New shooter/rig in 7mm wsm Krieger or Douglas ??

[befus]

Greetings-First time poster and in need of advice. I have friends who have gotten the long range bug and all have 6.5/284 rigs they had built and one 257 Weatherby. I think four of the five have Douglas barrels and actions are either Savage 110's or Rem. 700's. None are competition guns and all were built with friendly weekend 4-600 yard shoots, or long range prairie dog hunting in mind. They have about got me convinced to join them and I am currently gathering info on some things I have researched online.

Never being a follower, I have decided to get a 7mm WSM based on some pretty glowing reports I have read. I bought a Savage 110 action today and now need some advice on the barrel. They have sent the actions to Douglas and had the barrels installed and seem pleased. I read good things about Krieger barrels and they will also install them on the action, etc. I want a #9 or straight benchrest barrel, and I also note Krieger will flute them reasonably. What think ye, Kreiger or Douglas? Any other comments welcomed.

 

[smike308]

I think you have answered the question already. You said you aren't a follower. Go with the Krieger and never look back. Your chances of getting a great barrel increase with the Krieger. Note that I didn't say you can't get a great Douglas barrel, just that you stack the odds in your favor with a Krieger. The last two barrels I ordered were Krieger and have been extremely pleased with them,FWIW). Look up some of the 1,000yd match results online and check the equipment lists and I think you will see what is winning matches.

 

[Forum Boss]

Krieger and a good chambering job, and you'll be happy.

My question is--what is the purpose of this rifle. If it's just for "fun shoots" out to 600 yards and prarie dog shooting, I think you'd be happier with a smaller caliber than 7 WSM. It will cost less to load and shoot, it will be kinder to your shoulder, and the barrel should last longer.

For me, 7 WSM is for 1000 yard BR, or elk-hunting. For varminting and paper punching out to 600, "less is more."

For a gun that's shot from a bench or field table, I'd also avoid fluting. There are about 20 things that can happen when you flute a barrel and only one of them is good,weight reduction). Something like a 27-28" that's .8-.9" at the muzzle should be fine.

 

[Jeffvn]

I agree that your chances of getting a good barrel increase when you go with Kreiger over Douglas. I have and shoot a Kreiger barrel in my 7WSM,AMU Contour). It is a sweet shooting. low coppering, and easy cleaning barrel. Excellent choice. If you like cut-rifled barrels,Kreiger is a cut-rifled barrel), also have a look at the Bartlein barrels, they are GTG, as is Mike Rock.

JeffVN

 

[Spotcheck_Billy]

I'd vote for Krieger. Because a Krieger barrel is cut rifled you won't see any negative effects from having Krieger flute it. Fluting can be a problem with button rifled barrels if not properly stress relieved. IIRC, he stress relieves his barrels twice. First before and again after machining.

 

[chomondely]

Krieger. Mine is set up as a hunting rifle. .3 inch group at 100yds with 150 gr Barnes Triple Shock. very effective on elk, deer and antelope. Most other hunting load,s 140 gr Sierra or 160 Barnes shoot .5 inch less. Nosler Accubonds in either the 140 or 160 gr are very accurate, .3 or .4 inch groups is the norm. Very rare to shoot any load over an inch. The barrel broke in fast, almost no copper now even with the Barnes bullet and over 700 rds down the barrel.

 

[BillK]

I use a krieger 1:9 barrel for my 7wsm. It shoots real well!!!
I have talked to guys that shoot this cartridge also and they say krieger is the only way to go for a barrel. I now use a Bartlein barrel in one of my 6.5wssms and I would be tempted to try one for my 7wsm in the future. I would go for the 4 groove Bartlein if I go that way next time. I may step the twist up to a 1:8.5 also!!!

 

[billmo]

befus, go with the krieger. You will not be disappointed. I have one of their fluted 1 - 8 twist 28" barrels on a 6 X 47 Shehane and it is very easy to clean. No copper hardly at all during break-in. Accurate too. I'm no BR shooter but I have shot a .991 at 500 yds. with Berger 105 gr. VLDs and I'm not really done with load development yet. Bill

 

[M700]

Have had great results with Krieger barrels - but I've never tried a Douglas so I can't really compare them.

I'll have to second the moderator though - in your post I read paper punching and prairie dogs... Sounds like 6mmBR stuff to me. I use the big 7's and .30's for hunting mule deer and elk.

Not that the 7 won't do well - but the smaller target/varmint cartridges excel at punching paper and/or varmints.

Regards, Guy

 

[Rust]

Well, I've had both. Douglas air gauge in CrMo and Kreiger in stainless. Not a nicl;s worth of dofference in the performance. I'd probably base the choice on price.