How accurate a semi auto shoots

[bow shot]

…and I gotta say, a $140 stainless blank has got to climb a considerable expense heap as you invest time and expertise into turning it from a rifled tube into a Good rifle barrel? If you have 10 hours into it, @ $30/hr… not you are up there a tad.

Now add marketing, shipping, insurance.

I get paid a lot less than $30/hr., BTW, lol!!

 

[M14AMU]

I've 'cleaned' the 300 yard NRA HP target several times with high X count whereby all ten shots would fit under a 3" spotter!! That was shooting the NM M14 with LC issued match ammo.

 

[jscandale]

I sell that same barrel all day for $365, any contour. 10 hours??? Yikes! Granted, there is quite a bit more work in an AR barrel than there is in a bolt gun barrel, but not 10 hours.

JS

 

[Finney]

DPMS LR308 24" barrel
44gr Varget
165gr SGK loaded as long as mag allows
100yds 5shots
Harris bipod & rear bag

 

[bow shot]

So I can go right now on Midway, by a DPMS pencil barrel and expect it to shoot as well as the JP, or a Kreiger, or Shilen. Correct?

 

[bow shot]

Does that $365 include the BCG, Brake and Gas block?

 

[jscandale]

Does that $365 include the BCG, Brake and Gas block?

No, but it does include a brown box, a wink and a smile.
I sell most of these barrels to shooters who participate in NRA hipower rifle competition where muzzle breaks are not permitted.

JS

 

[jscandale]

So I can go right now on Midway, by a DPMS pencil barrel and expect it to shoot as well as the JP, or a Kreiger, or Shilen. Correct?

You have taken a leap here that I just can't comment on without also taking a leap.

JS

 

[stool]

you are mixing apples and oranges...
kreiger and shilen MANUFACTURE bbls from bbl stock.
jp and dpms SELL bbls MADE by bbl makers.

jp has a great rep i doubt they sell crap. but it is just a name on someone else's bbl..and till you know WHO'S bbl you really do not know.

So I can go right now on Midway, by a DPMS pencil barrel and expect it to shoot as well as the JP, or a Kreiger, or Shilen. Correct?

You have taken a leap here that I just can't comment on without also taking a leap.

JS

 

[bow shot]

Ok, folks, I guess I'm adrift here…

I don't see what I said wrong by calling a JP (or Shilen, or whatever super-wham-o brand) product "premium", if comparatively, a DPMS or whatever "budget" brand that comes form who-knows-where" is going to take a leap of faith for accuracy expectation.

FYI, all my group shooting is prone, bipod in front, bag in the back. My groups are never from a bench rest.

Here's one from my beloved 6.5x55 '94 Mauser Swede that incidentally, wears a pain Jane (furnished by the old Kimber?) barrel. One fouler/sighter, then 3 shots, no waiting. "Awful" bullets for the app., btw, 85 gn sierra varminters, LOL!!:

 

[bow shot]

And the point: If I'm going to put a barrel on a gun, and I don't want to spend twice, I'd rather just find a "premium" supplier. I don't care how its cut. I want it lapped.

I know I may be blessed with a "poor" barrel that shoots GREAT ( ie., the 6.5x55 Swede), but I'd rather decrease the odds, and just buy one from a supplier that has a good reputation (ie., the 6.5 Grendel).

 

[stool]

yes you were adrift when you claimed a marketed bbl of unknown maker was a PREMIUM bbl.....

jp is , as i said a well known source, but just because stuff cost more does not mean it is premium....

was it better than a std pencil bbl yes....but is it better than my kreiger or my hart bbls???? maybe not

 

[bow shot]

huh.. Ok.

'googling around it looks like they are made by Wilson. So far looks that way.

 

[RvdB]

A ar15. Is as accurate as a bolt action, A dynamic arms research custom shoots like this

 

[jscandale]

huh.. Ok.

'googling around it looks like they are made by Wilson. So far looks that way.

Wilson makes a good barrel. They make a lot of them and do not advertise as they do lots of oem production like Green Mountain. The only thing about Wilson that I don't like is having to take the extra step of turning them between centers prior to grabbing them in a chuck, but it is no reflection on their quality.

If that is the case about JP/Wilson, then JP, like many others in the industry, including myself, take the blanks and contour them in house for their own production needs. JP has always had a good reputation which allows them to fetch the prices that they ask for. Excellent marketing position for JP. As long as they keep up the good work and tight quality control, they'll continue to get the asking price from the general public. It's part of what makes America great.

The only mass producer that does some OEM work that I don't have a whole lot of experience with is ER Shaw. I have chambered one of their barrels in .223 on request with excellent results, as purported by the end user. I have heard a lot of badmouthing on this forum about ER Shaw, but can neither confirm or deny the allegations.

In conclusion, I think that we can deduce that a premium barrel blank is one that performs well if machined properly and a premium processed barrel is one that is comprised of a good blank and machine practice in order to preform in the field.

This has been a good discussion

JS

 

[bow shot]

'Aye!