Sons of Liberty Gun Works 13.9” Combat V2 CHF Barrel Review

The Sons of Liberty Gun Works 13.9” Combat V2 CHF barrel was an interesting product when it was available. On paper, it checked a lot of boxes for a hard-use general-purpose barrel: cold hammer forged construction, QPQ/nitride treatment inside and out, mid-length gas, and a reasonably modern profile at a fairly approachable price point. Unfortunately, the actual shooting results from this particular example were underwhelming across all ammunition tested.

That said, not every barrel performs identically, and barrels are notoriously difficult to predict. This article reflects the performance of this specific sample.

Bottom Line

The SOLGW Combat V2 CHF barrel had a compelling feature set for a reasonably priced CHF barrel when it was still in production. The combination of cold hammer forging and QPQ/nitride treatment is relatively uncommon in the AR-15 market, where most CHF barrels are chrome-lined instead.

From a functional standpoint, the barrel appeared to be manufactured well, gauged within acceptable tolerances, and gassed reasonably well. Recoil impulse felt fine during testing, and ejection was consistent around the 3–4 o’clock range.

The major issue was simply performance. Accuracy with all three tested loads was poor relative to other barrels I’ve tested, including several other combat-oriented chrome-lined and nitrided barrels. Velocity was also somewhat low for a 13.9” barrel, which makes me suspect this particular barrel may have had a slightly oversized bore.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Appropriately gassed for a 13.9” mid-length setup

• CHF + QPQ construction should provide excellent durability and corrosion resistance

• Mid-weight profile keeps weight somewhat rear-biased for easier handling

• Good dimensional consistency overall

• Was reasonably priced when available

• Gas block journal and barrel extension dimensions were well executed

Cons

• Currently discontinued

• Precision performance was poor with all tested loads

• Velocity was lower than expected

• Did not perform competitively against many other barrels in its category

Who Is This Barrel For?

Best Use Cases

This barrel makes the most sense for someone prioritizing:

• Durability

• Corrosion resistance

• Smooth recoil characteristics

• A practical duty-oriented setup

• General-purpose use rather than precision shooting

The gas system on this barrel felt fairly well tuned during testing. Ejection was consistent, recoil impulse felt reasonable, and it did not seem excessively over-gassed.

That could make it easier to pair with a suppressor compared to some aggressively ported CHF barrels on the market.

Less Ideal For

This would not be my recommendation for someone heavily focused on precision or long-range performance.

All three tested loads produced fairly poor results relative to the rest of my database, including both match ammunition and bulk M855.

Comparisons

I have not personally tested many other CHF nitrided AR-15 barrels that I would strongly recommend from a precision standpoint.

However, among more traditional CHF chrome-lined barrels, I’ve generally had positive experiences with FN-produced barrels. The downside is that many FN CHF profiles and gas systems feel somewhat dated by modern standards and can sometimes be more aggressively gassed.

I’ve also had very good results with the SOLGW MK1 chrome-lined barrel. That barrel is not cold hammer forged, but overall I liked it substantially more from a performance standpoint.

Group Performance

Federal Gold Medal Match 77gr SMK

Velocity

• Average Velocity: 2272 fps

• SD: 23 fps

• ES: 80 fps

Velocity seemed somewhat slow for a 13.9” barrel, although testing conditions were relatively cool at 53°F.

Accuracy

• 30-Shot Group Size: 2.811 MOA

• Mean Radius: 0.818 MOA

• Average 10-Shot Group: 2.3 MOA

• A-ZED Score: 173 yards

Out of 38 groups I’ve shot with Federal Gold Medal Match 77gr, this barrel ranked last.

Hornady 73gr ELD Match

Velocity

• Average Velocity: 2458 fps

• SD: 31 fps

• ES: 100 fps

The velocity consistency here was not particularly impressive either.

Accuracy

• 30-Shot Group Size: 3.570 MOA

• Mean Radius: 0.872 MOA

• Average 10-Shot Group: 2.7 MOA

• A-ZED Score: 162 yards

This barrel ranked 16th out of 17 groups I’ve tested with Hornady 73gr ELD Match.

PMC X-TAC M855 62gr

Velocity

• Average Velocity: 2752 fps

• SD: 23 fps

• ES: 111 fps

Accuracy

• 30-Shot Group Size: 4.728 MOA

• Mean Radius: 1.199 MOA

• Average 10-Shot Group: 3.9 MOA

• A-ZED Score: 118 yards

Even accounting for the limitations of bulk M855 ammunition, the results here were still poor relative to many other barrels I’ve tested with PMC M855.

