custom barrel opinions?

[fordwrench]

i have been working with a 6mm rem varminter lately and im not satified with the accuracy so far. im think a new barrel is in order... if you were to pick a new barrel whose would it be and why. i have had a few shiliens and was please but they dont seem to last long. i see that they offer a few differant rifling types, and claim better barrel life and slower erosion. < 3 grove, r rifling, canted rifling.. this is all good but what are the real world results and who is producing the fewest duds out there? any thoughts welcome...

 

[fdshuster]

Bought three Krieger barrels within the last 6 months. All are proving to be excellent!

 

[fordwrench]

frank, i have been leaning towards them. i have heard they last a little longer than most. is there any advantage to the newer rifling types for a 6mm rem, ie cartridge that may be hard on barrels? i just hate to get a new barrel and about burn it up during load development. also i have been hearing of trouble with the 6-6.5 lapua eating up barrels quick and being a pain in the but to tune. i am usualy getting 3350 to 3450 fps from 80 gr bullets in the std 6mm rem. i know its not the most efficient , but the rifle is wearing a 24in factory tube in a 1 in 9 1/4 twist. was thinking for going to a 1 in 12 for 75-90 gr bullets and a bit more speed before it pressures out. also was looking to go to 26-28 in of length.

 

[fullersson]

If you can get one Broughton makes a good 6mm barrel.

 

[WayneShaw]

Unfortunately, barrels are expendable. The harder, faster and hotter to shoot them, the quicker they wear out. I don't think I would hang my hat on one brand lasting longer than another.

Now if you bought a LW and found someone to chamber it, you may be able to make that claim.......if it shoots.

 

[fordwrench]

anyone using lilja anymore? 3 groove??

 

[butchlambert]

Wayne Shaw is correct. I don't think any last longer than the others, just gun range talk.
Butch

 

[markr]

After talking to John Whidden of Whidden gun works...he a a good shot and knowledgeable gun man...
I quote the following from him: I have two barrels treated by Joel Kendrick at MMI Trutec. I shot both at a match this weekend in fact. They are both very accurate and very easy to clean. I don't have enough rounds through them to comment on life yet but have gotten some pretty reliable data from others and it appears that we should about double barrel life.

It's worth the price just for the ease of cleaning in my book!

John Whidden

 

[Eddie Harren]

Only time will tell. I've seen so many "wonder treatments" and "curealls", over the last 20 years, that I'm very cautious as to what I put in any of the quality barrels, that are available today.

 

[butchlambert]

I jumped on the bandwagon early on as I have posted, I'm very impressed. Eddie, nothing goes in your barrel bore as a coating. Basically it is a low temp case hardening.
Butch

 

[clowdis]

Yep, still happy with Lilja, but am only using the 3 groove barrels. That doesn't mean that they are better than the others of couse, it's just what I use.

 

[Rustystud]

It has been my experience over the last 40+ years that even the best barrel makers go through good and bad cycles.

Raw materials change, tooling changes, vendors change, employees change, processes change, owners change.

Good barrels are common omong the top barrel makers. Great barrels are fewer and further between.

I have always found it very interesting trying to keep up with who the winners are and what they are using.

Nat Lambeth

 

[Kenny474]

The best way to extend barrel life is to use the most efficient cartridge possible that will give you the velocity that you are looking for. No barrel is going to last forever, regardless of brand. They are all made of steel, which is going to erode under heat, pressure and friction. You may find one brand that will last a few hundred rounds more, but nothing appreciable.

Bottom line: if you want to get the longest barrel life possible, use the most efficient cartridge possible in a quality barrel.

WayneShaw said all that needs to be said, barrels are expendable.

 

[dtucker]

Kenny474 hit the nail right on the head as what he wrote. I have used a few different makers ( Hart, Shilen, Kreiger ) and they were all tack drivers. Their are alot of great barrel makers out their and god permitting i am going to try all of them. These companies today have state of the art machines that can hold some close tolerances. I am having 2 Broughton barrels chambered right now and you can bet they will be great shooters. Good luck

 

[TRECustom]

I will wait to get a Lilja barrel. His published tolerances were enough to make me try them.

Lots of fine barrels out there. I just trust Lilja.

Tom

 

[butchlambert]

Is his published tolerance closer than his competition?
Butch

 

[TRECustom]

Butch, closer than some, but some don't publish tolerances, and will tapdance when you ask. Like I said, lots of good ones. The title of the thread is "custom barrel opinions?" This is mine.

Tom

 

[butchlambert]

If you look at Shilen's website for their select match barrels, you will find the same tolerance as Lilja. Both companies make great barrels. I have had great luck with both. Lot of good hunting barrels out there.
Butch

 

[fordwrench]

bought one krieger in a 6.5 8.5 twist and am looking for another hv #17 in the same cal and twist for another build. not sure who im gonna pick but after one too many phone calls to the big S in texas im not going that route at all. something bad has happend to their way of doing business. very poor customer service in my opinion!

 

[butchlambert]

That is strange about poor customer service. They do not make the barrel that you listed here. Is that your problem.
Butch