OK, I've been shooting Lothar Walther match program barrels in 6.5 X 284 for years and I don't see myself changing makers. Every L-W barrel has been phenominally accurate, the first chambered with a Clymer reamer and subsequent barrels chambered with one of Dave Kiffs M-42 tool steel no turn neck tight chamber reamers with floating pilot bushings.
Chambering one means the use of a much higher speed than normally used, 300 rpm is a good place to start, and the use of a highly sulferized cutting oil. The M-42 tool steel reamer seems to cut very well. Conversly the L-W steel crowns up very nicely, and threads cut very well too.
Finding a smith can be difficult. I had several well known smiths flatly refuse to work with the L-W stainless. So here's a plug for Mickey Coleman of Greenville Alabama who chambered up my last two barrels and got the chambers to within .0004" of each other. And cut real pretty chambers too. Top notch work at more than reasonable prices. Plus he lives within driving distance for me since I can just drop my stuff off. Let's just say I hate to ship having had a rifle get stolen once years back. And by the way, Mickey is real good people.
Anyhow, uniformity from barrel to barrel,chambered with the same reamer) is excellent, no change in accuracy with the same load.
Now there are plenty of folks who will argue against L-W barrels, a lot of it comes from the fact it is difficult to work with, and some of it seems to come from plain uninformed opinion. The old saw "it isn't on the winning equipment list" which is really a reflection of no one trying anything new or different.
I only offer opinions on equipment and/or services that I have personally owned and/or used, I figure that makes it a valid opinion. If someone tries to tell my about something the first thing I asked is how much did it cost them to buy it, and it's amazing how often folks offering "expert" opinions have never in fact owned and used whatever it is they are offering up "expert" opinions on.
And as far as winning equipment goes, my rig has been there, done that.
I have or have had barrels from A&M, Douglas, Hart, Shilen, Lilja, Kreiger that were all excellent barrels, one or two from Lilja and Hart that were super barrels. Every L-W match barrel I've had has been in the super barrel catagory. You know the kind of barrel, where the only way you can screw up at a match is to think too much and do something stupid. Been there done that too.
Just keep in mind that more than anything else top quality smithing is required to make any barrel from any maker reach it's actual potential, and I've had more than one barrel wasted over the years by poor smithing. A good smith is worth his weight in gold.