Out of 23 PMC M855 groups in my database, this barrel ranked 22nd.

Borescope Findings

Overall Impression

The owner of this barrel had approximately 200 rounds through it before sending it to me. Overall, nothing observed through the borescope appeared particularly alarming.

Because of the dark QPQ finish, visual inspection inside the bore was somewhat more difficult than with a chrome-lined or stainless barrel.

Chamber

The chamber appeared to have been cut with a reamer rather than forged. Some people assume all CHF barrels use forged chambers, but that is not always the case. Both approaches are common and perfectly acceptable.

The chamber itself looked fine overall.

Throat

Some of the black surface coloration near the throat had worn away, which is normal on nitrided barrels. That does not mean the nitride treatment itself has been removed; it’s largely just the visible finish changing.

The lead and start of the rifling looked relatively even, and the machining marks did not appear especially deep or concerning.

Rifling

The rifling appeared well formed overall, and I did not observe anything particularly alarming.

This barrel used more traditional rifling geometry rather than SOLGW’s newer P3-style rifling.

Gas Port

The gas port looked clean and well executed without anything visibly unusual.

Crown

The crown also looked good overall, without any major burrs, rough spots, or visible defects.

Core Specifications

• Length: 13.9”

• Chamber: 5.56 NATO

• Twist Rate: 1:7

• Gas System: Mid-length

• Material: 4150 CMV

• Bore Treatment: QPQ/Nitride inside and out

• Rifling Method: Cold Hammer Forged

• Muzzle Threads: 1/2x28

• Weight: 1.66 lbs

• Gas Block Journal: 0.750”

• Gas Port Diameter: 0.078”

Design Philosophy

The specs on this barrel are clearly geared toward a hard-use or duty-oriented role rather than maximum precision.

Cold hammer forging and nitride treatment both emphasize durability and corrosion resistance. The mid-length gas system and moderate contour also help keep the rifle relatively smooth and practical for general-purpose use.

Again, I still conceptually like the idea of a CHF nitrided barrel. I just personally haven’t yet tested one that produced particularly impressive precision results.

Gauging and Measurements

Weight

The barrel weighed approximately 1.66 pounds, placing it solidly into the mid-weight category.

Gas Port

Measured gas port diameter was 0.078”, which felt appropriate for a 13.9” mid-length setup.

Headspace

Headspace measured approximately 0.002”–0.005” over minimum 5.56 NATO specification, which is comfortably within the normal serviceable range.

Chamber Dimensions

The chamber dimensions gauge passed, indicating the chamber dimensions were at least minimum specification.

Barrel Extension Fit

Measured barrel extension diameter was 0.99930”, slightly larger than average, which produced a fairly tight fit in the upper receiver.

Gas Block Journal

Measured gas block journal diameter was 0.74990”, essentially dead-on nominal size and resulting in a tight gas block fit.

Visual Inspection

Overall machining and assembly quality appeared fine during inspection.

The barrel included a gas block set screw dimple from the factory, and the owner additionally drilled the barrel for a cross pin.

Shooting Setup

All groups in this article were fired:

• At 100 yards

• Using 30-shot groups

• With the barrel cooled between groups using a leaf blower and chamber chiller

• From a stabilized front rest and rear bag

• With optic magnification around 30–35x

• Using SG Pulse and Mantis X systems to monitor shooter-induced error

• With a cleaned bore prior to testing

Build Configuration

• Upper Receiver: Bad Attitude Department

• Handguard: Expo Arms 10.5”

• BCG: Classified Defense

• Buffer: A5-2

• Buffer Spring: Sprinco Green

• Trigger: AR Gold

• Optic: Vector Optics Continental x6 6-36×56

• Temperature: 53°F

• Elevation: 1360 ft

Results reflect this specific barrel under these test conditions. Performance may vary between individual examples.

Disclosure

• Barrel donated to the channel by a subscriber

• All ammunition was purchased by me

• Optic provided by Vector Optics

• Some of the links on this website may be affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Those commissions help support the channel and website by offsetting the cost of ammunition, testing equipment, range time, and producing future reviews and comparisons.

• All opinions and conclusions in this article are based on my own testing and experience. Affiliate relationships do not influence the results or recommendations presented here.