There are many choices for barrels whenever you’re placing collectively your AR-15. There’s barrels, there’s Barrels after which there’s Barrels. Whereas some go low-cost, many will select the mid-tier merchandise, providing a mix of efficiency and affordability. X2 Dev Group has launched their Trident barrel, a 416 stainless match barrel with a number of further options that they promise will likely be a sub-MOA, excessive performing barrel. Does it meet the expectations for a high flight barrel? Learn on.
Tech Specs
Size: 16 in., 14.5 in. and 12.5 in.
Weight: 16 in.- 21.2oz., 14.5 in.- 19.7oz., 12.5 in. 17.8oz
Caliber: .223 Wylde
Twist Charge: 1:8
Fuel System Size: 16 in. Mid Size, 14.5 in. Mid-Size, 12.5 in. Carbine +1
Fuel Block Journal: .750 in.
Materials: Nitrided 416R Stainless
Barrel Extension: Nitrided w/M4 Feed Ramps
Muzzle: 1/2×28 Threaded
The Pitch
Right here’s what X2 Dev Group has to say about their Trident barrels:
Sub MOA Assure with high quality ammunition. Excessive rigidity ensures consistency and minimal POI shift when mounting suppressors. Specifically-timed flutes act as opposing I-beams, mixing structural integrity with diminished mass and sustaining optimum barrel harmonics.
Light-weight. Lighter than main carbon fiber barrels and with out the chance of delamination.
Nitrided for corrosion resistance and improved barrel life. In contrast to barrel coatings, nitride impregnates the metal and doesn’t independently put on with use.
Optimized Warmth Profile. Constant group dispersion up via 473 levels Fahrenheit. Warmth is evenly distributed alongside the barrel to cut back warmth soak and stress. Mixed with enhanced rigidity this characteristic enhances POI predictability via longer and higher-density strings of fireplace.“
Okay, that’s so much to take a look at. What I’m in search of whereas testing this barrel is accuracy (after all), the way it handles warmth in comparison with an M4 lower barrel for reference and level of influence shift with a suppressor.
To get issues began, I put in the barrel in a Silencer Co. SCO15 receiver set, with a V Seven Weapon Programs Enlightened handguard and an AAC 762SDN-6 suppressor mount. The Trident barrel has a pair good divots for gasoline block set screws, if relevant.
X2 Dev Group mentions 77-gr. SMK ammo getting used for sub-MOA testing of their AR-X Lightfighter rifle (which options the Trident barrel). I used Federal’s 77-gr. Gold Medal Match and Hornady’s 75-gr. Tremendous Efficiency Match. These are the 2 heaviest and most persistently correct rounds I’ve on this caliber.
To check operate, break the barrel in (roughly) and verify its skill to shed warmth, I dumped a 30-round magazine in 15 seconds. I in contrast its temperature after taking pictures to its temperature previous to taking pictures, and timed the barrel’s cooling skill over two minutes.
Ambient temperature: 87°F
X2 BBL beginning temp: 83°F. After taking pictures: 298°F. After 2 minutes: 202°F (.7°F/second cooling)
M4 Profile BBL beginning temp: 83°F. After Taking pictures: 234°F. After 2 minutes: 201°F (.19°F/second cooling)
that bit of information, it’s not stunning that the a lot thicker M4-profile barrel heated up a lot much less, there’s simply much more materials. What did shock me what that regardless of heating up 63°F extra, the X2 barrel ended up just one diploma hotter after two minutes, cooling at a fee of 368% quicker than the M4 profile.
So the X2 doesn’t soak warmth like a heavier barrel… which I didn’t anticipate it could. It did cool extraordinarily shortly, which implies with an affordable fee of fireplace I ought to get extra shot-to-shot consistency.
POI Shift:
One of many options X2 Dev Group touts for the Trident barrel is how the timed flutes act as “opposing I-beams”. Particularly that is supposed to extend rigidity, serving to to withstand point-of-impact (POI) shift on account of including a suppressor.
I shot some metal with some bulk American Eagle 55-gr., I labored over my mini E-type goal at 100 yards, did some CQB drills at 15 ft on my Infinite Protection Infinity Goal, then shot a gaggle at 50 yards.
I shortly screwed on the heaviest suppressor I personal, an AAC 762SDN-6, and shot a pair rounds. At 20 ounces, this can be a sturdily constructed .30-cal. can from yesteryear. This suppressor weighs a substantial quantity greater than the suppressors I normally run on 5.56 barrels, which weigh 11- and 13-ounces, respectively.
The can dropped the purpose of influence 1 moa straight down. I repeated this a number of instances and acquired the identical outcome each time. Adjusting for a 1 MOA vertical drop is among the best POI modifications a man could make, even at longer ranges.
Evaluate this to the Faxon pencil profile barrel I utilized in an ultralight AR construct, which had a 2 MOA down/proper shift with an 11-ounce titanium can that acquired considerably extra pronounced with solely a dozen rounds.
Accuracy
The primary rounds via this barrel had been for the heating/cooling check and POI shift check listed above. Whereas I’d shot a number of teams for these, they had been considerably informal since I wasn’t testing max accuracy but. So, I buckled down with the couple forms of ammo I discussed earlier, Hornady’s 75-gr. Tremendous Efficiency Match, and Federal’s 77-gr. Gold Medal Match.
After taking pictures a number of teams with every model of ammo, I acquired my solutions.
Taking pictures was achieved at 50 yards, with me standing whereas the rifle was on a Bathroom Deathgrip Tripod. It’s a reasonably steady setup, however doesn’t high taking pictures from a bench with a rile relaxation just like the Caldwell Stinger. (My bench is below restore.)
Beginning with the 77-gr. Federal spherical, I shot 5-round teams and measured from the facilities of the outermost rounds. The teams had been .64 MOA, .42 MOA, and .99 MOA.
I modified ammo to the Hornday 75-gr. and began popping metal. I acquired carried away and solely left three rounds for a gaggle, which got here in at .46 moa.
Backside Line
The Trident barrel by X2 Dev Group isn’t meant to compete together with your discount barrels. Neither is it supposed to be lined up with the “mid-tier” merchandise. The Trident is clearly aimed toward knocking out the premier carbon fiber barrels available on the market. Contemplating that, the Trident’s $695-$899 worth vary (barrel size, gasoline block, gasoline tube choices making the vary) makes numerous sense. With nitride handled chrome steel, the Trident might be anticipated to take much more abuse than most carbon fiber barrels will stand as much as.
I’m contemplating this overview a “work-in-progress” as a result of I imagine should you’re going to supply up a $695-$899 barrel package deal, it deserves an extended look than a number of vary days. I plan to get some higher glass on this and shoot once more from a relaxation, to eradicate the variable of the shooter as a lot as attainable. Thus far the Trident has made good on each little bit of the hype, delivering accuracy and an extremely stiff profile.
In the event you’re in search of a ok barrel to complete your construct, there’s plenty of good ones. In the event you’re eager to discover what the best ceiling of an AR15 barrel seems to be like, trying out X2 Dev Group’s Trident is nicely value your time.
Take a look at extra articles from Jens “Rex Nanorum” Hammer or go to him on Instagram @Rexnanorum.
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