lothar walther barrels

[pahog]

I've had 2 a 260Rem that shot lights out and cleaned like a dream and a 1-14" 6BR that shot many fantastic groups.

 

[Rust]

Been using LW barrels for years, the match program barrels have been exceptionally accurate in 6.5 X 284, .308 and .223. A standard production barrel in .223 was as accurate as the factory barrel that came off the 700 VS-SF, a little more than 1/4 moa with a good handload.

Never had any trouble with my orders, received them within the stated time.

Have to say my last smith did not especially like chambering the LW-50, but he did a fine job none the less.

 

[Laurie]

So far as competition rifles are concerned, LW stainless barrels see considerable use in continental Europe, rather less in the UK. There are more than a few of their barrels on the F-Class rifles that appear in the European F-Class Championship meeting at Bisley each autumn.

John Carmmichael, a partner in HPS-TR Limited uses LW barrels in his 7mmWSM F rifles and is regularly at the top of the leader board in GB F-Class Association league rounds also winning many individual stages in recent years. HPS is a UK importer for the barrels, so his choice isn't too surprising, but it shows they can perform very well in a tough competitive environment. I have a vague memory that John held the GBFCA 1,000 yard F-Class 20-round match record score for a little while maybe three years ago using one of his rifles - RPA action, HPS-TR System Gemini chassis stock and LW barrel.

 

[Rustystud]

I never used their barrels. I met their rep at the shot show a few years ago. It did not take long for him to insult me both as a gunsmith and as an American. I would not buy their products based on their attitude. We have some great barrel makers here in America.
Nat Lambeth

 

[pahog]

I never used their barrels. I met their rep at the shot show a few years ago. It did not take long for him to insult me both as a gunsmith and as an American. I would not buy their products based on their attitude. We have some great barrel makers here in America.
Nat Lambeth

That's good to know, I wouldn't take a free one then. I am friend's with a local Gunsmith, he work's non-stop all day long, answer's 25+ phone calls a day out of the hundred he gets, hardly see's his family or has any time for himself. Just so he can make a living and keep up with his lead times he promises. I'm sure you know the feeling Nate, I respect you for what you do and your opinion. Thanks you make America a better place.

 

[WILDBIO.26]

Not that you need any new information. You have some two dozen posts already.

But, I happen to have two custom rifles that sport Lother Walther barrels: 1) A remington 700 in .300 Win and 2) an '09 Argentine action chambered for 9.3x62. They are very purpose built guns. Hunting is the game here. I have heard from several smiths and shooters that Walther uses excellent steel and alloys in their barrels. While, I agree with others that they may not be the perfect choice for benchrest competition, they will more than suffice for a hunting rifle. My .300 actually shoots sub 1" groups with factory loads, regularly; one group measures .502" (I can prove these claims, I keep my targets). As for the 9.3, I had the barrel finished at 23" with a barrel band sling stud and adjustable safari type sights (banded front sight). Up top I have a 2.5X Lyman Alaskan with a German Post retical. Simple, effective for all types of big game. The first time I sighted it in at 100yds it punched about a 1" group. Very good for a set-up like this, if you ask me.

Given the caliber you plan to chamber for, and what it will be used for, I highly doubt that you will be unhappy. Don't let some of the Elites persuade you into thinking that anything less than a Shilen, Brux., Hart, etc. is necessary for your needs. Consider this: Most people cannot shoot well enough in a hunting situation to ring out the maximum potential of benchrest barrels, anyway; therefore, there is no justification, save for the right applications. Furthermore, hunting situations rarely allow for, or give just cause for the need of sub MOA accuracy.

As mentioned before in other posts, LW has excellent quality control; much higher than say... uhmm, Douglas (IMHO). I think you will be very happy. I highly recommend LW barrels. I have not bee disappointed. For the money, they are absolutely unbeatable.

Regards,

Matt

 

[butchlambert]

Matt,
I agree with the majority of your post. My 9.3X62 Peruvian small ring is one of if not my favorite. Very accurate with little recoil.

 

[Robert]

Matt,
I agree with the majority of your post. My 9.3X62 Peruvian small ring is one of if not my favorite. Very accurate with little recoil.

Butch,

I have not posted before here as I had trouble with connecting. To reply to one of your earlier questions, the steel used by LW is not 17-4/630, but a specially elaborated 420. Hereunder a few datas to compare to the free-machining 416.
-The 416, supplied in annealed condition, is about:
Brinell Hardness : 170-175
Rm: 630-650MPa
Modulus of Elasticity: 200Gpa.
Thermal conductivity: 25W/m-k

-While the 420 is:
Brinell Hardness 205
Rm: 725Mpa
Modulus of Elasticity: 200GPa.
Thermal conductivity: 25W/m-k

R.G.C

 

[flatlander]

If I'm not mistaken, Desert Tactical Arms uses LW barrels, at least for the SRS line of conversion kits. I've only had one of these - in 6.5x47 - and it shot very well - with one load. Spent quite a bit of time trying to get it to shoot with several of the loads that shoot very well in Bartlein & Krieger bbls on a couple of my other 6.5x47s, but this one would only shoot well with 4007 SSC & Lapua 123 Scenars. It copper fouled worse than either the Bartlein or Krieger, too. Must be more-or-less an exception to the rule, since other DTA SRS owners I know have had fine accuracy out of their LW OEM bbls.

