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Barrels 2020

I find this thread very interesting... I am just about at the end of a new build which is my first full custom.. I researched barrels for a long while during... I was pretty set on a krieger or bartlien, ... thought I “needed” a cut rifled .... after talking to a few friends... and a couple gentlemen on here I got put in touch with Stan Taylor from Douglas ... and chatted with him VERY nice guy.... I decided on a Douglas ... if any one has seen his wall of awards they can’t argue with that...

I do have a criterion on a savage that does do very nice

I agree with much mentioned above, I am no where near the shooter of many of you ... but I do try my best to tune/ load as good as I can to help and I think that’s a big part of a gun is putting the work in on it and not just expecting a $3000 rifle to do all of the work for you
 
Sniper338 said:
It be interesting to have 20 brands of barrels all same contour, same rifling, same length, same caliber, same etc etc... all tested head to head through numerous test.

Could be alot of good barrels out there, but machining screw ups, in the wrong drivers hands, non-obsessive load development, list goes on to where good barrels never shine.

Thats why lots of ppl look at gear reviews from competitions. I've never seen a green mountain or wilson barrel win anything. Good barrels have to find the right hands to make it into competition to be scrutinized for accuracy.

I've never had a Brux, Bartlein, or Krieger that didn't shoot well, but, I've had some that shoot better than the other in those 3 named.

Lilja, benchmark, hart, Pac-Nor, ABC, hawk Hill, and others are usually fine barrels, never hear bad things, but you never hear good things either. I'm sure those barrels have potential, but everyone follows whats known to work. Then there's a list of lower end barrels that just aren't talked about.

Hard to compare it all.. just go by what you know, or think you know. A smith that sees alot of them and really looks in depth would be the best source as to what brands never have flaws, which sometimes do, which always look bad...

For me and my knowledge:

Top 4:
Bartlein
Brux
Krueger
Proof

Middle of the road:
Lilja
Benchmark
Pacnor
Criterion
ABC
Hawk hill
Hart
Douglas
Broughton
McGowan
Shilen
X-caliber
Schneider
Rock creek

Low end:
Wilson
Shaw
Green mountain
Lothar walther


Plenty others I cAnt think of. But thats my personal list. I've heard hawk hills and rock creek are good, lilja is good. At the same time ive never owned every brand I listed so its just my guess. I know some people have had pacnors that shot just as good as any other, same goes for Broughton.
Click to expand...
It's hard to make a list and leave out certain barrels but IMO Broughton is in the top 5
 
I'll second the Wilson barrels. Replaced my Savage 12 F/V, 6.5CM after about 1k rounds went down the factory barrel. The Wilson gave me .5 MOA at 600 yds and 1MOA at 1000 yds with reloads.

Built a 6mm CM using the Wilson barrel and very satified with the results at 600 and 1000 yds. Now after 1k down the 6mm the barrel is shot out and just ordered a second one from Wilson.

For the money I'm happy.
 
Spike A said:
I find this thread very interesting... I am just about at the end of a new build which is my first full custom.. I researched barrels for a long while during... I was pretty set on a krieger or bartlien, ... thought I “needed” a cut rifled .... after talking to a few friends... and a couple gentlemen on here I got put in touch with Stan Taylor from Douglas ... and chatted with him VERY nice guy.... I decided on a Douglas ... if any one has seen his wall of awards they can’t argue with that...

I do have a criterion on a savage that does do very nice

I agree with much mentioned above, I am no where near the shooter of many of you ... but I do try my best to tune/ load as good as I can to help and I think that’s a big part of a gun is putting the work in on it and not just expecting a $3000 rifle to do all of the work for you
Click to expand...
The only major changes, I have seen in my 30 year's here,20201208_115136_HDR-1.jpg is the steel mill's have improved tremendously on the quality of steel we use today.
 
jackson1 said:
Guess I was not vert clear. Meant every thing from scopes, stocks, triggers, rests, and other related gear. Was wondering if there will be a short term buyers market.
Click to expand...

During the last couple of shortages that wasn't generally the case. The value of pre-64 M-70s and other classic rifles dropped as everyone was scrambling for ARs and handguns. I don't remember scopes becoming cheaper, and barrels weren't any more available.
 
