"Bargain" Barrels

[urbanrifleman]

Ackleyman2 has a test barrel that I sent him and is supposed to post his findings soon.

 

[k80skeet]

Bought a barrel at a deep discount that some manufacturers have from time to time. When I mentioned the sale on this forum, I was surprised at the almost universal negative feedback about this particular manufacturer. I ignored those warnings, and paid the price.

What I got for my "bargain" was a grossly out of spec chamber. The .200 datum EXCEEDED SAAMI MAXIMUM by MORE THAN .004in. See attached images. Had to cut .700in off and re-chamber to bring it within spec.

I was reminded of one of life's great lessons, that one usually"gets what one pays for".

There is a reason why most barrel manufacturers never have sales. They don't have to because their reputation speaks for itself.

"Buy once, cry once".

That is not always true. E.R. Shaw make inexpensive barrels and I have had some great barrels from them.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Heck I'll give $20 off the 6br. I have a ton of those.

 

[std7mag]

I've got 4 E.R. Shaw barrels that definitely do their job!
My 250 Savage barrel was an "over run special" i picked up for $125.
They have a 25-06 barrel i'd love to have!
But i'm off work for at least another month from Carpal Tunnel surgery.
That & i need yet another action. Lol

 

[NorCalMikie]

Shipped my XP action off to E.R. Shaw and had them re barrel with a pretty heavy contour 24" barrel in .221 Fireball. Built into a bench rifle. Deadly accurate. Best group without any extra effort measured .110 for a 5 shot group.
Not a thing wrong with Shaw barrels as well as Douglas, Wilson and a few other lesser knowns. Most have been around for years but you don't see them on the "equipment list" so they get passed over.

 

[Ggmac]

Bought a barrel at a deep discount that some manufacturers have from time to time. When I mentioned the sale on this forum, I was surprised at the almost universal negative feedback about this particular manufacturer. I ignored those warnings, and paid the price.

What I got for my "bargain" was a grossly out of spec chamber. The .200 datum EXCEEDED SAAMI MAXIMUM by MORE THAN .004in. See attached images. Had to cut .700in off and re-chamber to bring it within spec.

I was reminded of one of life's great lessons, that one usually"gets what one pays for".

There is a reason why most barrel manufacturers never have sales. They don't have to because their reputation speaks for itself.

"Buy once, cry once".

You do not use Frankford arsenal cal. to precisely measure the .200 line . It all depends on how much of the case is protruding to even guess at the position of the .200 line .

 

[k80skeet]

Believe it or not the Marine sniper teams use E.R. Shaw Barrels a good friend of mine was one and told that is what he was issued and it was a tack driver in his words.

 

[jelenko]

I wonder if the Marines have a contract with ER Shaw => maybe they chamber/finish the barrels differently for them.

 

[Mark W]

Believe it or not the Marine sniper teams use E.R. Shaw Barrels a good friend of mine was one and told that is what he was issued and it was a tack driver in his words.

I lived a down the road from ER Shaw for about 7 years and stopped by their retail outlet frequently. At one point I was offered a tour of their manufacturing facility. Interestingly enough, I saw cardboard barrels of barrel blanks labeled with other barrel manufacturers and some rifle manufacturers name.

From what I saw and was told, I suspect there are a lot of unsuspecting ER Shaw barrel owners out there.

 

[k80skeet]

I lived a down the road from ER Shaw for about 7 years and stopped by their retail outlet frequently. At one point I was offered a tour of their manufacturing facility. Interestingly enough, I saw cardboard barrels of barrel blanks labeled with other barrel manufacturers and some rifle manufacturers name.

From what I saw and was told, I suspect there are a lot of unsuspecting ER Shaw barrel owners out there.

Yes, I think so too. Same with Wilson barrels. I have some Coopers with Wilson barrels on them and the shoot really well as all Coopers do.

 

[timeout]

Are the calipers actually measuring at the 0.200" mark? (+0.005")
It seems odd that a barrel maker would have a reamer that is larger than SAAMI spec!

Where did they get the reamer from?

A properly speced and ground reamer can bore an oversized chamber by an improper setup during the machining (chambering) process.

 

[AlNyhus]

I wonder if the Marines have a contract with ER Shaw => maybe they chamber/finish the barrels differently for them.

The Marines do their own barrel work in the PRS facility at Quantico, Va. -Al

 

[moorepower]

I have 3 prefits, 2 Shilen, one .204 that shoots 5 40Vmax into 1/4", and I did not play with primers or seating depth and a 6CM that shoots factory 108ELDM ammo into between .420 and .558 for 5 shots, and I have not doubt that I can improve on that. I have a McGowen .20 P that shoots sub .4. I am not complaining. I also do not shoot BR comp's. I plan to send my .22-204 reamer to the Urbanrifleman to see what happens also. I realize that a custom should shoot better, but for varmint's I am satisfied.