Barnes Precision Machine NP3 AR15 Review
A little over a year ago, I picked up a Barnes Precision Machine BPM-15 Patrolman’s Carbine. I was not only impressed, I was blown away by the build & part quality, accuracy, and innovations Barnes delivered in a rather innocuous looking standard priced AR15 around $1300. That rifle did not last more than six months. As the story goes, Mrs. Pandemic was shopping for her first AR15 (in my safe) and asked what was the best and most dependable AR15 “we” owned. Naturally I picked up the BPM-15 and explained why... and then she grabbed it out of my hands and said "thanks, winked at me and walked away".
Never argue with a pretty woman
with a gun. She loves the rifle. As a guy who reviewed a massive
quantity of AR15s, you can bet that I put the best AR15 available in her
hand to defend herself even if that means I have to buy another, so I
did.
WHY BARNES PRECISION MACHINE?
Generally
as a reviewer of a continuous stream of AR15 rifles, I have to strain a
bit to understand the benefits X brand delivers vs Y brand... because
in most cases 99% of AR15 manufacturers all use the same parts from the
same OEM manufacturers. In fact Barnes is one of those OEM manufacturers
in the list. In general, the vast majority of the best AR that guy on
the forum has ever owned does not make a single part in house and just
buys all the same 100 parts everyone else uses… and in some cases from
sub-standard sources.
Typically
there is usually little to differentiate this or that rifle beyond the
quality of the parts and the build quality. Parts come in various grades
and it makes sense that the AR15 manufacturers who makes nearly every
part in house has the ability to assure every part they use comes
together in an optimal way. Unless a manufacturer validates the specs of
each part coming in the door, they are subject to the quality standards
of their suppliers.
In
many cases good, better, best just comes down to the build quality and
unfortunately there is where I see the biggest swing. Unfortunately I
have seen crooked loose and missing parts of rifles I have passed on for
reviews. Barnes has both the build and part quality perfect, however
what sets them apart is the 100% in house production (excluding springs,
trigger, and furniture) and real honest and true AR15 functional
innovation improvements which do make their BPM-15 better versus
prettier. There are only about four manufacturers in the US which are
actually making 95% of the AR15 parts in house - LMT, Daniel Defense,
Colt, and Barnes Precision however there are a few others starting to
pop up here and there.
Little
things on Barnes make a difference like a captured take-down detent
spring that does no go flying out when you remove the buffer tube, a
tight receiver to receiver fit that can even be tightened with an
internal receiver tension screw, a match grade barrel included even in
their least expensive rifle which is a tack driver, softer shooting
mid-Length gas systems, the in-house made bolt’s cam pin hole is reamed
versus being peened which increases strength, and a barrel nut design
which allows perfect torquing of the barrel and delivers a more stable
handguard (in my opinion it is the most solid in the industry).
Last
year BPM started including their Ultra-light forend instead of their
quad-rail version on the base rifles. The forend is compatible with standard Magpul rails for customization. Just a couple months ago they
again upgraded their rifle line to include the new Barnes NiBo -
Nickel-Boron coated Bolt Carrier Group and very nice Patriot Case with
die cut foam inserts for no additional charge - still the base Patrolman
Carbine retails for just $1308.
You
will hear no argument from me that Daniel Defense and Colt are top
quality, however neither can match the accuracy or upgrades from Barnes.
LMT can deliver precision accuracy and quality, however at nearly $1000
more due to the billet receivers.
BPM
is definitely not another “Me-Too” AR15 manufacturer… actually they are
an OEM manufacturer for quite a few manufacturers so they are more of
just a “Me” or a “They” or maybe a “Me Too Enabler”... not really should
how to phrase that. The point is that I personally believe Barnes
Precision offers the best quality most accurate AR15s for the money. Are
their higher priced guns that may deliver fancier looks or improved
accuracy? Yes, but for $1300, I would put the 16" Patrolman Carbine
against any other on the 100-yard line for that cash and in fact I said
so in my Best Budget AR15 Shootout. I could buy anything rifle, however
I went out and bought the same exact rifle I had picked up previously
with Barnes Precision Machine's Robar NP3 and Melonited Marine coating
only having BPM upgrade to a longer 14" Ultra-light stock, Ace
Stock, Barnes Adjustable gas tube, and I added the CMC Flat trigger.
BARNES PRECISION MACHINE - BPM ROBAR NP3 & MELONITED MARINE AR15
Back
when I did a factory tour of Barnes, after I had already fallen in love
with the Patrolman's Carbine BPM-15. I saw a lots of things there that
impressed me, however it was that silver finished NP3 Marine AR which
defines the detail Barnes puts into their rifles. Barnes offers the NP3
and Melonite upgrade package on any rifle they offer for around a $200
upgrade. Even the very custom looking NP3 coated has nothing to do about
looks. Want proof? Lets look deeper into what that upgrade gets you.
Almost
every other manufacturer who offers some fancy diamond hard finish are
only at best delivering a upper and lower receiver with a really hard
finish. All the other parts are left exposed, untreated with only a
phosphate or anodized finish. Barnes NP3 coats everything housed in the
receiver plus the flash hider. When I say everything in the receiver, I
mean all the trigger assembly pins, the trigger, ejection door
components, forward assist components, charging handle, the selector,
the take-down and pivot-pins, the springs, and even the detents. Up
front, the handguard bolts, barrel nut, crush washer, and flash hider
are are treated. Yep every part on the receivers. The stainless match
barrel, gas block and gas tube are Nitrocarburization treated (AKA
Melonited) inside and out which better than chrome because it delivers
superior corrosion resistance and does not degrade accuracy like chrome
can. The 100% in house made bolt carrier group is fully Nibo coated.
In
the end, the coatings deliver a totally corrosion resistant AR with the
exception the forend and buffer tube. In addition to the huge corrosion
resistance, this is the slickest cycling AR I have ever charged due to
the coated receivers and charging handle. All this was done not to
deliver the stunning custom AR15 it has become, but the reason was
simply to increase corrosion performance around salt water environments -
Andrew Barnes was quick to point out "the cool factor is only a side
benefit…. its all about performance.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I
decided that I wanted this rifle to be able to deliver both typical
defensive duty for the household and mid-range precision varminting
capabilities. I settled on a quick release version of Eotech's sight and
3X magnifier combo to deliver defensive hits out to 500 yards. If I
want precision accuracy to drop little furry critters, I can pop off the
Eotech set and clip on the PRI Gator Grip quick Release scope mount
with a Nikon Monarch 8-32X and this click the Eotech back on which will
retain zero.
After
running a couple thousand rounds through this BPM AR15, I am left even
more impressed with what they offer. Nearly identical accuracy to my
previous version, but now in a format that is the most corrosion
resistant production AR15 offered... and of course it looks cool as
well.
SOURCES
Barnes Precision Machine - BPM - http://www.USAmade-AR15parts.com/
1 comment:
I have a Barnes Precision Machine Tactical Match rifle, and it is top notch. I have over 9500 rounds through it and it consistently shoots sub MOA groups at 300 yds. The nickel boron bolt carrier group is easy to clean and with the added Hiperfire 24C trigger it definitely out performs the shooter. Andrew and the crew at BPM not only provide great rifles and parts but have excellent customer service.
Post a Comment