Barrel makers with the least rejects

[butchlambert]

That’s a fat finger .308 26” barrel. Lol

Yeah! Chuckle chuckle

 

[Lbart]

A decade or two ago I shot my first Bartlein. It shot so well I've never had a reason to change. I've never had a reason to question the accuracy of one and the people at Bartlein are the nicest around, which counts for a lot!

 

[Dave Way]

I’ve said this before. Spend more time picking your gunsmith than barrel brand and you will be well served.

Dave.

 

[Steve Blair]

I’ve said this before. Spend more time picking your gunsmith than barrel brand and you will be well served.

Dave.

A fine gunsmith cannot make a mediocre barrel excellent. He might get the best it can offer, but no better. The discussion was about barrels. What happens after acquisition is another topic.

 

[Dave Way]

A fine gunsmith cannot make a mediocre barrel excellent. He might get the best it can offer, but no better. The discussion was about barrels. What happens after acquisition is another topic.

I wasn’t trying to change the subject but the wrong wrong gunsmith can also destroy what may have been one of the finest barrels ever created. The point to take away is that all the companies mentioned are capable of making great barrels, but not all smith’s are capable of getting the best out of them.

Which manufacturer creates the best barrel is simply a matter of opinion and a question that can never be answered.

Dave.

 

[tom]

Whichever one don't have an offering in 6.5! Lol


Tom

 

[Steve Blair]

I wasn’t trying to change the subject but the wrong wrong gunsmith can also destroy what may have been one of the finest barrels ever created. The point to take away is that all the companies mentioned are capable of making great barrels, but not all smith’s are capable of getting the best out of them.

Which manufacturer creates the best barrel is simply a matter of opinion and a question that can never be answered.

Dave.

Except you were changing the topic, whether trying or not. And, who is the best gunsmith can be determined? Arguing subjective opinions is pointless. All I can offer is my experience. I know several gunsmiths that have done excellent work for me. That is my experience. Doesn't make them the best. I've had multiple, unpleasant experiences with button rifled barrels, one from a manufacturer mentioned above. Cut rifled barrels from Atkinson, H-S Precision, Bartlein, Brux and Krieger have not done that to me. Just my experience and another data point to consider.

 

[dkhunt14]

Except you were changing the topic, whether trying or not. And, who is the best gunsmith can be determined? Arguing subjective opinions is pointless. All I can offer is my experience. I know several gunsmiths that have done excellent work for me. That is my experience. Doesn't make them the best. I've had multiple, unpleasant experiences with button rifled barrels, one from a manufacturer mentioned above. Cut rifled barrels from Atkinson, H-S Precision, Bartlein, Brux and Krieger have not done that to me. Just my experience and another data point to consider.

Actually I have had some really good buttoned barrels. Unfortunately, he gave up the barrel business.

Another one I had bought a great barrel from, died. His equipment is sitting in a warehouse in Montana. I now prefer Krieger and I believe thier barrels are really consistant. Matt

 

[Steve Blair]

Actually I have had some really good buttoned barrels. Unfortunately, he gave up the barrel business.

Another one I had bought a great barrel from, died. His equipment is sitting in a warehouse in Montana. I now prefer Krieger and I believe thier barrels are really consistant. Matt

Matt, I have also had some excellent buttoned barrels. It's just that I've had failures with them that I've never seen with cut rifled barrels. Some Hart barrels, in particular, have been as good as my best cut rifled barrels.

 

[boltfluter]

My personal favorite has been Kreiger for a long time. Great barrels and customer service. Brux and Hart have been great as well. To me good customer service is worth more than anything. If I get a bad barrel I don't need a battle with the company to get a new barrel if needed. One well known button barrel company literally has no warranty. Period. No thanks.

Paul

 

[caihlen]

Actually I have had some really good buttoned barrels. Unfortunately, he gave up the barrel business.

Another one I had bought a great barrel from, died. His equipment is sitting in a warehouse in Montana. I now prefer Krieger and I believe thier barrels are really consistant. Matt

Les Bauska?

 

[Mr. Ten-X]

Once you get started on something that works, it is hard to switch. Never had a bad barrel from Jack Krieger (at least at my skill level) and he would be my go-to supplier.

Brix, Krieger, Bartlein, Dan Muller and a host of others make very good barrels that most likely cannot out-shoot. Pick one and stick with them if you're happy.

 

[Link]

I know of a local barrel manufacturer that scraps the barrel if they arn't satisfied with the machining or lapping process. Because of the quality of the material. I can't even guess at the quality or consistency of a 30 foot long tube of steel.

 

[Longtrain]

I've had good luck with Hart's in .224, no so with a Hart 308 1:10. Kreiger's were great, now I'm shooting Brux's, no reason to look elsewhere at this point in time.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I’ve said this before. Spend more time picking your gunsmith than barrel brand and you will be well served.

Dave.

I think this is a good answer that generalizes this whole thread into one answer. That being, if you're smith doesn't know the answer to the question of this thread, find one that does. I think the answer is, there are several really, really good barrel makers out there but that none are perfect. We are blessed to have as many as we do and that they seem to be getting better all the time.

I'll add that I have used a lot of different barrels(probably well into the thousands) from all of the top makers, with only a couple of truly bad barrels. They all make good barrels and the top makers stand behind their stuff, maybe to a fault. Anyone that makes a "premium" anything, doesn't want unhappy customers! On that note, I still bet they all replace more barrels that never had a problem than those that were actually bad.

All that said, I've become a big fan of ABC barrels, as some others on here have also mentioned. He's really got a barrel that is a good product! Problem has been...he had pretty much shut down for several months to relocate. As I understand it, he may be back in production soon...as in about October, hopefully sooner. He's a great guy and makes what I honestly think may be the best barrels we've ever seen in this sport.

His move was so that he could have more help and increase production without headaches from his former local gov't.

Since he's moving from Indiana to Alabama, hopefully for keeps..........

Ya'll know the difference between a yankee and a damn yankee???
A yankee comes south to visit but a damn yankee comes to stay!

Just kidding, but I do wish him well, wherever he is. He's making a very good barrel!

 

[ArtinNC]

Cleaning the Barrel is best "" while the barrel is still warm "" or hot with what ever you use . will only take a couple patches

 

[Alex Wheeler]

One thing to consider is why do we shoot? Its to enjoy it. You have to know when to give up on a barrel. A finicky barrel will drive you nuts. But, most of the time a guy thinks he has a bad barrel, he has only tried one powder and bullet. Early in a barrels life its changing, the lapped finish is getting smoother and the velocity is changing. Most barrels will settle down around 150 rounds. You dont want to try to fine tune one too early as you will just chase it until the barrel settles down. Those first 100-150 rounds are a great time to try every powder primer and bullet you have in relatively coarse increments. Your not tuning, you just picking the components that look best in that barrel. If by 100 rounds you know what powder, primer, bullet, and neck tension to start with tuning will be a breeze. Feed a barrel the wrong component and it will drive you nuts. Truly bad barrels are very rare. Poor tuning methods are not very rare.

 

[mgunderson]

Funny story. I had two Barrels that I was fighting for a long period of time. They would shoot and then not shoot. Spent more time on my tuning methods and chasing ghost at the reloading bench. Changed powder and everything got better. The fact that something worked in the last 4 Barrels or 10 Barrels doesn't matter. Being will to adapt and change based on the situation is important. Powder isn't a magic solution or different bullets, but they might change the combustion just enough.