Ballistic Advantage 123 in Hanson Profile Barrel Review
Looking for something accurate, light, and won't break the bank?
The Ballistic Reward Hanson series of AR-15 barrels might fit the bill.
I've been shooting a BA barrel for about three years, 2 seasons of burglarize competitions, and an estimated iii,000 rounds.
Here'south my feel…and of course accuracy tests!
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About Ballistic Advantage & Hanson Barrels
Aero Precision (manufacturers of my favorite stripped uppers & lowers) acquired Ballistic Advantage in the end of 2014.
That put it on the map for me…and I was happy to get my hands on one of their Hanson barrels later.
In a regular "Regime" profile barrel there's a "shoulder" that arises near the gas cake. Theory is that past removing the shoulder lump it reduces barrel whip and makes it easier for follow-upwardly shots and overall accuracy.
There's a lot of Hanson barrels…merely the specific one I chose was this ane:
All-Around Barrel
220
at Ballistic Reward
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at fourth dimension of writing
- 16″ to avoid brusk barreled rifle regulations
- .223 Wylde for increased accuracy (and notwithstanding ability to shoot .223 and five.56)
- Mid-length gas organization for a softer shooting impulse
My complete build is documented in How to Build an AR-xv Upper.
To go far a little confusing…there'southward ii models of xvi″ .223 Wylde Mid-length Hanson barrels.
One with a .750″ gas block (27 oz) and i with a .625″ gas block (22 oz). I went with the smaller one for the weight savings.
Who Is It For?
In my opinion, a BA Hanson barrel is perfect if you are edifice a lightweight AR-15 but however desire information technology to be authentic with the .223 Wylde chamber and shoulder-less design to minimize butt whip.
Fit, Feel & Install
Offset off…information technology'due south really light! 22 oz for a sixteen″ barrel is cracking…especially when regular Government profile barrels are in the 27 oz range.
I also like the bead-blasted stainless look that is different from traditional black coatings…but isn't too shiny or a black hole for fingerprints.
Everything from the butt nut, gas block, and muzzle brake installed usually and easily…and it's however chugging along 3 years later.
And of course the finished product:
Check out the drain-off from my favorite adjustable gas cake afterwards all these rounds!
How it Shoots
What you lot've been waiting for…
All I tin say is that information technology shot super light. Particularly when I gear up the adjustable gas block to just the correct amount of gas.
Editor'south Pick
89
at Brownells
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at fourth dimension of writing
One negative of going lightweight is that there'south less mass to blot recoil…merely when yous lower the gas to forbid your upper from sending the BCG dorsum too fast…it kind of cancels out.
Movement betwixt targets also sped upward since at that place's less metal to physically move around.
I say it definitely improved my rifle shooting game.
Accuracy
It tin can be the lightest barrel effectually…but if it'southward not accurate it doesn't thing.
How does the Hanson fare?
I didn't suspension in my barrel initially and I haven't copper cleaned information technology either in the thousands of rounds. Go along in heed mil-spec M4 barrels are around 4 MOA.
I went with my standard testing equipment setup:
- Lead Sled DFT ($200)
- Schmidt & Bender PMII 5-25x Scopewith Larue Mountain($3500)
- Hiperfire Trigger ($250) Installed Lower
- Diversity of ammo: Wolf Gilded, .223 PMC, American Eagle, and Federal Gold Medal match ammo (Best AR-xv Ammo for Self-Defense & Plinking)
I shot at a slow-ish stride of around 1 shot per 10 seconds. 100 thou target. And I permit the barrel cool downwards to being able to be comfortably grabbed between each grouping.
- Surprisingly good accuracy for Wolf Golden which is the cheapest brass cased stuff (I pulled those bottom two shots), I'd estimate one.5 MOA (1.5 inches at 100 yards)
- PMC and American Hawkeye opened up a little scrap, approximate of 2 MOA
- Gold Lucifer was the tightest grouping at around 1 MOA with 1 flyer
Not surprising though…is how my build allow me hit 400 yard targets during competitions when I did my part and had a adept scope (Best 1-6x Scopes).
I'd imagine better groups if I cleaned it upwards and reloaded my own ammo. Only with 1.5 MOA using the cheapest brass cased ammo out there…I'm very happy.
Specifications
- Length: 16″
- Cloth: 416R Stainless Steel
- Profile: Hanson
- Finish: Bead Blasted
- Gas System Length: Mid-length
- Gas Glock Journal: one″ Gas Cake Seat for .625″ Depression Profile Gas Blocks Just
- Twist Charge per unit: 1:8 inches
- Muzzle: 1/2×28 Threaded
- Weight: 22 oz
- Other: HP & MPI Tested
By the Numbers
Reliability: 5/five
No butt based failures in my thousands of rounds. Installed easily for barrel nut, gas block, and muzzle device. Individually HP & MPI tested.
Accuracy: iv.5/5
Remarkably skillful for a pencil barrel and it ate upwards my cheapo ammo at 1.5 MOA. Using match ammo brought it down to 1 MOA and I'thousand sure with reloads you can become it sub-MOA. The 1:8 twist is great for a wide multifariousness of bullet weights besides. AND…at that place's a one-MOA guarantee using friction match ammo.
Looks: 5/v
Dearest the bead-blasted await that doesn't shine nor attract fingerprints.
Bang for the Cadet: iv.5/5
$250 for a high quality barrel is what I expect…but go along in heed that information technology does come with a gas block already. Information technology's not-adjustable but if that doesn't thing…information technology saves you lot about $xxx-twoscore.
Overall Rating: 5/five
Determination
The Ballistic Advantage Hanson barrel has served me well. I'1000 testing out other barrels all the time but I know I'll be coming back to this one…especially for competition.
Lightweight, accurate, and pretty good blindside-for-the-cadet…it's one of the barrels I wholeheartedly recommend in my Best AR-fifteen Barrels article.
Accommodating Barrel
220
at Ballistic Advantage
Prices accurate at fourth dimension of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
What'south your experience with BA barrels…or have y'all tried one of their other variants? Let usa know in the comments beneath!
Source: https://www.pewpewtactical.com/ballistic-advantage-barrel-review-premium-hanson/
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