Rosco Manufacturing HBAR Review: Best Barrel In The Industry?

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	Rosco Manufacturing HBAR	Check Price

There are plenty of barrel makers in the AR-15 space, and oftentimes, the better they get, the more expensive they are. Not everyone has $500 to drop on a barrel capable of sub-MOA accuracy.

But what if I told you you could get similar results from a barrel that costs far less? Would you be interested?

Enter the Rosco HBAR.

I’ve now fired over 1,500 rounds through it, so I’ll review its performance, any issues (if any), and where I would rank it among other famous barrels on the market.

Do note that Rosco sent me this barrel, and I did not have to pay for it. That said, it won’t change my recommendation. If I think it’s hot garbage, I’ll let you know.

Now that we have that out, let’s talk about the HBAR.

Note: HBAR is short for “Husky” Barrel.

The HBAR is thicker than your typical government or pencil profile barrels, which is where the “Husky” in the name comes from. 4150 Chromoly Vanadium (CMV) is a heavy steel typically used in heavy wear/high heat applications, with the Vanadium used for heat dissipation.

Many barrel manufacturers use CMV for longevity and reliability, while 416R Stainless Steel is often used in thinner and lighter barrels.

The big difference between one barrel maker and the next is how the material is processed. Rosco uses hand-picked blanks, all made in-house—no outsourcing, which is better for quality control.

The barrel is button rifled, a long-time practice used by the best barrel manufacturers to ensure accuracy over a more extended period than other rifling methods.

In short, you can expect a long life and high reliability from the Rosco HBAR.

At the time of this writing, I have slightly over 1,500 rounds through the Rosco HBAR. I added a SureFire 3 Prong Flash Hider on the muzzle and used the gas block and tube Rosco sent me.

I’ve primarily been using 62-grain Norma range ammo. It’s gassy stuff, but thankfully, the gas block is adjustable.

I started by entirely dumping two magazines. My BCM MK1 handguard gets hot fast, and I wanted to see if the heavier barrel would alleviate my issues with the standard BCM barrel. It got hot, but there were zero malfunctions, and the heat dissipated quickly.

I tested accuracy and consistency with the following magazines (about 15 or so): How well can I group this barrel with a grain weight that’s standard use? This would help me determine how it would perform for everyday end users.

At the same time, I was also zeroing my EoTech Vudu 1×6, so it took me a while to get it where it should be. After a certain point, I stopped seeing new holes appearing on the target and realized I was repeatedly shooting through the same spot.

I wasn’t shooting far—the furthest I’ve got was 100 yards behind Mt. Rainier in the pit. This did help me get a solid MOA reading, though. It came in at just above 1.5 MOA, which is excellent for those who don’t know.

I have not had a single hiccup during the several trips to the range and the 1,500 or so rounds.

As I’ve said, there are many barrel makers, and Rosco is one of many. With that said, how does it stack up against its competitors? Is there one you should consider instead?

It depends on how much you’re trying to spend. Of course, better barrels are out there, but the competition falls fast when considering the price. Actually, for the quality you get from Rosco, there is no competition at the price.

I’m not trying to say only positive things about this barrel, but I can’t find an issue. There have been no malfunctions, and it is just as accurate as it was 1,500 rounds prior. I trust in its reliability.

That said, out of all the barrels in the industry, even those at a higher price point, I’ll put it in the number two spot—right behind my Criterion, which costs $300 more.

But at the price, there is nothing better. And if you know of one, let me know.

I put the barrel through some strenuous work before writing this, so much so that the Rosco guys probably thought I had forgotten about them. It was all for science and barrel harmonics, and the HBAR performed exceptionally well.

So, would I recommend it? Yes. It’ll stay in my rifle for the foreseeable future and be used for suppressor activities. I’ll update this as I go, but this barrel should last a lifetime for more than 95% of AR-15 shooters.

If you’re considering buying one, I’d say go for it. The price is excellent, and you get more than you pay for. The HBAR is good to go.

Be good and take care.