Just how good are Douglas Barrels ?

[lotech]

I've had barrels by many different makers that have all shot well, but have more Douglas barrels than others. IN 1965, I had a pre-War Model 70 .30-06 with a bad barrel rebarreled and chambered for the then popular .25-06 wildcat cartridge.

The barrel is a 26" varmint weight and the rifle probably weighs 10 lbs. with scope. Loads used in the '60s were pretty warm (maybe a little hotter than today's recommendations) and centered around the 87 and 100 Sierras, always with H4831 surplus powder. My rifle has been fired a lot in fifty-six years and still shoots accurately. I borescoped it some years ago and I think it showed some throat erosion, but not enough to adversely affect accuracy.

 

[searcher]

We shot Douglas CM barrels on our match M-14's in the Navy. Made Master shooting one!

Seems to me the M-40A1 sniper rifles I used in 1980 had Douglas barrels installed on them by the armorers in-shop at Quanitico. I never shot a bad M-40A1, I can tell you that. Every one that I shot would do 1/2" MOA as I recall and per my notes from range sessions. Doesn't sound too thrilling - but keep in mind that was shooting Lake City Match ammo - not hand loads tuned to each rifle and only a 10X Unertyl scope, nor off a bench rest. Honestly - just don't know how much better (on average) any other barrel maker would be shooting the Lake City Match. I think you would be happy. Back then - to be able to pick a rifle off the rack and use boxed ammo and know it would shoot that good was a much bigger deal then than it is today. I'm guessing these improvements in rifle and ammo components are what led the Marines to choose a factory gun as their new sniper rifle. Never thought I'd see that.

 

[Stan Taylor]

Seems to me the M-40A1 sniper rifles I used in 1980 had Douglas barrels installed on them by the armorers in-shop at Quanitico. I never shot a bad M-40A1, I can tell you that. Every one that I shot would do 1/2" MOA as I recall and per my notes from range sessions. Doesn't sound too thrilling - but keep in mind that was shooting Lake City Match ammo - not hand loads tuned to each rifle and only a 10X Unertyl scope, nor off a bench rest. Honestly - just don't know how much better (on average) any other barrel maker would be shooting the Lake City Match. I think you would be happy. Back then - to be able to pick a rifle off the rack and use boxed ammo and know it would shoot that good was a much bigger deal then than it is today. I'm guessing these improvements in rifle and ammo components are what led the Marines to choose a factory gun as their new sniper rifle. Never thought I'd see that.

Thanks for your service and the report about the M-40A1.

 

[David Milisock]

Seems to me the M-40A1 sniper rifles I used in 1980 had Douglas barrels installed on them by the armorers in-shop at Quanitico. I never shot a bad M-40A1, I can tell you that. Every one that I shot would do 1/2" MOA as I recall and per my notes from range sessions. Doesn't sound too thrilling - but keep in mind that was shooting Lake City Match ammo - not hand loads tuned to each rifle and only a 10X Unertyl scope, nor off a bench rest. Honestly - just don't know how much better (on average) any other barrel maker would be shooting the Lake City Match. I think you would be happy. Back then - to be able to pick a rifle off the rack and use boxed ammo and know it would shoot that good was a much bigger deal then than it is today. I'm guessing these improvements in rifle and ammo components are what led the Marines to choose a factory gun as their new sniper rifle. Never thought I'd see that.

I agree with you on the quality of newer rifles. It's now possible to get factory 1/2" auto loadering rifles using factory ammo. The cost can be under $1,500.00.

From experience shooting 1/2" groups in the field is nothing to sneeze at! While I appreciate all the benefits we get from bench rest shooters field shooting and especially field shooting under duress is not a game.

 

[JEFFPPC]

I agree with you on the quality of newer rifles. It's now possible to get factory 1/2" auto loadering rifles using factory ammo. The cost can be under $1,500.00.

From experience shooting 1/2" groups in the field is nothing to sneeze at! While I appreciate all the benefits we get from bench rest shooters field shooting and especially field shooting under duress is not a game.

David I agree with you,100 percent. I don't speak from experience as I was never under fire on a battlefield but I shake my head at the wanna he's. In my opinion the are both ignorant and stupid. All we can hope is that if put in that situation we are able to perform. To want to be there..........thats duress I can live without.

 

[David Milisock]

David I agree with you,100 percent. I don't speak from experience as I was never under fire on a battlefield but I shake my head at the wanna he's. In my opinion the are both ignorant and stupid. All we can hope is that if put in that situation we are able to perform. To want to be there..........thats duress I can live without.

