BARRELS Addams & Bennit

[mason]

I'm thinking about buying a new Addams & Bennit 6mm barrel
are the barrel any good or is it a get what you pay for type of thing.

The barrel new is only $90.00

 

[fdshuster]

mason: Adams & bennett barrels are made by E R Shaw barrels, here in Western Pennsylvania, about 7 miles from my home. I had one of their barrels several yrs. ago, and the results were far from what I expected. Copper fouling was extreme, and accuracy was non-existant. Returned it, and to their credit, they gave me a refund for the entire cost: how many barrel makers would do that? On the other hand, I know several clubmembers who have their barrels and are very happy with them: our standards differ. They are a very successful company/ have been in business for years, must be doing something right, just don't expect a Hart/Shilen/Krieger type lapped, smooth bore finish: not for that price. Some have bought their barrels and were able to hand lap the bores to remove some or most of the tooling and reamer roughness. Yes, you do get what you pay for.

 

[Preacher]

If it's just going to serve as a plinker, have right at it, but if on the other hand your wanting a world class shooter don't bother.....
I have used a few, and like anything else, you can get a good one now and then, and a deer wouldn't have a clue you used a $90 barrel

 

[lukehalee]

Got one in .35 caliber for a wildcat.

the amount of button chatter was shocking. after firing one shot, you saw 6 gold stripes running thru the bore.

good news, 3 shot groups were easily under one inch. after that copper fouling got so bad it was hard to even develop loads.

fire lapped it, but it washed the throat out so bad, I need to rechamber. still loads up with copper but will hold groups a little longer.

I would spend a little more money.

 

[mason]

WOW thanks guys glad i asked the question much thanks...

 

[fdshuster]

lukehalee: My experiences exactly. After cleaning out the powder fouling, and exposing the copper layer, it looked as though someone had taken a brush and painted the bore with copper paint. Bore had the "finish" of a Nicholson file. Not much fun when you go to the range, fire 20 rounds of painstakingly prepared match ammo, 5 shot "groups" at 200 yd. are in the 5 to 6" category, then go home and spend 3 hours "digging" the copper out of the bore with 1/4 bottle of Sweets. When I showed the copper filled bore to the owner/manager, he apologized, and handed me a refund check,$279.90) for the entire cost of the job/ barrel, threading, chambering, very high quality blueing. Made a copy of that check & still have it. They were upfront, and admitted the barrel should have never left their shop in that condition, and for that they have my respect. Others would blame everything but their barrel and machining.

 

[lukehalee]

FD,

After fire lapping it did get better, still fouls, but is easier to clean and will be fine for hunting.

Kriegers, Shilens, even Mcgowan will spoil you though!

 

[Lapuatom]

I have 2 ER Shaw barrels. One in a 338,the other in a 243. The 338 is easily a .75" gun. Very satisfactory for hunting. The 243 bbl. however needed quite a bit of work to get it to shoot. Extremely bad fouling,poor accuracy,very hard to clean. I used the David Tubb fire lapping final finish system and what a difference that made.I had to seat the bullets out a little farther but they still feed through the magazine and the rifle now is a genuine .5" gun. Pleased, but not without alot of elbow grease. They are only 10 miles from my home but I think I'll pass them by next time and buy a top quality match grade bbl.

 

[Clark]

I got a bunch of A&B barrels in 2000.
Some were really terrible: rough or bent.

I think those were make by Shaw.
I wish had never seen them.

Now, I think, A&B are made by Green Mountain, and are better.

My attitude now is that I should not waste my time with barrels that have not been:
1) factory lapped
2) Stress relieved
3) air gauge inspected with rejects sent to material review board.

Douglas XX chrome Moly are not lapped, but I will still work on them, because they shoot well.

Shilen chrome moly are not lapped, and I will not work on them.

The barrels I like are:
1) Lothar Walther
2) Shilen Stainless
3) Lilja
4) Hart
5) Krieger

There are lots of other good barrel makers, but I have not worked on them.

 

[Preacher]

A&B barrels are made on the same machines as the ER Shaw barrel are, all in Bridgeport, Pa....

 

[Obtunded]

In Canada, we pay roughly 50-100% more for a barrel blank of quality. To me, if the difference between BR accuracy and Norinco Accuracy was $150, I would have to say I'd waste more money on load devloping and cleaning supplies than that.

If its worth re-barreling, it's worth rebarreling properly. Stay away from crap... Even stay away from half-crap.

 

[mason]

I went with a Mcgowen CM barrel and they told me its factory lapped and will shoot as good as any of the other barrels such as your Shilen or any other button rifled barrel so lets hope...
I'll keep you all posted,3 week turn around on any barrel blank)WOW......

 

[Clark]

The Shilen and Lothar Walther barrels can be had through Brownells for gunsmith discounts:

The Lothar Walther Chrome moly and Shilen select match stainless steel are top quality, and I can't get those prices on any other premium barrels. All premium barrels shoot better than I can.

So it is just down to money that causes me to build with just Shilen and LW.