Don't beleive everything your told or what you read about rifle barrels.

[hogpatrol]

I'll throw in my nickel. "Six months ago I worked for a barrel making company. I got a bunch of investors to put up some money, went out and bought the latest and greatest machinery, hired some disgruntled employees of other companies, put up a fancy website and now I are one." This seems to be happening with more regularity. It takes more than machinery, venture capital money, advertising, a Facebook page and "I got great accuracy" forum post hype to make a consistently accurate barrel EVERY TIME. I've bought a few from new makers and they were INCONSISTENT. My advice? Stay with the girl you brought to the dance.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I'll throw in my nickel. "Six months ago I worked for a barrel making company. I got a bunch of investors to put up some money, went out and bought the latest and greatest machinery, hired some disgruntled employees of other companies, put up a fancy website and now I are one." This seems to be happening with more regularity. It takes more than machinery, venture capital money, advertising, a Facebook page and "I got great accuracy" forum post hype to make a consistently accurate barrel EVERY TIME. I've bought a few from new makers and they were INCONSISTENT. My advice? Stay with the girl you brought to the dance.

Time will tell, but I for one, wish him well and have a lot of confidence in his abilities. It's good for us all to have quality barrel makers. I don't see a down side. If the quality isn't there, they won't last long. If it is, we have a new supplier. I can't help but think that your logic would have us all driving a Model T.

 

[hogpatrol]

Time will tell, but I for one, wish him well and have a lot of confidence in his abilities. It's good for us all to have quality barrel makers. I don't see a down side. If the quality isn't there, they won't last long. If it is, we have a new supplier. I can't help but think that your logic would have us all driving a Model T.

I'll drive the "Model Ts" until something else is PROVEN. It's called common sense, a rarity in today's world.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I'll drive the "Model Ts" until something else is PROVEN. It's called common sense, a rarity in today's world.

I'm not sure why you are so adamant about making your point. I think it's made. I'm also not sure what proof it would take for you, if you're not sure that newer cars are much improved.

 

[Ggmac]

+1 gunsandgunsmithing . Let me think , I'll take my rolling block to the next Bench comp. NOT

 

[hogpatrol]

I'm not sure why you are so adamant about making your point. I think it's made. I'm also not sure what proof it would take for you, if you're not sure that newer cars are much improved.

You're right, I made my point. You were the one that needed to come back with the Model T analogy.
You guys can go ahead and buy a barrel from a new UNPROVEN manufacturer. Maybe you'll get lucky and get a good one. Then again, maybe you'll get unlucky and spend the time and money for chambering for naught. Your call. I'll stick with Brux, Muller, Bartlein, Kreiger, and other PROVEN barrel makers, thank you.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

You're right, I made my point. You were the one that needed to come back with the Model T analogy.
You guys can go ahead and buy a barrel from a new UNPROVEN manufacturer. Maybe you'll get lucky and get a good one. Then again, maybe you'll get unlucky and spend the time and money for chambering for naught. Your call. I'll stick with Brux, Muller, Bartlein, Kreiger, and other PROVEN barrel makers, thank you.

You must be the life of the party, wherever you go. Good night.

 

[hogpatrol]

You must be the life of the party, wherever you go. Good night.

Mike, I am! Thanks for the compliment and good luck!

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I'll throw in my nickel. "Six months ago I worked for a barrel making company. I got a bunch of investors to put up some money, went out and bought the latest and greatest machinery, hired some disgruntled employees of other companies, put up a fancy website and now I are one." This seems to be happening with more regularity. It takes more than machinery, venture capital money, advertising, a Facebook page and "I got great accuracy" forum post hype to make a consistently accurate barrel EVERY TIME. I've bought a few from new makers and they were INCONSISTENT. My advice? Stay with the girl you brought to the dance.

This happens a lot more with "gunsmiths"
But a new barrel maker- like mike said if he aint got it he wont last. Just sit back and wait. I remember when all those barrels you mentioned were new and my customers said ill just stick with shilen/douglas/hart. Now theyve proven theyre good. Im all for another option in barrels. Will i be first in line to try one? No and i dont pay for chambers

 

[hogpatrol]

This happens a lot more with "gunsmiths"
But a new barrel maker- like mike said if he aint got it he wont last. Just sit back and wait. I remember when all those barrels you mentioned were new and my customers said ill just stick with shilen/douglas/hart. Now theyve proven theyre good. Im all for another option in barrels. Will i be first in line to try one? No and i dont pay for chambers

But Dusty, you're just staying with "Model T"s.

 

[Rustystud]

Most of those who have posted on this thread have missed the boat entirely. My point is take the barrel you bought and check it or have it checked by someone competent in checking a barrel. Take what the maker has told you that they have sold you as their best barrel is in fact what your getting. You might be real surprised at what you find.

Nat Lambeth

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Most of those who have posted on this thread have missed the boat entirely. My point is take the barrel you bought and check it or have it checked by someone competent in checking a barrel. Take what the maker has told you that they have sold you as their best barrel is in fact what your getting. You might be real surprised at what you find.