I certainly enjoy my grandchildren. However I do believe there's something as a natural shooter. I've worked with guys that are not very good performers on the range but in the field it's another story. After working loads I only practice field shooting.

 

[SQ54]

@Stan Taylor check PM’s

 

[Stan Taylor]

First an for most thanks to the OP that started this post I’m old enough to retire but this is one of the main reasons I don’t retire I enjoy helping the guys in the shooting world.
This is from one of our recent customers.

I just found out today this buck kill was at 1055 yds with the 300PRC cartridge don’t know the bullet used.
His rifle.

 

[Retired Grunt]

First an for most thanks to the OP that started this post I’m old enough to retire but this is one of the main reasons I don’t retire I enjoy helping the guys in the shooting world.
This is from one of our recent customers.
View attachment 1295991

have retired twice, it's not all that it's cut out to be. My wife is high maintenance and I have expensive hobbies

 

[SSL]

have retired twice, it's not all that it's cut out to be. My wife is high maintenance and I have expensive hobbies

Yep. Thinking about going back to work just to have some spare time.

 

[David Milisock]

Yep. Thinking about going back to work just to have some spare time.

Man, I hear you, more work now than when I worked!

 

[Twaynec]

My 2 Remington 700 single shots in 6.5x47 both are Douglas Barrels the heavy gun on the line is the rifle i shoot the head hunter course at thunder valley with..... over 3000 rnds in 4 yrs and still is a .5” moa rifle.
the other is a 20” sporter 4 groove ... both are tack drivers ... behind the ear shot on that buck this yr at 312 yds 1 shot 1 kill... buy Douglas with confidence!!

 

[Stan Taylor]

My 2 Remington 700 single shots in 6.5x47 both are Douglas Barrels the heavy gun on the line is the rifle i shoot the head hunter course at thunder valley with..... over 3000 rnds in 4 yrs and still is a .5” moa rifle.
the other is a 20” sporter 4 groove ... both are tack drivers ... behind the ear shot on that buck this yr at 312 yds 1 shot 1 kill... buy Douglas with confidence!!

Sweet and a nice buck to boot.

 

[SQ54]

This is my .338 Federal that Stan helped me with. I had ordered it threaded and chambered, contoured, and cut and crowned. He did that perfectly. It is a Remington #4, 21” long. After I had it rust blued, I had trouble getting it fitted to the action. Stan suggested I send it back to him and the gunsmith agreed with Stan. So here it is. If the stock looks familiar, that is because it is the same paint as the .308 I posted earlier in the thread. I like it! Anyway Stan had it together and back to me in just a few days. The groups below are from the first 15 rounds through the barrel. After getting on paper I had 7 shots left.

At 100 yds.

Of course I had to screw it up. The “flyer” is the second shot of the four shot group.
These groups were shot this afternoon. The load is 41.8 grs. of AR-Comp, which is the starting load. The bullet is the 200 gr. Speer. It is a great deer bullet. I will likely go up on the charge a little, but not much, as I am right where I want to be velocity wise. According to Speer, it is 2458 FPS.

The trigger is a Timney Elite Hunter.

Remington, are you watching?

 

[WEL]

Does Douglas have a website? Nothing comes up with a search.

 

[warrbuk]

Does Douglas have a website? Nothing comes up with a search.

Ultra-rifled Custom Precision Rifle Barrels

Douglas Barrels manufactures premium American ultra-rifled gun barrels that offer unmatched accuracy trusted by PRS, F-Class, hunters, and gun enthusiasts worldwide.

www.douglasbarrels.net

 

[troupe]

Got my second Douglas barrel ordered for a 6ARC build from Compass Lake today, looking forward to it. Thanks for the help Stan. Paul was very helpful and he told me he is going to have to call you, HaHa.

 

[redrockranger]

First an for most thanks to the OP that started this post I’m old enough to retire but this is one of the main reasons I don’t retire I enjoy helping the guys in the shooting world.
This is from one of our recent customers.
View attachment 1295991
I just found out today this buck kill was at 1055 yds with the 300PRC cartridge don’t know the bullet used.
His rifle.View attachment 1296135

 

[redrockranger]

Is that guy Chumlee ?

 

[searcher]

Thanks for your service and the report about the M-40A1.
View attachment 1295179

Nicely done! Semper Fi