Shilen Match VS Select Match barrels

[82boy]

I know this is a opinionated question, but has anyone ever seen a difference between a Match and a Select match barrel ? I have a couple of select match barrels, and thought about getting a match grade barrel. just wondering.

 

[therifler]

I was told years ago by the people at shilen. that the difference in group size would amount to 1/4" smaller with the select. I have always shot select for my bench guns for my hunting rifles i bulid with the match grade . The Rifler

 

[Thorbird]

I was told by shilen that the select match are of a better metal stock. Since the price is not much different, or used to be last I looked, I have just gone with the select match in the past and have not been disappointed.

 

[82boy]

Jim Briggs of Northland, told me that the barrels start out the same way with same materials. He stated that the difference was with the lapping process. He stated that they would take a barrel and lap it x amount of times, and if it passed inspection then it was a select match, if it did not pass then they would lap it again x amount of times, and check it, if it passed then it was a select match, if it did not, then they would lap it again, and if it passed inspection then it was a match barrel, if it did not pass then it was scrap.

My thought is, if you had x amount of each barrel would you notice a difference?

 

[Dgd6mm]

82boy, that is what Shilen told me. You may wait a little longer for the select match because alot of times the barrel will not make select. I can't tell you the difference only because my Shilen's have been S.M. but they are very accurate. My 7rsaum barrel I ordered before they put other shifts on, 6.5 months later I got it. I truely believe it was worth the wait. With what the rifler said, more then likely is what I would do.

 

[SS427]

The Shilen website explains the difference.

"To meet Select Match Grade criteria, the groove diameter must air gauge within .0003" of our standard diameter. Moreover, the uniformity of the bore cannot vary more than .0001" for the entire length of the barrel."

"Our Match Grade barrels don't quite meet Select Match criteria-- but not by much! In these barrels, the bore must measure within .0005" of our standard diameter and cannot vary in diameter more than .0003" for the length of the barrel."

Personally I think it is a marketing tactic to charge more money for the very best. Interestingly enough most the other high end barrel makers don't offer this option. They offer only their best for one price. Even Shilen states on their website that it might make no difference at all. Their marketing line is pretty good, and goes like this, "the really demanding shooter must play it safe and go with the higher grade".

 

[butchlambert]

Otter,
I know that you are wrong on the marketing ploy. Otter, If you were the owner of Bonaparte Barrel Co. What would you do with your barrels that didn't meet the .0001 criteria? Would you trash them?
Butch

 

[skeetlee]

Good point Butch!
Were do you think shilens chrome moly barrels land in this spectrum? I have had a couple of them and they are fantastic. They were hunting rifles, but they shot good. I dont think shilen grades these, so maybe they are the best of all worlds? I buy them for 150 bucks a blank.

 

[butchlambert]

I've used a couple lapped ones in the old days and to be honest they shot real well.
Butch

 

[Kenny474]

Otter, you are wrong about Shilen being the only company to offer 2 barrel grades. Pac-Nor does the same thing offering standard match and super match barrels. I feel they do it so as to offer the absolute best to those who desire it, and another option for the average joe that is rebarreling his hunting rifle and doesn't care about the .25MOA that a super match barrel may give him.

By doing this they are also able to provide a better high end product for a reasonable cost. Imagine if they trashed all barrels that didn't meet the .0001" tolerance! We would be paying 3 times as much for a barrel easily. Or instead of getting a barrel with a .0001 tolerance, we would end up with .0005 tolerance and pay the same price for all.

While Shilen may claim there is no difference, you aren't going to buy a lesser barrel when you are trying to shoot in the .1's. When it comes to winning championships and setting records, it's hard to get there by settling for second best.

 

[SS427]

Butch, what does Krieger and Bartlein do with the barrels they produce that don't make spec? They don't sell them as a lesser barrel.

When it comes to business and making money, it is all about marketing. I actually think what they are doing is a brillant idea. Most good marketing is.

Kenny, I didn't say they are the only ones. I said most other..... And they are offering heavy benchrest barrels in the lower grade as well as the hunting barrels. It is marketing, and it is a tactic to make more money. I don't hold that against them, but I do recognize it for what it is.

 

[summitsitter]

It's the buttons they use.. They use a different kind of button for the SM.. Only difference

 

[butchlambert]

Summittsitter,
THey would wish that was the only difference. So they make a not so good a button for the match grade so it will be off up to .0003.
Butch

 

[summitsitter]

Summittsitter,
THey would wish that was the only difference. So they make a not so good a button for the match grade so it will be off up to .0003.
Butch

It's the design not the quality....

 

[butchlambert]

I'm sorry to burst your bubble. They run a lot of SS barrels. They air gage them. The ones that do not come into the select match tolerance are sold as match if they meet match tolerance. If they don't meet either spec, they are scrapped. I believe the specs are published on their website. I sure don't know how you figured they used a different button.
Butch

 

[summitsitter]

Butch without going into to much detail..Let's just say I heard it from the horse's mouth..If you got some evidence to prove me wrong then please let me see it..

 

[butchlambert]

I just got off the phone with Wade Hull,owner of Shilen. He just got back from Vegas. His wife is a linebacker on the womens pro football team that just won their Super Bowl. Wade said for me to PM you his private email. He said he would send you an email that you can post with the facts. I also talked to Jim Summers,Shilen's button maker, and he thought it was funny about different buttons. If you will do that we can put this to rest. I'm going to PM his email.
Butch
Butch

 

[jrbet83]

It's the buttons they use.. They use a different kind of button for the SM.. Only difference

That's funny right there.....you need to find a different horse then.

 

[summitsitter]

....you need to find a different horse then.

Maybe I do, but that horse is going to take a major thrashing before I let him go...Off subject but do they make select match in CM..I can't find one anywhere, midway, brownells, etc. Seems like all the CM are match..

If this is the case then what do all the other barrel companys do with the barrels that don't meet their specs. Considering to the quanity that shilen makes that fall into the match catagory seems like other companies would go broke not having a lesser line to sell the barrels in.

 

[butchlambert]

Why don't you just give it up? I gave you Wade's email. Don't ask questions or make statements on the forum about what they do when you have a contact with the owner that will answer all your questions. He is waiting on your email.
Butch