Rate these barrels ....

[Marksman]

I'm currently shooting a 6mmAI Pac-nor barrel, and I'm just not satisfied with the accuracy I'm getting out of it. That being said, I'm already considering it's replacement, but having a hard time deciding. Which manufacturer would you go with for a fast 6mm? Thanks in advance.

Shilen
Hart
Lilja
Douglas
Kreiger
Try another Pac-nor

Or any other choices?

 

[Forum Boss]

Add the three Bs to your list: Bartlein, Broughton, and newcomer,for the centerfire world that is), Benchmark.

Which is best among the barrels on your list?

Richard Schatz just set a world record with a Krieger #17 contour .236 land 8-twist 6mm barrel, shooting Sierra 107s. He told me "ever since I spun on this Krieger the Dasher has been shooting like a house on fire". And Jason just shot another 5" group at 1000 with his 6BR Broughton barrel. And Mark King shot a 4" incher at Williamsport this weekend with a Broughton also.

Right now I would be VERY hard pressed to chose among the top 6 or 7 barrel makers. But I think you have to agree Krieger will be on the short list--then pick your favorite button rifling maker. Here is an interesting chart showing the top 20 Light Gun Small groups shot at Williamsport this year. Our own Jason Baney has two of the best 10:

 

[WayneShaw]

You know what they say about opinions.........

And it translates to the choice of barrels too!

Any of the mentioned makers can and do produce a fine barrel, with the exception of Douglas, simply because they do not lap their barrels. They can foul.

Each maker has access to the same steel, and the tooling is basically the same, and most of the custom barrel makers take as much time as needed to make the best they can. Lapping however, is an individual thing, since it is done by hand. There you can realize some differences. The final product and how it shoots depends on so many things, after it leaves the barrel makers shop.

I've had good and bad from about all of them. It's funny how one maker will, for a period of time, get all the "publicity" then fall out of favor for another. All it takes is someone winning a big match with brand "X", and everyone follows......

 

[mikecr]

It's simply herd mentality, clan lore, etc.
Truth is, there currently is no 'best' barrel maker. None better than another at all. This, because nobody can even define a 'best barrel'.

So regardless of maker, I would think the best barrels are those that happen to shoot the best. Could be your last Kreiger, or a Savage take-off you might throw away.

Chances are, most of the best barrels are never realized as such.

 

[Spotcheck_Billy]

Some barrel makers become known for their product in particular calibers and even for their dominance in certain competitive venues. You might find that 100-200 yard benchresters preferring barrels from a few barrel makers, while the LR crowd might be using products from completely different sources. Ditto for across-the-course shooters, etc.

I can strongly recommend the following, if only because I own barrels by these makers, shoot them regularly, and would buy them again -

Obermeyer
Bartlein
Border
Kreiger
Schneider
Hart

I didn't place these in any particular order but note that all but the last two are cut-rifled, which I tend to prefer. And that's fuel for a different thread.

 

[dreever]

Kreigers are cut rifled and cyro'd. They are also available in either .236 or .237. My personnel preference is for the .237 using fatter than normal .24310-.24335 bullets.
Works for me.

Danny

 

[chino1969]

I'm currently shooting a 6mmAI Pac-nor barrel, and I'm just not satisfied with the accuracy I'm getting out of it. That being said, I'm already considering it's replacement, but having a hard time deciding. Which manufacturer would you go with for a fast 6mm? Thanks in advance.

Shilen
Hart
Lilja
Douglas
Kreiger
Try another Pac-nor

Or any other choices?

