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FAXON DUTY SERIES GUNNER PROFILE 11.5" MID-LENGTH 5.56 NATO AR15 BARREL
Faxon
$165.00
(19 reviews)
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Faxon
FAXON DUTY SERIES GUNNER PROFILE 11.5" MID-LENGTH 5.56 NATO AR15 BARREL
Faxon Duty Series Gunner Profile — 11.5" Mid-Length 5.56 NATO (1:8 Twist)
Lightweight, suppression-friendly mid-length barrel engineered for durable, accurate performance.
The Faxon Duty Series Gunner Profile 11.5" mid-length 5.56 NATO barrel is built for suppressed shooters who want a light, balanced rifle that still supports long-term suppression. Featuring a Government taper behind the gas block, a straightened forward section to a full shoulder and 1/2-28 muzzle, and a 1.7" .625" gas block journal, this ~1.14 lb barrel blends handling, durability, and reliable mid-length gas timing.
Key Benefits
- Suppression-friendly mid-length: 11.5" with mid gas timing improves suppression compatibility while keeping length compact.
- Lightweight Gunner profile: Designed to save weight without sacrificing structural integrity — roughly 1.14 lb.
- Durable geometry: Government taper behind the gas block transitions to a straight forward section with a full shoulder and standard 1/2-28 muzzle.
- Precision & QC: Fully stress relieved, air-gauge tested, magnetic particle inspected, and finished with an 11° target crown.
- Robust materials & finish: Certified 4150 CMV, button-rifled, black nitride inside & out for longevity and corrosion resistance.
- Tune for best results: Larger-than-average gas port due to short dwell — adjustable gas block recommended for optimal reliability across ammo and muzzle devices.
Specifications
Why Choose the Gunner Profile
The Gunner profile was developed for shooters who want minimized weight and improved suppression compatibility without sacrificing mid-length gas reliability. The Government taper behind the gas block gives structural strength where needed, while the straightened forward section and full shoulder optimize compatibility with muzzle devices and suppressors. Because of the barrel’s shorter dwell, we machine a larger-than-average gas port — so we recommend pairing this barrel with an adjustable gas block to fine-tune function across ammunition types and muzzle devices.
Installation & Compatibility
- Compatible with standard AR-15 uppers and bolts via M4 barrel extension.
- Use a .625" gas block on the 1.7" journal; adjustable low-profile blocks are recommended for suppression setups.
- Standard 1/2-28 muzzle threads accept brakes, compensators, and direct-thread suppressors; full shoulder provides secure seating.
- Because this profile has a short dwell, start with an adjustable gas block and tune gas/buffer for your chosen ammo & muzzle device for best reliability and reduced gas blowback when suppressed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Gunner profile good for long-term suppressed use?
Yes — the forward full shoulder and straight section are designed to interface well with muzzle devices and suppressors. For best results, use an adjustable gas block to dial gas flow when suppressed.
Why is the gas port larger on this barrel?
Due to the relatively short dwell period of an 11.5" barrel, the gas port is made larger to ensure adequate gas flow. This improves reliability but makes fine-tuning with an adjustable gas block advisable.
Can I suppress this barrel?
Yes — it is 1/2-28 threaded and engineered to work with suppressors. Always confirm your suppressor’s caliber rating and tune the gas system for suppressed operation.
What ammo weights perform best?
Modern 55–77 grain 5.56 loads perform well. When suppressed, lighter projectiles may change timing; tune gas, buffer, and spring weight accordingly.
Overview: 11.5" Mid-Length Gunner Profile — Suppression-Friendly 5.56 Barrel
The Faxon Duty Series Gunner Profile 11.5" mid-length 5.56 NATO barrel is engineered specifically for shooters who want a lightweight, compact rifle that remains suppression-friendly and reliable in real-world use. At roughly one pound, the Gunner packs a thoughtful geometry: a Government taper behind the gas block for structural support, then a straight forward section that terminates in a full shoulder and standard 1/2-28 muzzle for robust mounting of brakes and suppressors.
Built from certified 4150 CMV and button-rifled to a versatile 1:8 twist, this barrel receives the same rigorous in-house quality controls Faxon is known for — full stress relief, air-gauge testing, magnetic particle inspection, and individual headspace checks. A black nitride finish inside and out provides wear and corrosion resistance, while an 11° target crown helps maintain consistent muzzle behavior for improved accuracy.
