a 1/2 x 28 thread pitch.
The MOD2 has a .750 gas block seat ensuring compatibility with various gas blacks. Also, with this one you can easily shoot both .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO ammo interchangeably without worrying will your barrel withstand different ammo.
Technical specifications:
- Stainless Steel Match Grade Blank
- TiN Extension
- Length: 18"
- Twist: 1:7.5
- Thread Pitch: 1/2 X 28
- .750 Gas Block Seat
- .223 Wylde Chamber
- Rifle Gas System (Gas Tube Not Included)
- M4 Feed Ramps
- Proprietary Contour
Price: $400.00
Purchase here!
2. Faxon Firearms AR-15 Match Series
This .223 Wylde barrel comes from Faxon’s Match barrel series. It’s made of 416-R stainless steel - you can expect this barrel will serve you for a very long time.
One of the main features is 5R rifling inside a barrel meaning the grooves inside a barrel are not sharp like in most of the barrels. Instead, 5R has less sharp angles which improves bullet velocity and is better in terms of cleaning.
The barrels have QPQ black nitride finish both inside and outside. The QPQ finish is applied only on steel products in order to improve corrosion and abrasion resistance which is a very important factor for barrels as they must stay clean not only of gases but also from rust. This also affects the barrel life as you don’t want to change your barrel often.
Technical specifications:
- 416-R Stainless barrel
- 5R Button Rifling
- .223 Wylde chamber
- 1:8 twist rate
- 20" barrel length
- Rifle length gas system
- QPQ Black Nitride finish (inside and out)
- 1/2-28 TPI thread pitch
- .750" gas block
Price: $308.75
Purchase here!
3. Ballistic Advantage Premium Series 416R
BA Premium series barrel made with .223 Wylde chamber is also made of 416R stainless steel and comes with bead blasted finish. Bead blasted finish offers a textured, non-reflective look.
However, bead blasted finish compared to QPQ nitride finish requires more maintenance as it has lower corrosion resistance than QPQ. On the other hand, the BA barrel comes at a lower price point of $218.50 for a barrel compared to Faxon’s $308.75.
But, these shouldn’t concern you if you’re performing regular maintenance of your rifles.
As for the other features, you can also attach various muzzle devices and suppressors thanks to the 1/2x28 thread pitch.
Barrel is 1.68 pounds heavy, putting it slightly above the lightweight category.
Technical specifications:
- 16" length
- 416R Stainless Steel
- SPR profile
- Bead Blasted finish
- Mid-Length gas system
- .750" gas block
- 1:8” twist rate
- 1/2x28 Threaded
Price: $218.50
Purchase here!
4. Rainier Arms Match Lightweight
If our first MOD2 Ultramatch barrel is expensive to you, then we can recommend another, but this time Match Lightweight barrel. It’s made of the same material - Stainless Steel Match Grade Blank with a bead blasted finish giving it a nice and attractive texture.
The twist rate is 1:8” and you can also attach various muzzle devices on the 1/2 x 28 thread pitch.
Match Lightweight barrel is available in multiple sizes, so whether you build an AR pistol or AR rifle, you can surely find the perfect match.
Length / Gas System / Weight:
- 7.5" / Pistol / 14.3 oz
- 10.5" / Carbine / 1 lb 3.2 oz
- 14.5" / Mid / 1 lb 9oz
- 16" / Mid / 1 lb 10.7 oz
- 18" / Rifle / 2 lbs 0.9 oz
Technical specifications:
- Stainless Steel Match Grade Blank
- 1:8 twist rate
- 1/2 X 28 thread pitch
- .625 Gas block seat
- .223 Wylde chamber
- M4 feed ramps
- Lightweight contour profile
- Bead blasted finish
Price: $260.00
Purchase here!
5. Faxon Firearms AR-15 .223 Wylde Pencil Barrel
Faxon’s .223 Wylde pencil barrel is another great option, especially if you’re looking for something lighter that won’t add too much weight to your rifle.
The barrel is made of 416R stainless steel with 5R rifling (like the older brother mentioned above) meaning this is another quality and durable barrel.
However, pencil barrels tend to overheat faster compared to others but a good side is they cool faster.
Technical specifications:
- 4150 Mil-Spec steel or 416-R Stainless
- 5R rifling
- .223 Wylde chamber
- Nitride finish
- Nickel Teflon extension
Price: $211.60
Purchase here!
6. Christensen Arms Carbon Fiber .223 Wylde Barrel
Take your AR rifle to the next level with Christensen Arms Carbon fiber barrel in the .223 Wylde chamber.
It’s also made of 416R stainless steel, however, the barrel is wrapped in carbon fiber increasing the barrel's thickness without having a large impact on the barrel weight. The main benefit of this barrel is great heat dissipation through carbon fiber wrap.
The barrel has button rifling which increases bullet velocity but also enables easier cleaning of the barrel after a long shooting session or when it comes to regular maintenance only.
However, if you’re willing to break the bank, be ready to spend over $500+ on this barrel as it comes with a high price point.
Technical specifications:
- 16” length
- 416R Stainless Steel Aerograde Carbon Fiber Wrapped
- Match Chamber
- Button Rifled
- ½ × 28 Threaded Muzzle
- .936″ gas block
- 1:8 twist rate
Price: $649.99
Purchase here!
7. CMC Triggers AR-15 .223 Wylde
Although CMC Triggers company is known for its triggers (logically), in their offering you can now find a line of AR15 barrels, chambered in .223 Wylde.
Although barrels weren’t their main product, this barrel is made of quality materials. In this case, it's 4150 Chrome Moly Vanadium which is adopted by the military as these barrels can sustain long shooting sessions. This material is even used on machine guns.
The barrel comes in different lengths meaning you can fit it on your AR15 rifle or AR pistol. It’s also made with M4-type feed ramps, has a 1:7 twist rate, and 1/2-28 TPI which allows you to customize your weapon even more with different muzzle devices or suppressors.
Another great thing is the price as these barrels are cost-effective - you won’t spend too much money on your new barrel and you’ll still get high-quality parts.
Technical specifications:
- 4150 Chrome Moly Vanadium
- SOCOM profile
- 1:7 twist rate
- M4 Type feed ramps
- .750” gas block
- 1/2-28 TPI twist rate
- Button rifling
- 7.5″, 10.5” and 16.25” lengths
Price: $184.50
Purchase here!
Conclusion
So if you’re looking to change an old barrel on your rifle or you’re just upgrading/building your own AR15, we hope this list will help you pick the best .223 Wylde barrel for your rifle.
The great thing about these barrels is that you can shoot both .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO rounds so you’ll have multiple options when you go to the store to buy more ammo.
If you’re still new to the AR15 world, we suggest you check our recent article about ammo and about rifle barrels so you can easier choose the barrel that fits your needs.
Additional Reading
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