Green Mountain barrels

[tmoss 22-250]

Been doing some reading on the GM barrels on other forums, and folks seem to be having problems.
Has anyone here had trouble out these barrels? Already ordered one before I found these reports. Hope I haven't waisted my money.

 

[thekriebles]

I can't speak for any of the newer GM barrels. But, I have an older GM (5 yrs.) on a semi-custom 17HMR that is very accurate and cleans up well too. I've been very pleased.

 

['Freak]

I still have a 20” fat barrel and wish I’d kept that stainless 17” heavy taper. Both came with the bores filthy with machining leftovers which took Simple Green to finally bring clean. Once cleaned most definitely before the 1st firing and I’ve been given nothing more to complain about. Both shot right in there with other barrels that are hand lapped and come with spotlessly cleaned bores, but also much more expensive.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Wanted to try someinthing in 20 caliber. Picked up a 20 caliber blank from Green Mountain in CM. Had it threaded and chambered in 20 VT.
Turned out to be a "real shooter" and liked it so much I ordered up another one. Got each one in less than a week from ordering and both for around $100.00 each.
Wanted to try 17 caliber. Ordered and recieved two blanks in SS, both recieved in less than a week from ordering and both for around $100.00 each. Waiting on a reamer so both can get threaded and chambered.
For the quality and price, you can't go wrong. Beats a long wait from just about any of the other barrel makers and the price "is right"!!

 

[L.Sherm]

+1 for what norcalmikie says go over to smallcaliberclub on the 20SCC link and there is pictures posted of how mine shot. I have 2 of there 20 cal barrels that shoot the same and getting ready to use one of there 17.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Yup, I know, this is, an OLD Thread, but, I wanted to address this issue for, others that, might be thinking about buying, a NEW, Green Mtn., Ruger 10-22 barrel.
NO need, to worry, as the New 2019 -2020 Barrels, flat out,.. "Shoot",.. IF, broke in, seasoned, bedded / free floated and cleaned, properly !
I have, put less than, 100 rounds of "break in" ammo, thru my New, 20" SS, "Sporter weight", 2.1 Pound .650 muzzle dia, barrel and,..
so far, I have shot 4, SUB, 1/2" dia. 5 shot or, 10 shot, groups at, 50 yards, 2 with, SK Plus and 2 w/ Wolf Match Extra, ammo ( out of 5 tries, total ).
The barrel has also produced several, Quarter sized ( 3/4" to, 1" ) 10 shot, groups at 50 Yards with, Bulk plinking, ammo like Win 36 gr CPHP's, AKA 555 or 333 and Fed Target, lead bullet, 1,200 FPS ammo. I personally think that, you CAN buy, the NEWER, Green Mountain Barrels with, "confidence" !
Did I get, a one in a Million Barrel or, have others had, good results, too ??
Chime in, if you've tried, a Newer made, G M barrel.

 

[cmillard]

Never had an issue with green mountain barrels.

 

[NorCalMikie]

The only "real issue" with Green Mountain barrels is talking them up to the point that if you order one, no telling when you'll get your order.
Some things care better left unsaid.

 

[scasa]

That's all I ever buy. and I've had good luck with them
Both groups are 10 round. those aren't flyers on the right target I was sighting in different scope. That was at 25 yds. left with a rifle right group with a pistol.

 

[zeke06]

I’ve ordered quite a few blanks from them over the years and have been very pleased with them. No they’re not a premium blanks but the bore dimensions have been very consistent over time and overall quality is very good especially for their price. With some work they can be a real shooter. There customer service is very good as well.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Good comments, guys ! It did take, a long time to get my new barrel ! Sale price, $132.00 barrel, 18.00 Shipping and,.. 2 WEEKS to get, here, W/ UPS, "Ground" ! Why don't they ship, FED-X or UPS, Air ??? Love my New Barrel, tho ! As Zeke said, with some "work" they can,.. "shoot" !

 

[js2013]

As Zeke said, with some "work" they can,.. "shoot" !

OK guys what "work" are we talking about?

 

[zeke06]

OK guys what "work" are we talking about?