Because 11.5 inches produces a relatively short dwell time, the Gunner is engineered with a larger-than-average gas port to ensure adequate gas flow for reliable cycling. That design choice makes the barrel very capable out of the box, but it also means suppressed shooters will get the most consistent results by using an adjustable gas block to fine-tune gas flow based on ammunition and muzzle device. The mid-length gas system offers a great compromise between carbine and rifle timing for many modern suppressor-equipped builds.
Whether you’re building a compact suppressor-ready carbine, a lightweight patrol rifle, or a short SBR project, the Faxon Gunner profile blends weight savings, suppression-friendly geometry, and the duty-grade production standards that professional shooters expect. Pair it with the correct gas block, buffer, and ammunition, and you’ll have a compact platform that cycles reliably, stays controllable, and keeps the muzzle device interface solid for long-term use.
- Caliber:
- 5.56 NATO
- Barrel Profile:
- Gunner
- Barrel Material:
- 4150 CMV
- Rifling Twist Rate:
- 1:8
- Muzzle Thread:
- 1/2x28
- Gas Block Diameter:
- .625"
- Gas System Length:
- Mid
- Barrel Length:
- 11.5"
- Outside Finish:
- QPQ Nitride
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Reviews
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Damn Good Barrel
I was given an 11.5 midlength Faxon barrel a few years back. I design, test and destroy suppressors for a living. Nothing runs as reliably or as accurately as this barrel. This recent purchase was my 3rd. I compete in Run n Gun events, shooting from 7-600 yards regularly. This is the foundation of my absolute 'go to' set up.
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11.5 5.56 barrel
Supurb Faxon quality,wouldn't use anything else!
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Great barrel, be wary with adjustable gas block
Great barrel, the problem is with a gas block. Either the barrel should be half an inch longer or gas system shortened to carbine-length. With a beefier flash hider (I have a YHM QD flash hider) a Superlative Arms adjustable gas block cannot be backed out all the way.
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Top quality
Owned this for years now. Run it suppressed with piston kit. No issues at all. clean and excellent quality.
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11.5 Mid
I was excited when I saw this barrel. I tinker with suppressors a lot and I'm always looking for the next best thing for tuning. I was able to set this up in an aero receiver set with a SLR gas block, lightest SCS buffer and a saker 556. That setup was the softest shooting upper I've shot. Very little recoil, nice pile of cases 6-7' away at the 3-3:30. BUT the gun ran absoultely filthy. After about 40rds, evertyhing was covered in fouling. I tried the superlative gas block with the blow by screwed out as far as it would go. I've got the adjustment screw touching the back of the suppressor now. It's not all the way open, but it's close. Even with the blow by that far open, the new setup ejects the cases 10' to the 1:30, that's with a SCS with 3 tungsten weights. I can't go any heavier on the buffer without getting creative and I can't open up the gas glock for the blow by without milling out a part of my suppressor mount. The gun doesn't shoot terrible but it's overgassed. The superlative setup does run a lot cleaner. Not sure a smaller gas port would help my situation but I feel like it defeats the purpose to have a barrel for "use of a suppressor long-term" with a large gas port on it. As an end user, it's easy to open up a gas port if I need more pressure. Whatever, you can't please everyone. Barrel has shot fine and I've had no issues with it or the install.
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Excellent Barrel
If you are looking for a quality barrel that won't kill your build budget you will not be disappointed! The 11.5 is on my patrol rifle and I trust this with my life!
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Excellent Barrel
I built an SBR utlizing this barrel. First time out to the range I was banging an eight inch gong at 200 using a red dot. I also ran a few mag dumps with the Fostech Echo Trigger supressed and unsupressed. FLAWLESS! I am so impressed and glad I bought it.
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Fantastic barrel.
This barrel is amazing. I was worried about the dwell time and due to being short on cash I opted for the low profile gas block even though Faxon recommends an adjustable one. Still works great. This went on a pistol build. Haven't had any issues as of yet. Runs like a champ. The craftsmanship on the barrel is top notch. It has a very nice finish and fit into my aero precision M4E1 upper receiver perfectly. I haven't been able to do any long range accuracy tests but at 25 yards this barrel will get you 1 inch groups or smaller if you're a better shooter than me. Not much else I can say other than I would buy this barrel again in a heart beat. Faxon was a new company to me. I will likely buy from them from now on when it comes to my barrel needs.
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Excellent for lightweight SBR
So far I've been extremely happy with this barrel. I used it to build my lightweight(ish) SBR and have absolutely no complaints. Since it is on an SBR, I'm not terribly concerned about long range accuracy but rather practical accuracy. I haven't shot it past 25 yards yet, but I have put about 500 rounds through it and have been very happy with the results so far. I highly recommend it for this use case.