INTJ, would have to agree with you, but based on my searches for reloading components, something may have to give. Have been through a couple of shortages during my life time. Upon my retirement in 09, the amount of shooting I do has greatly increased and that is where the shortages first got my attention. Never ran out, but had to search harder. Post that I prepared. Remember post 08 the shortages were critical; this seems worse. Granted I have no hard evidence for an thing I have said, but based on what I have seen and heard, something has to give. Luckily for me I live with in easy driving distance of many of the top barrel producers and regularly shoot at a range named after John Krieger. These guys will see me coming and lock the door.
 
This is my opinion and I am a relatively new shooter (when can I say I'm an old-hat?), so take this what it's worth.

I've had barrels from many, but not all, of the major players. I've had about 30 of them, and been lucky as I have not burned one down yet, in about 10 different calibers (including crazy suggestions of wildcats from my GS). From factory Savages and Remingtons, Brux, Krieger, Bartlein, Lilja, Lederer, Criterion, X-Caliber...(suddenly I realize I might have a problem).

Not a single one have I had problems getting to shoot under 0.5MOA, although some took more work than others.

Perhaps the question that should be posed of quality, as the OP, somewhat suggests, is - how likely is it you are going to get as good/excellent a shooter next time or how often does the maker put out a dud that defies accurizing by a competent reloader/marksman?

I personally think of the quality makers (of which there are many) this way. "What's the chances my next barrel from them will shoot as well (or better) as the one of theirs I am currently using?" I can almost guarantee you that every barrel maker has screwed one up and it slipped by QA and went out the door, and I am sure they were embarrassed and made it right. If it hasn't happened to them yet, I'd argue that they just haven't sent out enough barrels. Just how infrequently that happens is my gauge of a quality maker.

Drew
 
I started the BR thing back in 1976. In those days you had Hart, Shilen and Douglas, that was it. I had many excellent barrels from Hart and Shilen. The current crop of barrel companies are a blessing to the shooters of today and most produce a quality product. I've had a couple of bummers over the years and several that were absolutely phenomenal. If there is one thing that I have learned to do that has steered me towards certain makers it is slugging of blanks. Learn to do that and you can detect the producers that have that slight edge in consistency that makes their product stand out.
 
hoz53 said:
Didn’t Broughton go out of business
Click to expand...

Broughton Barrels closed !!!

Its true. I put his barrels right up there with Krieger and were some of the best ones I ever owned. There were some health issues. But also he used very good steel and his heat treat was excellent, the barrels were $40 more than a Krieger, I sat on a bunch of them because of that extra $40...
forum.accurateshooter.com

see post #26 for an update.
 
newbieshooter said:

Broughton Barrels closed !!!

Its true. I put his barrels right up there with Krieger and were some of the best ones I ever owned. There were some health issues. But also he used very good steel and his heat treat was excellent, the barrels were $40 more than a Krieger, I sat on a bunch of them because of that extra $40...
forum.accurateshooter.com

see post #26 for an update.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info
 
skiutah02 said:
This is my opinion and I am a relatively new shooter (when can I say I'm an old-hat?), so take this what it's worth.

I've had barrels from many, but not all, of the major players. I've had about 30 of them, and been lucky as I have not burned one down yet, in about 10 different calibers (including crazy suggestions of wildcats from my GS). From factory Savages and Remingtons, Brux, Krieger, Bartlein, Lilja, Lederer, Criterion, X-Caliber...(suddenly I realize I might have a problem).

Not a single one have I had problems getting to shoot under 0.5MOA, although some took more work than others.

Perhaps the question that should be posed of quality, as the OP, somewhat suggests, is - how likely is it you are going to get as good/excellent a shooter next time or how often does the maker put out a dud that defies accurizing by a competent reloader/marksman?

I personally think of the quality makers (of which there are many) this way. "What's the chances my next barrel from them will shoot as well (or better) as the one of theirs I am currently using?" I can almost guarantee you that every barrel maker has screwed one up and it slipped by QA and went out the door, and I am sure they were embarrassed and made it right. If it hasn't happened to them yet, I'd argue that they just haven't sent out enough barrels. Just how infrequently that happens is my gauge of a quality maker.

Drew
Click to expand...
I have put on over 100 custom barrels by very good riflesmiths and I am convinced the few bad ones I have had that would not shoot or coopered up were the quality of the steel not the maker.
 
Jud96 said:
How do you get the same finish then as a barrel maker who does lap? I’m trying to learn, not trying to pick a fight haha. Thanks
Click to expand...
Our barrels have a uniform bore an groove dimensions from one end to the other as far as our barrel being as smooth barrel, I wouldn't even begin to say ours is smoother than a lap but it is as smooth.
P.S. our size is controlled from stress relief.
 
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