looking for a new barrel for my Savage BR

[favload]

I'm looking to buy one of those nifty drop in barrels for my Savage LRPV. I am impressed with the BR round so much I want to stick with it. This time one with a 1-8 twist. I have heard folks are backed up on orders for these barrels so I am looking for advise on a brand and dealer to go through. Not sure if things have slowed down or not. I know many have said you can't go wrong with any of the custom barrels but I am looking for the best possible one I can find. I have narrowed it down to McGowen or Shilen. Pac-nor and Douglas seem to not be spoken of as highly or at least as consistantly. Anyway, if anyone knows who might have one in stock or can speak to the quality of one of the above I would appreciate it. Also, when I order one can I get it any length I want or are they a standard length?
thanks
jer

 

[tommyt]

Hart or shilen. bartelin

 

[300rumfan]

I have some experience with the shilen drop in barrel and they shoot very well. Drop in barrels come in predetermined lengths of around 27". I think midway keeps them in stock but an internet search for savage barrels will have more listings than just them I bet.

 

[jo191145]

Have you tried Jim Briggs? According to his stock of three days ago he has a McGowen Bull 28" 8 twist 6BR Large shank in stock.

It seems he's out of Shilen large shanks at this time.
I prefer Shilen myself. If you buy a barrel from anyone "in stock" your stuck with whatever chamber/freebore they chose.

If you order direct you can get just about anything you desire.
The price will be higher and the wait is long.

 

[habu]

I recently purchased a almost brand new SAVAGE F-CLASS gun in 6br. the barrel has just under 100 rds through it. i bought the gun for the action and want to sell the stock and barrel [am building an alum. stock to make an F-T/R GUN IN 308]

it's a 1-8 twist barrel and stock is F-OPEN and gray.

make me an offer i can't refuse and you have a deal.

ronhermspnw@aol.com

ron herms

 

[chino1969]

I have Pac Nor barrels as well as Douglas for my Savage and they are both very good barrels. My next will probably be a Bartlein or McGowan, just to be able to compare. Don't hesitate on a Pac Nor or a Douglas. There are way too many followers in this game; try things yourself and take a few chances. I also have Hart and Kreiger barrels; so I've tried most of them and can't honestly say that any one is the very best.
Chino69

 

[gpoldblue]

depends if you are satisfied with SAMMI chamber. if you want custom chamber, Pac-Nor does not custom chamber. i have a LRPV .223 will be getting a Shilen because they will custom chamber for a .246 nk. SAMMI=.253"-.254". all these barrels made today are excellent. the real difference is in "WHO" chambers it. the chamber will make you or break you. goldblue@yahoo.com

 

[chino1969]

depends if you are satisfied with SAMMI chamber. if you want custom chamber, Pac-Nor does not custom chamber. i have a LRPV .223 will be getting a Shilen because they will custom chamber for a .246 nk. SAMMI=.253"-.254". all these barrels made today are excellent. the real difference is in "WHO" chambers it. the chamber will make you or break you. goldblue@yahoo.com

You can send your reamer to Pac Nor, as I did for my .243 A.I. .270 nd. or take a look at their reamer prints.
Chino69

 

[284driver]

Kreiger barrels are nice, but i had to wait 15 weeks on mine

 

[tenring]

Call the Savage expert, Fred Moreno. He chambered a 6.5-284 Douglas barrel for me that shot extremely well. He is at:
http://www.sharpshootersupply.com/

 

[favload]

How good is extremely well? What size chamber did you get. Currently my 26" factory 1:12,.272 neck) Savage barrel shoots .3-.5 consistantly at 100-150 yds. I would like to see .3 or better all the time from my new barrel.
thanks

 

[memilanuk]

http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/6mmbr/vpost?id=2934483

 

[chino1969]

Kreiger barrels are nice, but i had to wait 15 weeks on mine

The next time try Brunos. He usually has Kreigers in stock.
Chino69

 

[vmthtr]

depends if you are satisfied with SAMMI chamber. if you want custom chamber, Pac-Nor does not custom chamber. i have a LRPV .223 will be getting a Shilen because they will custom chamber for a .246 nk. SAMMI=.253"-.254". all these barrels made today are excellent. the real difference is in "WHO" chambers it. the chamber will make you or break you. goldblue@yahoo.com

I sent a dummy round and they chambered to my case, did and excellent job or it I might add.

Mike

 

[Rustystud]

fayload:

There are many options out there today. In my opinion the pre- fit barrels are fine, but a custom fit barrel and a trued and timed action are a step above. You might give a hard look at Broughton, Krieger, Lilja, Hart, RockCreek, Brux, Bartlein, Shilen, and others for a barrel blank. You can't beat a barrel that is setup, turned, threaded, and chambered in the same setup. Many prefit barrels are set up for turning, and threading and then set up in another operation for the chambering. Some prefit barrels are threaded with a geometric threading head and not single point threaded. Some prefit barrel chambers are cut with little regard to coaxial and concentric alighnment. They can't produce the same quality because of the cost in time and tooling. Very few prefit barrels are of crucible steel and tripple and quadruple stress relieved. Many are not double lapped. You pay more up front but you get more down the road.

You often hear someone say his rifle is a real shooter. One should look at their criterior. Some folks think a great group is a 3 shot group under .5. Some folks think a 10 shot group under .3 is acceptable. Some expect their 5 shot groups need to be under .2. There athers who are happy hitting a coke cant at 35 yards.

If you look at the match results you can pretty quickly figure out what is the state of the art in the market.

Good Luck
Rustystud

 

[favload]

I would like to know what I could expect sending in my Savage target action to be trued etc. I don't have the single shot version so I don't know how much to expect. I agree in the above about machine set up playing a huge factor in a barrel. The fewer times it is put into a chuck the better. I spoke to the folks at McGowen today and was told they could have me a barrel in 3-4 weeks. Thats not bad compared to 12-16 for a Shilen through barrel man. Shilen did not return my email yet about turn around time. MCGowen did. I don't know what type of steel or procedures they use in their pre fits but I do know they use SAMMI spec reamers unless you supply one. I also know they cost about $50 more than the Shilens. I would love to hear how they compare for a pre fit. Again, if its not going to be an improvement over the factory tube I can't see spending the money. I would be hoping for .2-.3" accuracy all day long at minimum. I know folks say barrels are hit or miss, some are good some are bad through everyone but I think if a company specializes in barres and charge $300 and a month or more wait they should all be in the money.
Is there much of a difference in 6BR barrel life between different barrels? I'm not sure even what to expect in my factory barrel? I hear different figures from 600 to 2500. What's the real deal if the loads are kept below 3100fps or so.
thanks for the feed back