Shilen Ratchet Rifled Barrels 2021

[Jud96]

I wanted to start this thread to ask if any shooters have used Shilen ratchet rifled barrels in the past year or so? Multiple top tier competitive shooters have told me that they have been using Shilen ratchet rifled barrels with great success lately. A couple of the FTR shooters claimed the Shilens have been better than the Brux and Bartlein barrels they had been using. I plan to try one out for my next barrel to see how it does. Anyone else having luck with these barrels lately? Thanks!

 

[Jud96]

Here's a couple targets of 5 shot groups at 100 yards. The ratchet .222 is first and then the standard .223:

Impressive! Looks good to me

 

[1911nut]

22-250 Shilen 8 twist, 28” ratchet, 80g VLD

three shots sitting (a friend shot) with a Swagger bipod at 600 yds

 

[mudduck]

So are you talking rimfire or centerfire ratchet’s?

 

[Jud96]

Centerfire

 

[mudduck]

I was told that the person or person’s that lapped the rimfire barrels left. Don’t know how many people they had lapping barrels and Don’t know if it’s true or not. Rimfire blanks seem to be nonexistent for a good while now.

 

[butchlambert]

I was told that the person or person’s that lapped the rimfire barrels left. Don’t know how many people they had lapping barrels and Don’t know if it’s true or not. Rimfire blanks seem to be nonexistent for a good while now.

Wrong info and they are far behind on RF barrels because of demand.

 

[jdh47]

Everybody seems to be out of everything just now. We are diminished. I have received a couple of flyers for bullets from different places. everything I check is "out of stock". Can't figure out why they'd send an advertisement if they have no product. It's a sign of the times I expect.

 

[butchlambert]

I was told that the person or person’s that lapped the rimfire barrels left. Don’t know how many people they had lapping barrels and Don’t know if it’s true or not. Rimfire blanks seem to be nonexistent for a good while now.

They have several folks that lap including the co owner Jennifer "J" Hull. J started at the bottom when they purchased Shilen over 20yrs ago. She started sawing material, drilling and reaming, pulling buttons and contouring. She runs the office now, but is in the know about all barrel questions.
J was a college basketball head coach and was the QB and LB for the Dallas Women's Professional football team. She is an attractive young lady that can make you see stars.

 

[mudduck]

Wrong info and they are far behind on RF barrels because of demand.

I figured that’s was bad info Butch.if anyone should know it’s you. I do know Texas had a lot of COVID related shut downs that probably slowed them down. Thanks for correcting me

 

[mauser284]

For the record few places would ever have one person doing all the lapping. Most places rotate staff through the jobs so they do not get burnt out. Plus lapping can be physically taxing if that is all you do all day. Depending on the process lapping can be a 5minute job or much longer all depends on the process, materials and surface finish required.

 

[Lee Whitsel]

as a final thought what is better with benchrest shooters today. Are Rachet barrel's a better idea and winning match's? Are they as accurate as a cut Shilen Barrel? Are they easy t clean compaired t a cut barrel?

 

[butchlambert]

as a final thought what is better with benchrest shooters today. Are Rachet barrel's a better idea and winning match's? Are they as accurate as a cut Shilen Barrel? Are they easy t clean compaired t a cut barrel?

Shilen does not make cut rifle barrels.

 

[Matthew Schwartzkopf]

I took second at the 2021 F-Class Long Range Nationals in FTR with a Shilen Rachet barrel. They are great barrels, from a great company

 

[Bamban]

I took second at the 2021 F-Class Long Range Nationals in FTR with a Shilen Rachet barrel. They are great barrels, from a great company

Great barrels from a great company indeed. J and Wade support our TX Juniors rifle team and the adult team with donated 224 7.5T Ratchet blanks.

Years ago, Butch Lambert facilitated the meeting between the team management and Shilen that led to the support for the TX high power teams. We've been receiving the barrels since. First few years were the 224 8T Ratchet, then the 224 7.5T after we finished testing the first two 7.5T barrels they cranked out.

The top TX adult shooter set 3 National records at Perry with Shilen 7.5T Ratchet, and a dozen or so of our Juniors over the years earned their Distinguished Rifleman badges with Shilen Ratchets.

BUY SHILEN

 

[SSchnd]

Had a Shillen 7.5R 20" on my Service rifle for last barrel, it absolutely worked great. Would put on another with no concerns. Surprisingly it just kept going out to 600 yds so I finally pulled it after 4-5k rounds. Yeah its a button barrel that just kept going .

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

The few ratchets I have any experience with were all what I'd call excellent.