I hand lap a light amount of taper into the bore (for rimfires) and will slug the bore many times throughout the process. I also cut the crown at the tightest spot of the bore. I do everything I possibly can to make them shoot to their full potential.

 

[epc308]

I worked for a guy a few years back who used GM barrels almost exclusively. His shop mounted and chambered probably a couple hundred over the years. The few times there was an issue they always took care of things. I put one on a HighWall chambered in 22 Hornet. Nosler Varmegedon ammo shot 4 into 7/16, 5 into 5/8 a couple weeks ago, so yes, they shoot.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

OK guys what "work" are we talking about?

For me, I didn't get quite as involved, as Zeke does, by trying to, "Taper Lap" my barrel ( I don't have, the "experience", anyways ! ). But, knowing a little something about, smooth, shiny barrels, "usually" shooting better and there's always, a BIG argument about, this subject ! Personally, I KNOW that, a smooth, shiny, de-burred barrel, cleans easier and holds onto LESS, Fouling, Copper and Lead, deposits ! Therefore, I always, polish & lap, all my New, Factory Guns or, un-lapped Barrels. I carefully and smoothly push, a Brush with Patch on it, slathered with, JB's about, 10 strokes thru the Bore to, de-burr the Lands & smooth out, the freshly cut, Throat, area. I remove the Brush after going thru the bore and do NOT pull it, backwards, then thoroughly clean, bbl. with 91% Alcohol and Dry Patches ( using NO, Oil ! ) My Green Mountain Barrel has produced groups from, the .3's to .5's at, 50 yards, AFTER, a good "Break in period" of using, SK+ and Wolf Match ammo of 30 rounds of shoot and, CLEAN/ repeated, 3 times ! I believe that, by lapping / polishing, using THIS method, I was able to, use less ammo during, the "Break in" to achieve this, level of accuracy. Green Mountain says that you need to, shoot / clean every 10 rounds for, 200 shots ( PIA ). You can read, "Bedding the 10-22" for Info on, how I bedded, this barrel. THIS method has made my 10-22 Ruger, "Sporter Barrel" shoot almost to, "Match Level" Bull barrel, accuracy ! Remember that, I have, a 5 1/2 pound, Hunting/ carry Rifle with, a 2x7 scope and, a 2 1/4 pound pull, trigger. Good luck, they are, awesome and reasonably priced, Barrels, IMHO !

 

[js2013]

My GM is very ammo picky. Most of the cheaper ammo didn’t shoot worth a darn. A few would tease me, one lot would be decent the other junk. Kept moving up in quality till I got to centerx which always shot good regardless of lot (at least so far). Below are a few from my last time out at 100 yards from a bench (I’m not a bench shooter). Considering the price point I’m happy (now that I found a load).

This all started because I was curious, and thought it might be fun, to see if a 10/22 could be made into a semi decent position rifle. I put it in a maple laminate stock (Richards had them on sale) and added an adjustable cheek, handrail, and adj butt. I did the trigger (figured if I goofed it up I’d just get a Kidd). Glued in the barrel, bedded the action and the barrel to the balance point. The barrel is acting like one that’ll get better the more it’s shot but only time will tell.

 

[js2013]

I’ve ordered quite a few blanks from them over the years and have been very pleased with them. No they’re not a premium blanks but the bore dimensions have been very consistent over time and overall quality is very good especially for their price. With some work they can be a real shooter. There customer service is very good as well.

Zeke - thanks for the detailed GM info above but tell me more if you'd be so kind. I'm especially interested in their 10/22 barrels. With the GM price point it makes sense they're not premium but what keeps them from being premium? Is it they're not lapped, or chatter marks, chambering, or ...? How do they look through a bore scope.

 

[zeke06]

The reasons I don’t consider them a premium barrel are that they are not lapped and I doubt their quality control is as strict. GM states that they do air gauge their bores but what is their tolerance range compared to other barrel makers? Their bores look okay for a unlapped bore. I haven’t had one that I couldn’t lap almost all the machining marks out and still have good bore dimensions or wash out the edges of the lands.
I don’t know exactly how they are chambering their 10/22 barrels but with how many they sell I doubt they’re dialing them within a couple tenths(.0001)