How Do Douglas Barrel Stack Up in Today's Barrel-Making Universe?

[South Pender]

I know that Douglas has been making barrels for decades, and have discovered that one particular current semi-custom rifle producer uses them. I'm interested in acquiring a varmint-weight rifle (probably in .221, .222, or .223) with heavy (but not benchrest-heavy) barrel. One option is to specify another barrel-maker, but at an upcharge. So how do Douglas "match grade select stainless-steel" barrels perform in comparison with other barrels out there?

 

[savagedasher]

Douglas has probably made more barrels then the rest of the whole industry. His xx barrels are straighten and air gauged. I don't think they are lapped. Larry

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I havent seen one used in a br match in 15yrs. I use them on a few hunting guns a year as tim is a friend of mine and they shoot well. You just about have to turn the outside down before you finish it. It appears that they finish them with a threading tool at 12tpi

 

[LHSmith]

With a $70 adder for stainless steel, they have to be the most expensive barrel blanks out there. Also, the choice of contours leaves a lot to be desired - especially for BR. Add to the fact they are not lapped and never make the equipment lists....I see no incentive to use their barrels.

 

[bobm]

I own five of them all in 7-08. Three #3 contour 24" , one #5 26" and a #6 26". All are match grade SS and used in silhouette competition. The latter two have 5K rounds on them each and are still shooting great. I buy them in the FTC condition and final fit them myself. I will buy Douglas again when the time comes.

 

[matthias]

i have had good luck with douglas barrels .

 

[ridgeway]

I havent seen one used in a br match in 15yrs. I use them on a few hunting guns a year as tim is a friend of mine and they shoot well. You just about have to turn the outside down before you finish it. It appears that they finish them with a threading tool at 12tpi

They are pretty popular in IBS 1K BR in this area.

 

[hogpatrol]

Had one Douglas in a 6BR, never again but had a bad Hart too. Employees come and employees go. Barrel quality comes and barrel quality goes. I stay with what's on top of the game now, not what was hot eons ago. Bartlein, Kreiger, Brux. YMMV.

 

[CaptainMal]

Used to use them all the time. Think that was in the 60's and 70's.

Few left on my rifles as I just never think to use them any more. Don't often shoot out my hunting rifles and when I do the price of a top barrel is not high enough to justify fooling around with Douglas.

 

[Jason Boersma]

I have one of Douglas's Stainless 30 caliber barrels that I just started working with for a 300WM 1000yd gun and I believe it is just as good as any barrel that I have ever had and their barrels are lapped. Through the borescope the inside looks great just like the other manufacturers and it quit copper fouling about the same time my other barrels did, 25 rounds. I will be trying other calibers in the future from them.

 

[areaone]

Installed a couple on two hunting rifles back in the 80's. They are ok, after looking at their web page and the pricing, it appears,they are more expensive than any other barrel maker out there. JMO. Rem varmint contour pricing for premium air guage SS approx $380.00

 

[watercam]

I have a carbon steel in .223 on a CZ 527 and it is stellar out to 600 yards. Under .5 moa in elevation at that range with Berger 70 VLDs. I loved being able to talk to the guy who was going to make the barrel, was very accommodating regarding special requests. WAS lapped and cleans very quickly. I did not find them over priced but have not checked the web site in a couple of years.

 

[th82457]

I have had two and they both shot as well as anything else I have tried.

 

[kjcpoint]

Had excellent results with there 20 cals.

 

[Killshot]

I used one two barrels ago on a F-Class Dasher. It shot very well at first, winning matches, but started opening up earlier in round count than the Brux's I've had before and after.

It was an XX air-gauged and it was lapped. It was a 6-groove, was something of a pain to clean.

Given their higher price I'm not a repeat customer. Stick with the three B's.

 

[jr600yd]

My experience with Douglas barrels goes back a lot of years to when I was shooting XTC and everyone had a M-1A. In my rifle I found both Krieger and Douglas barrels shot well. The difference appeared towards the end of the barrels life. The Krieger would through a flier on occasion and finally pattern like a shotgun. The Douglas would open up in group size more and more but not through fliers. Then again that was 20+ years ago.

 

[nmkid]

I purchased my first Douglas around 1974, (if I remember correctly) and I just had another installed about 1 year ago. The first, (.243) was an excellent shooter and this last one is just as good.

 

[stansrifles]

The prices that posters say are to high in price the price on the website is retail if you are a dealer you get a discount according to how many you buy the discount for dealers go up .
Stan

 

[K22]

In 2009 I had a Rem Model 700 223 rebarrel with a Douglas match barrel, 26", number 5 contour, 12" twist.

Mine shoots sub 1/4" moa groups with tailored reloads. However I'm a long range varmint hunting not a bench rest shooter but I've been very pleased with mine.

My riflesmith who's been building precision rifles for 30+ years swears by them.

 

[Cold Bore]

However I'm a long range varmint hunting not a bench rest shooter but I've been very pleased with mine.

I'm in the same boat.

A few thousands matter to some guys, but not me. Yes, I measure groups, and like the smaller numbers, but if I have a rifle that might've shot a .248" group, the groundhog certainly won't know that I would've lost a formal match to a guy shooting just a tad better. 8)

I have used a "few" over the years, and recently chose Douglas for two of my latest projects.

Douglas seems to be one of those names that polarize people. You have the old timers (Hey, I might fit into that group!), who have fond memories of the 60's and 70's, when there were few other choices, and just have never changed their ways. On the other hand, lots of times I've found that those that slam them are newer shooters, who learn everything they ever knew from the internet, and have never personally put a single round through one.

I have no qualms about using them.