Great barrel - Ballistic Advantage 5.56x45mm NATO Hanson Cold Hammer Forged Threaded Barrel w/ Lo Pro

The Hanson profile is much better than the government profile. It balances very well, it seems to resist stringing well enough when it heats up, and it seems more logically designed (leaving more mass at the chamber where it’s needed and then tapering down to the muzzle to reduce front heaviness.) I don’t know about long-term durability since I’ve only put a few hundred rounds through it. But, I also have a nitrided Hanson that has been 100% reliable, accurate, and durable enough for my purposes. This CHF, chrome-lined barrel seems just as good as the nitrided one. It installed perfectly and has been 100% reliable as well. Hanson barrels also seem to be perfectly gassed, which is a real plus. I also like the pre-drilled gas block and a roll pin design, which makes it very secure. In general, I’ve had good experiences with Ballistic Advantage barrels, and this one has been no different. BA barrels seem to be high quality, reasonably priced, and widely available. They’re like the Toyotas of AR15 barrels. They are well made, nice looking, durable, innovative, and fairly priced for what you get. I don’t see any reason to buy another brand so long as BA keeps making good stuff and keeps its prices fair.