Nat Lambeth

Nat, I agree with what your saying. The same goes for "custom actions". I have found more problems with actions than I can believe.

 

[dedogs]

Nat, I agree with what your saying. The same goes for "custom actions". I have found more problems with actions than I can believe.

Alex, do you offer the services described by Nat as far as checking a barrel? Thanks, dedogs

 

[Sniper338]

Ive heard some damn good reviews on hawk hill barrels from a few gunsmiths... i dont own one though...

 

[skeetlee]

Hawk Hill does have there act together. The last 4 or 5 I have chambered have all been great shooting barrels.
As far as checking and evaluating new barrels. I have done this also. Im not 100% sure my findings have made a lot of difference or not. For example, I slugged the last rail gun barrel I chambered for my rail. Two inches on front of where I decided to chamber had a noticeable loose spot. Ten inches on front of that spot there was another. After that everything felt pretty good. I didn't have any money in this barrel so I chambered it regardless. This barrel is hands down one of the best shooting barrels have ever shot. Truly is!!
I had A Brux barrel several years ago before I was doing my own work that Tom Haverkamp chambered for me. Part of the deal for being one of the first to shoot one of his new actions. Tom indicated similar to what Gordy does. I remember very clearly watching the muzzle of that barrel swing like a jump rope hanging of the end of his pristine South Bend Heavy 10. We chambered that that barrel in a 6BR and it shot fantastic.
My main rule of thumb is to never crown on a loose spot. I have had really good results using this theory.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I quit evaluating barrels because of the mental thing. They either shoot or they dont and on target is the only evaluation i need/ use. Getting a reputable makers barrel then rolling the dice is all i need to do.

 

[billlarson]

I have been re-barreling center fire barrels for almost 40 years. There are some great barrel manufactures here in America. But there are some barrel makers who have higher standards than others. As it has been said often you get what you pay for.

I have seen my share of out of spec barrels over the years. Not just barrels not drilled straight or contoured with the chamber end and the muzzle end centered. I have seen barrels with cracks in them. I have seen over or under sized bore diameters, and tight and loose spots in the bore. I have had orders of ten barrels at a time come un rifled. The latest issue that I have encountered is incorrect land groove ratios. about ten years ago I bought barrels from a company. The first barrels I got were exceptional shooters. Then all of a sudden they went in the crapper not just for me but several gunsmiths had issues with this barrel makers barrels. I did some testing and the bore diameters were not as specified in the makers own writing. I later talked to a former employee of that barrel maker and he said the barrel maker did not even have the measuring tools to measure the bore diameters. That same barrel makers barrels after extensive examination were not properly lapped. They had tight and loose spots between the breech and muzzle. With another barrel maker I got barrels with hard and soft spots in them due to poor quality steel.

When you are spending your hard earned money on a custom barrel, you should do some research and check out what your buying. This may mean you spend a few exrta bucks having the barrel measured bore diameter, groove depth, land groove ratio, visually inspected and photographed for tool marks, proper lapping, other land/groove dsamage problems, and slugged for consistency. Get a written report including specs found, photographs, air gauge findings, and any problems noted.
CNC ball screws are susceptible to wip lash. Tight spots in barrel stock can cause ratcheting in both sine bar cut rifling machines. Pull buttons can hesitate when binding in tight or hard spots. Air bubbles in hydraulics also can cause ratcheting during the rifling process. Improper tool geometry and wear can alter land groove ratios.

Buying barrels does not have to be a "Crap shoot".

Nat Lambeth

When you are spending your hard earned money on a custom barrel, you should do some research and check out what your buying. This may mean you spend a few exrta bucks having the barrel measured bore diameter, groove depth, land groove ratio, visually inspected and photographed for tool marks, proper lapping, other land/groove damage problems, and slugged for consistency. Get a written report including specs found, photographs, air gauge findings, and any problems noted.

Where do I find a service like this.....???? and what do they charge...???
thanks in advance
bill

 

[Eddie Harren]

When you are spending your hard earned money on a custom barrel, you should do some research and check out what your buying. This may mean you spend a few exrta bucks having the barrel measured bore diameter, groove depth, land groove ratio, visually inspected and photographed for tool marks, proper lapping, other land/groove damage problems, and slugged for consistency. Get a written report including specs found, photographs, air gauge findings, and any problems noted.

Where do I find a service like this.....???? and what do they charge...???
thanks in advance
bill

If you can find someone who can look at the inside of a barrel, air gauge it, scope it and give it very close visual scrutiny, then proclaim that it will be a shooter and, prove it on a series of targets, please have them contact me immediately. As he and I are going to become very rich.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

And let me buy those "bad" kriegers for half price when theres an anomaly found.

 

[snowpro440]

Did we finally just figure out that barrels might not be consistent ? Or did someone feel the need to shed light on something that they discovered ? Almost like the weather..