 

[p-man]

I have a "non-stainless" LW barrel that we'll call CM for the sake of discussion, that is over 25 years old - I have never seen fit to blue or coat it. It stains more than SS but it has absolutely no rust on it. I suspect the LW CM steel has some nickel in it, not to the extent that stainless alloys have but enough to deter corrosion better than regular CM.

 

[butchlambert]

Heard all this good stuff and have no problems with the barrels them self, but please reference any winners. I saw one driven into the ground with a sledge hammer. I have no photo, so it means it may not have happened. Just like the Weaver scope that was placed on the ground in Midland and ran over,Purposely, by a fellow shooter. Saw Gary do it, but didn't photograph it.

 

[its only light]

I could shoot a lothar Walther barrel in competition that was capable of one inch groups at 1000 yards and loose everytime. For real I would loose everytime. I don't have the gun but what does winning really say. I wonder how many people have tried them and how many of those people tried them in competition? I know CZ uses them on their 550 high energy magnum 338 and 300 win mag models. I would guess others as well I just can't say that for sure. I doubt they would slum it on a barrel on one of their high end models. I don't even own one. My buddy put a pre fit on his 700 last year and with minimal load work was getting .2 groups at 100 and a 1.5 at 400. We aren't pro shooters we shoot prairie dogs from as far away as we can. Maybe if we were I would think differently about it?

 

[butchlambert]

I could shoot a lothar Walther barrel in competition that was capable of one inch groups at 1000 yards and loose everytime. For real I would loose everytime. I don't have the gun but what does winning really say. I wonder how many people have tried them and how many of those people tried them in competition? I know CZ uses them on their 550 high energy magnum 338 and 300 win mag models. I would guess others as well I just can't say that for sure. I doubt they would slum it on a barrel on one of their high end models. I don't even own one. My buddy put a pre fit on his 700 last year and with minimal load work was getting .2 groups at 100 and a 1.5 at 400. We aren't pro shooters we shoot prairie dogs from as far away as we can. Maybe if we were I would think differently about it?

I'll leave this alone!

 

[firearmdoc1]

1 inch at 1000 yards? : please tell me your joking!I don't shoot competition in any way, but I would put money on it that many competitors could only dream about something like that.I don't care who's barrel you use, I'm calling BS on this one.

 

[its only light]

I didn't claim to be shooting 1" groups at 1000. did you read the post? It was to make a point that what's winning isn't always what's best, maybe its who is best or maybe even lucky. I could shoot a gun that shot 1" at 1000yds groups and still loose. What's that say? Sure wouldn't be the barrel. I don't compete either, I said that above and I also said I don't have the gun. Maybe you misunderstood

 

[firearmdoc1]

My apologies, I did in fact misunderstand the post.

 

[Beau]

Heard all this good stuff and have no problems with the barrels them self, but please reference any winners. I saw one driven into the ground with a sledge hammer. I have no photo, so it means it may not have happened.

Are you angling for a free barrel or what?

 

[butchlambert]

Why would I want a LW even if it were free? If somebody sees this and sends me one, give me your address and I will forward it to you for the cost of shipping.

 

[Trapper243]

Heard all this good stuff and have no problems with the barrels them self, but please reference any winners.

A guy with an apple orchard called up one day and ground squirrels were eating his entire crop. The squirrels would not touch roden bait. trapping would work, but I needed to speed things up a bit. A lothar walthar equiped .22 did its job and the problem was taken care of. The guy with the apples, was a Winner ! 8)

 

[Ackman]

Heard all this good stuff and have no problems with the barrels them self, but please reference any winners.

A guy with an apple orchard called up one day and ground squirrels were eating his entire crop. The squirrels would not touch roden bait. trapping would work, but I needed to speed things up a bit. A lothar walthar equiped .22 did its job and the problem was taken care of. The guy with the apples, was a Winner ! 8)

Before getting any LW barrels guess I should'a first searched out some of them benchrest "winner" fellas and asked. Too late now. My best farm is alfalfa and infested with squirrels. Everytime I 22Mag one of them when there's just a head sticking out of the hole....or thread the needle between two boards, makes me feel like a winner. Everytime there's a rockchuck laying up there on a flat on boulder, peering at me 300yds away with just the top of it's head and eyes showing.....and I explode it with 22-250AI.....that makes me feel like a winner too.