FAXON DUTY SERIES GUNNER PROFILE 18" RIFLE-LENGTH 5.56 NATO AR15 BARREL
FaxonFaxon Duty Series Gunner Profile — 18" Rifle-Length 5.56 NATO (1:8 Twist)
Precision, balance, and reach — Faxon’s 18" Gunner brings long-range accuracy with lightweight control.
The Faxon Duty Series 18" Gunner Profile 5.56 NATO barrel blends the durability of a Government contour with the weight savings of a Pencil profile. Designed for rifle-length gas systems, this barrel delivers exceptionally smooth recoil and excellent velocity, making it ideal for precision builds, competition rifles, and hunting platforms.
Key Benefits
- Balanced Gunner profile: Combines Gov’t strength with Pencil weight savings for the ideal performance blend.
- Rifle-length gas system: Provides the softest recoil impulse and most consistent cycling for 5.56 platforms.
- Longer dwell time: Enhances accuracy and velocity, ideal for precision and long-range AR-15 setups.
- Durable 4150 CMV steel: Fully stress-relieved, air-gauge tested, and magnetic particle inspected.
- Corrosion resistant: Inside and out black nitride finish extends service life and simplifies cleaning.
- Lightweight for its length: Weighs just 1.58 lbs, providing excellent balance and handling.
Specifications
Why Choose the Gunner Profile
The Gunner profile merges the heat control of a Government profile with the weight savings of a Pencil barrel. This hybrid design shifts balance toward the shooter for improved handling, especially when firing from standing or dynamic positions. The result is a rifle that feels fast, stable, and accurate — perfect for practical rifle builds and high-volume training.
Installation & Compatibility
- Standard M4 barrel extension fits AR-15 upper receivers.
- Compatible with .625" gas blocks on a 1.9" journal.
- 1/2-28 threads support brakes, comps, and suppressor mounts.
- Optimized for rifle-length gas tubes and standard AR-15 carriers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Gunner profile unique?
Is this barrel chrome-lined?
Can this barrel be used with a suppressor?
What ammo weights perform best?
Overview: 18" Rifle-Length Gunner Barrel
The Faxon Duty Series 18" Gunner Profile 5.56 NATO barrel delivers long-range accuracy and smooth operation in a lightweight package. The Gunner contour enhances balance, while the rifle-length gas system produces soft recoil and consistent cycling.
Each Faxon barrel is machined from certified 4150 CMV steel, button-rifled with a 1:8 twist, stress-relieved, air-gauge tested, and magnetic particle inspected to ensure exceptional quality. A black nitride finish protects both interior and exterior surfaces for corrosion resistance and easy maintenance.
Whether you’re building a precision rifle, a competition setup, or a lightweight DMR, the 18" Gunner barrel offers outstanding accuracy, balance, and dependability — all backed by Faxon’s commitment to quality.
- 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:
- Rifle
- Barrel Length:
- 18"
- Outside Finish:
- QPQ Nitride
Reviews
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Great barrel!
Super lightweight and well balanced, lighter than some of my 16 inch guns. Shooting about 1" groups with m193 ball ammo so can't ask for more than that.
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18" Faxon Gunner 5.56
Used this barrel in a recent build, it was actually the same weight as a 16" pencil barrel from another manufacturer. It shoots excellent seems to shoot multiple loads of different weights and power levels to the same point of impact. The lower that it was used on initially had a Tubb flat wire and H2 buffer from the mid length barrel that it preceded. I ended up with a Sprinco White and a standard carbine buffer. It now functions perfectly with everything ive put through it. It has the lowest recoil of any AR15 ive ever fired and is nimble and accurate. What more can you ask for.
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18" Gunner in 5.56 NATO
I have purchased 2 of these barrels because I like them so much. They are light, accurate and the 18" length with the rifle length gas system make for an incredibly light shooting gun. I am getting 1/2 MOA groups out of them to, when cold.
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Accuracy
I have this barrel on an AR and I run a Fostech Echo Trigger, I have been told that I will not be accurate with this setup. I also run a Leupold Mark AR Mod 1 1.5 - 4 scope with a Firedot. I wish i could attach a picture, I shoot 1/2" 3 shot groups at 100 meters with this setup. I also have the Faxon Muzzlok muzzle brake. It was easy to install, the only problem is once at the range I was told my rifle was obnoxious.
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amazing barrel
Received the barrel very quickly and earlier than projected, installed the barrel that day and everything fit flawlessly a few days later took it to the range and it cycled and grouped very well
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One of the best barrels I have ever used
Finally got the the range with my new GUNNER barrel. When I got it I was really impressed with the finish, workmanship. But when I shoot it I could not believe how accurate it was at 100 yds after a light break in and sighting in the scope, the rifle as shooting around .75 MOA groups. This is not with a match grade ammo, but with my normal shooting ammo, 55 gr Hornaday FMJ's. I have two other AR's that shoot slightly tighter groups and both those barrels were 3 times the price on the GUNNER. I will be spending more money with Faxon.
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18" gunner great
Built my gun with the 18" gunner, shots 3/8" groups with my reloads ( alliant ar comp, 50grain barnes varminators) awesome barrel my next one will be a faxon.
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Excellent barrel
I like the lightweight and the finish is great. No problem with the installation on an Aero Precision upper. receiver. At the range I got 1 inch groups from the bench with Federal M855 ammo. The rifle length gas system created smooth recoil. With the chrono I was able to detect about 100 FPS more out this than my 16 inch barrels and about 50 FPS less than my 20 inch barrels. It was easy to clean. This barrel is good to go. I would buy another one.
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When your budget doesnt match your desires, Faxon has you covered
This will be my initial feedback on this barrel, and I will followup with an extensive review after a few hundred rounds. I was looking for an affordable 1 MOA Barrel for an SPR project. My philosophy on AR builds has always focused on the Barrel and BCG. I belive those 2 components can make or break a builds reliability and Accuracy. My previous builds using Faxon Barrels have proven to be better than expected when you compare just the prices of other brands with comparable performance. I wanted light weight, Accurate, Affordable, and Dependable. I was asking for a lot in this price range (Sub $200). On initial testing, it appears that I got everything I wanted, and expected. The profile of the "Gunner" isnt traditional, and isnt something most would consider for a build like this. Bringing the weight to the rear is brilliant, the concept convinced me to give it a shot (No pun, wait, who am i kidding). I usually bed the Barrels on builds that I require as much accuracy as possible, but the "Gunner" matched up quite well with the Rainier Arms upper Receiver I am using. I skipped the bedding process (For now at least), and I dont regret it at all. So far I am experiencing 1 MOA or better with 77 grn, and just under 1.25 MOA with 55grn. These results are from the first range trip and the barrel hasnt had 100 rounds fired through it yet. I suspect things will tighten up a bit. This gun is intended for honing my skills as a shooter out to 500 yards with a 5.56 round. This should never see rapid fire use, or your traditional battle rifle duty. I built it to be able to handle anything I throw at it though, maybe I can get some friends to push it hard on occasion. My experience with this barrel and the 6 others I have on other builds has me very confident when recommending Faxon Firearms Barrels to shooters looking for quality Barrels that most, if not all shooters can afford.