I don't know that I would be quick to blame Pac Nor for the inaccuracy as I have three and they all shoot very well. I have a .243 A.I. that is not as accurate as I like but I'm beginning to think it's more the caliber than the barrel. The reason I bring this up is that I have three different .243 A.I. barrels from different barrel makers all reamed with my reamer. None of them are even close to my 6mm BR which shoots like a laser. They are all accurate, but not benchrest accurate, whereas my 6mm BR is benchrest accurate.
Chino69

 

[SlowpokeRodriguez]

I have or have had over time most of the tubes on your list but now use Krieger and have for the last couple of years save a couple of Bartliens that were less than successful. Just finished a Krieger that I am shooting in the Missouri IBS 1K State Championships this coming weekend which I have high hope for. My Smith who is a HOF shooter as well prefers the Krieger tubes so I continue to use them and have never gotten a bad one ever!!

 

[Preacher]

I have a few Pac-Nors and they shoot as good as any will, change if you must, but don't discount Pac-Nor either.....

 

[Bobs243Ackley]

Hello,

The advise from everyone has been right on the money. But to add my two bits worth, I have been very pleased with the Satern Cut Rifle barrel that I have been shooting on my .22BR. It cleans easily & has been averaging around .250" groups at 100 yards. This particular barrel has been a "fast" barrel since it is delivering faster velocities than I have expected with it as well. Satern is also one of the advertisers on the site which always makes it a consideration when they are supporting all of us.

Cordially,
Bob Blaine

 

[Marksman]

I don't know that I would be quick to blame Pac Nor for the inaccuracy as I have three and they all shoot very well. I have a .243 A.I. that is not as accurate as I like but I'm beginning to think it's more the caliber than the barrel. The reason I bring this up is that I have three different .243 A.I. barrels from different barrel makers all reamed with my reamer. None of them are even close to my 6mm BR which shoots like a laser. They are all accurate, but not benchrest accurate, whereas my 6mm BR is benchrest accurate.
Chino69

By no means do I expect that the Pac-nor barrel is junk. This was actually the third pac-nor I have had. I had one in 6mmbr and another in 250AI and they both will do 1/2 MOA easy, but my current 6mmAI barrel from them seems to be pretty testy. It cleans well, fouls little, but strugles to keep even 1 MOA. I will point out that I broke in with fireforming loads, and let the barrel cool down after EVERY shot. I don't believe this barrel is shot out, I just wonder if I would have been better off getting more grooves and lands, or change or twist, or otherwise. I will keep testing this barrel regardless, if not for anything else than to fireform brass before I decide on a new barrel.

 

[Jacob]

I just got a 6br with a Spencer barrel and it shoots very well and cleans up great. Had only about 10 rounds down the tube and produced this shooting in VERY HOT conditions. I'll get back out there when it cools down a little. Date on the picture is wrong. This was last month.

 

[Gman]

Just to throw in another manufacturer, don't count out Rock Creek Barrels. Mike Rock has been making cut rifled bbls. for quite a few years, and they are also hand lapped. His 5R rifling is known to be very easy to clean, and some short range BR shooters have been winning with Rock Creek.

 

[Mikem]

Im using a Pac-Nor now on my 6BR, and am quite happy with it, but if I were only getting 1.0 moa something is wrong. I dont think that's the most accurate caliber your shooting, but it should do better than that. And if it were me, I would do a lot of finger pointing at other things, before I blame the barrel.
It took me 4mo to work all of the kinks out of my 6BR, to get down to the .2s, but it wasnt the barrels fault. I like P.N. and will buy from them again.

 

[dsbw]

This is a very relevant threat for all of us on the last outpost,Namibia) in Africa. We use Border barrels from Scotland, mainly due to easier,less admin & red tape) access to them. I can see why you don't use them a lot in the US. Question: How do the borders stack up against the major US barrels, Bartlein, Kreiger, Hart, Shilen etc.??

Our results are quite fine with the Border, but the debate rages on........ would it be better to go with Kreiger, Bartlein etc., or do the Borders offer same quality/endurance?

 

[dsbw]

Thanks for the reply. If you say Border is superb I suppose they measure up well to the likes of Kreiger & Bartlein.There is a school of thought that says Border will not beat these for accuracy, & also not last that long.

I've had superb accuracy & lifetime from mine, but am not the worlds best shooter, therefore need to hear from the old hands.