Last updated and checked October 31, 2026 · By Nick Hall. Prices are the lowest new listings in our feed of 200+ retailers on October 31, 2026.
The ARAK-21 was designed over a kitchen table in a few hours, according to the man who drew it. That rifle led Faxon Firearms into the business it’s known for today: barrels. Look for its Gunner profile rifle barrels, Flame Fluted pistol barrels and nitride BCGs, plus the unusual ARAK-21 piston upper. Here is who they are, what they make, and what is worth buying.
Table of Contents
Who Faxon is
Faxon Firearms is a family-owned, Greater Cincinnati manufacturer founded in 2012. It machines, finishes, inspects and assembles in-house, and it’s best known for AR-15 barrels, Glock match barrels and the ARAK-21 piston upper.
In a 2021 interview, Bob Faxon traced the family business back to 1978 and an older brother who wanted to repair cars. The funny bit is the barrel link. His father handed brother Dave a box with an old gun barrel drilling machine and told him that if things got slow, he could drill some holes. Bob says that was the shop’s first piece of equipment.
Decades later, Bob watched a History Channel show about the best guns of all time and got an idea. The ARAK-21 mixes AR-style ergonomics with AK-style long-stroke piston operation. It showed what the shop could do, and in his telling that led to barrels. He has also said the company’s aerospace machining included parts involved in the Mars rover landing, which is quite a side note for a barrel maker.
On price, Faxon is a mid-tier brand. It costs more than the plainest barrels, and far less than a custom shop. A 16-inch .300 Blackout Gunner barrel was $160 at Midway on October 31, and a Glock 19 Flame Fluted barrel started near $71.
Pros
- Light Gunner barrel profile
- Service covers dealer purchases
- Machines and finishes in-house
Cons
- Thin barrels heat up faster
- Costs more than basic barrels
- Check Glock generation before buying
What Faxon makes
Rifle barrels
The Gunner contour is the signature. It keeps enough steel where it matters and thins out toward the muzzle, so a rifle feels quick. You’ll find it in the Duty Series across calibers such as .300 Blackout and 7.62×39, with a 10.5-inch 7.62×39 at $130.90 and a 16-inch .300 Blackout at $160 at Midway. The Match Series steps up in finish and price.
Pistol barrels
This is where most people meet the brand. Flame Fluting is the patented twisting flute pattern, and it comes in stainless, nitride, gold-colored TiN and even a Chameleon finish. A Glock 19 Flame Fluted barrel ran about $71 to $104 in our feed, and there are versions for the Sig P320, P365 and Glock 43. Note that many Glock listings say Gen 2-5. Gen 6 pistols changed the barrel, so check your generation and confirm fit before you order.
Bolt carrier groups
A 5.56 M16 nitride BCG started at $134, in the same range as other mid-tier carriers. There are also 9mm and .308 versions. It’s a plain, sensible part to pair with a Faxon barrel, though you don’t need to match brands.
ARAK-21 uppers and rifles
The ARAK-21 is the brand’s oddball, and I mean that kindly. It’s a long-stroke piston upper that fits an AR-15 lower, and Bob Faxon says it was built to convert between 7.62×39 and 5.56. Complete uppers ran $920 at Midway and Optics Planet, and a complete XRS rifle was $1,472 or more. In March 2026, Faxon announced a Midnight Bronze version through Sports South, so the design is still alive more than a decade later.
Muzzle devices, gas parts and suppressors
Gas parts start near $15 in our feed, and muzzle devices near $50. Faxon’s site also lists suppressors. It’s a wide catalog, but barrels remain the reason to look first.
Build quality and where it’s made
Faxon says it machines, finishes, inspects and assembles in-house in the Greater Cincinnati area, and its site lists a Fairfield, Ohio address. That matters. A company that controls those steps can find and fix its own mistakes faster. It doesn’t tell you a given barrel will shoot sub-MOA, so judge yours with good ammo and a real group test.
Its warranty page also has a useful detail: Faxon will directly service repairs or replacements on components bought through dealers and authorized third parties, though refunds go through the seller. It refers to a Lifetime Guarantee, and registering isn’t required but speeds things up. Normal wear, misuse and damage aren’t covered. A barrel wears out, after all.
How Faxon compares
Ballistic Advantage is the obvious value comparison, with a 16-inch chrome-lined 5.56 barrel at $132.94 in our feed. Faxon has the more distinctive profiles and finishes, and you’ll pay a little for that. Against Criterion and Proof Research, Faxon is the more affordable choice. Those brands chase accuracy and specialty builds, and they charge for it.
The real trade-off with a lighter barrel is heat. A Gunner saves weight, and it will warm up faster than a heavier contour under long rapid strings. On a carry carbine that doesn’t matter much. On a rifle you plan to run hard in classes, I’d think about a heavier profile or a chrome-lined option. On pistols, I’d also be straight: Flame Fluting is mostly about looks. If you just want reliability, your factory barrel is probably fine.
Who should buy what
A warning on Faxon reviews: many pages ranking for a Faxon Glock barrel review are thin copies of each other. The Firearm Blog’s 2017 test of a Match Series threaded barrel is more useful. It passed that writer’s mini torture test, and the review says outright that it didn’t cover raw accuracy. So judge fit and function in your own pistol, not a stranger’s star rating.
- Light AR build: a Duty Series Gunner barrel.
- Glock owner who wants a custom look: a Flame Fluted barrel for your exact generation.
- Suppressor host pistol: a threaded version, with your thread pitch confirmed.
- AR builder who wants something unusual: an ARAK-21 upper.
- Upper build on a budget: a Faxon 5.56 nitride BCG.
If you’re chasing the last fraction of an inch at a bench, a boutique barrel is the better call. If you shoot long hot strings, buy more steel and accept the weight.
The Faxon philosophy
Faxon thinks like a machine shop first. A barrel is a part, and a part can be made better with good process and control. I like that way of thinking, and I like that the company came to guns through a design idea instead of a marketing plan.
How to choose your Faxon setup
Start with the job. Pick caliber and length for the rifle you’re building, then the contour. A lighter barrel suits a carbine you’ll carry, and something heavier suits a gun that gets hot. Check gas length, twist and chamber against the ammo you plan to shoot. Those details matter more than the finish.
For a pistol barrel, first check the generation and whether you want threads. Most drop-in barrels still need a function test, so run a few magazines of your carry ammo before you trust it. Then buy from a store that carries your exact variant, because Faxon has so many similar SKUs that it’s easy to pick the wrong one.
A drilling machine and a kitchen table
Good company stories are often tidied up, but this one has some nice loose ends. A father gave his son an old drilling machine as a joke about slow days. Years later, a TV show and a few hours at the kitchen table produced a strange piston rifle. The barrels came after that. It’s a far better origin than a mission statement.
Facts and Figures
- Family business roots: 1978, per Bob Faxon.
- Faxon Firearms founded: 2012.
- Base: Greater Cincinnati, with a Fairfield, Ohio address.
- ARAK-21 design: a few hours at a kitchen table, per Bob Faxon.
- Prices on October 31: Glock 19 barrel from about $71, BCG $134, .300 Blackout Gunner $160, ARAK-21 upper $920.
Shop Faxon Firearms Parts & Prices
Live products and current prices for Faxon, organized by department and updated automatically.
Rifle Barrels
Pistol Barrels
Upper Receivers
Bolt Carrier Groups
Gas Systems
Muzzle Devices
Where Faxon Fits in Our Buying Guides
Faxon FAQ
Where is Faxon Firearms based?
In the Greater Cincinnati, Ohio area. Its site lists a Fairfield, Ohio address, and the company says it does its machining and assembly in-house.
When was Faxon founded?
Faxon Firearms was founded in 2012. Bob Faxon traces the wider family business back to 1978.
What is the Gunner barrel profile?
A lightweight AR-15 contour. It thins toward the muzzle to save weight, so it heats up faster than a heavy barrel during long strings.
What is Flame Fluting?
Faxon's patented twisting flute pattern. It trims a little weight, but it's mostly a looks upgrade on a pistol barrel.
Do Faxon Glock barrels fit Gen 6?
Check the listing. Many are sold for Gen 2-5, and Gen 6 pistols changed the barrel, so confirm your exact model before you order.
What is the ARAK-21?
A long-stroke piston upper for an AR-15 lower. Bob Faxon says it blends AR ergonomics with AK-style operation. Complete uppers were $920 on October 31.
Does the warranty cover dealer purchases?
Faxon says it will service them directly. It handles repairs or replacements for parts bought through dealers, but refunds go through the seller.
What tier is Faxon?
Mid-tier. It costs a bit more than basic value barrels and well under most custom makers, with an in-house manufacturing process.
Related AR-15 & Rifle Parts Brands
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- Ballistic Advantage Parts
- Timber Creek Outdoors Parts
- Geissele Parts
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