Shilen rimfire barrel current lead time

[1813benny]

I'm not sure they would. If it is likely any other company, they will find a reason that it isn't their products fault....bad installation, user error, yada yada yada.

Even if they did, what are they going to do for me?...they won't have any barrels available until early '27 or so. At my age, I might be dead by then.

If you do not contact Shilen about the problem, they cannot even make an attempt to remedy the situation. They are very reputable and my interactions with Shilen have been first rate.

If there is no effort on your part, then you shouldn’t even comment on their potential response.

 

[hogpatrol]

I called Shilen back in December '24 about a .17 Featherweight for my Fireball. They told me one year lead time.

 

[Emmett Dibble]

They may never find the talent in the workforce. I’ve been a machinist for 25 years now. I spend my days teaching and fixing screw ups. The industry is in bad shape in a few years from what I can see.

Not just your workforce… 30 years in service/repair of Mercedes… it would shock you what a “factory trained technician” is these days… I can only shudder at “factory trained” at Toyota or Ford….

 

[kevin nevius]

As a smith who has fitted and tested hundreds of barrels, there are still plenty of options out there regarding quality barrel blanks. All have really long lead times, but two years (if that's accurate) is ridiculous.

Whether it be barrels, ammunition - what IMHO makes these runs happen is the unique herd mindset competitors have. We run on a manufacturer until someone wins a big match with another brand, and the entire herd shifts.

If you haven't used a Benchmark in a while (for example), now would be a great time. They are amazing, and every bit as competitive and IMHO of more consistent quality than anything out there. Not sure what their backlog is, but I'll bet it isn't two years.

Have a great summer,

kev

 

[shortine]

As a smith who has fitted and tested hundreds of barrels, there are still plenty of options out there regarding quality barrel blanks. All have really long lead times, but two years (if that's accurate) is ridiculous.

Whether it be barrels, ammunition - what IMHO makes these runs happen is the unique herd mindset competitors have. We run on a manufacturer until someone wins a big match with another brand, and the entire herd shifts.

If you haven't used a Benchmark in a while (for example), now would be a great time. They are amazing, and every bit as competitive and IMHO of more consistent quality than anything out there. Not sure what their backlog is, but I'll bet it isn't two years.

Have a great summer,

kev

I owned my own business for 20+ years so I can certainly sympathize with Shilen over the employee problem; if that's what it is. On the other hand, if someone tells me they can't get the product to me for two years, I'll assume they either don't need my business, or don't care. I'll find something else, and there are alternatives.

I agree about the herd mentality.

How about Hart?

Gerry

 

[WyleWD]

If the bottle neck in production is in fact lapping and keeping those trained people in the workforce, I'm surprised that someone hasn't resorted to robot or mechanical means of lapping a barrel. With the proper tooling and controls... it could be done. JME. WD

 

[mic2377]

I don't think it is the fault of Shilen, I am sure they are doing the best they can. But 2 years is just too long, any longer than that and you might die of old age before getting barrel LOL!

The labor market is only going to keep getting worse. There isn't any hope to reverse these trends. Our economy is based on a combination of a speculative financial sector and service. The production sector will only keep declining.

Do these wait times apply to all of their barrels, or just the rimfire ones? I had gotten 2 of their custom Alternut Rem 700 barrels in 2024 and the wait time wasn't too bad... 5 months or so?

 

[WyleWD]

I don't think it is the fault of Shilen, I am sure they are doing the best they can. But 2 years is just too long, any longer than that and you might die of old age before getting barrel LOL!

The labor market is only going to keep getting worse. There isn't any hope to reverse these trends. Our economy is based on a combination of a speculative financial sector and service. The production sector will only keep declining.

Do these wait times apply to all of their barrels, or just the rimfire ones? I had gotten 2 of their custom Alternut Rem 700 barrels in 2024 and the wait time wasn't too bad... 5 months or so?

Only to their rimfire barrels...... they must be really good to have that kind of backlog. The lead time on their CF barrels is dependent upon what barrel, twist, caliber, and whether you want a match or select match etc. I've gotten barrels in as little as 3-6 weeks. JME. WD

 

[gme]

I don't think it is the fault of Shilen, I am sure they are doing the best they can. But 2 years is just too long, any longer than that and you might die of old age before getting barrel LOL!

The labor market is only going to keep getting worse. There isn't any hope to reverse these trends. Our economy is based on a combination of a speculative financial sector and service. The production sector will only keep declining.

Do these wait times apply to all of their barrels, or just the rimfire ones? I had gotten 2 of their custom Alternut Rem 700 barrels in 2024 and the wait time wasn't too bad... 5 months or so?

Kristy told me the 2 year wait only applies to the stainless select match rimfires because of the taper lapping, the chrome moly ratchet match barrels (which I've use plenty of and are very good) are 6-8 months

 

[TRSR8]

If you do not contact Shilen about the problem, they cannot even make an attempt to remedy the situation. They are very reputable and my interactions with Shilen have been first rate.

If there is no effort on your part, then you shouldn’t even comment on their potential response.

Do you actually believe they are not acutely aware of their issue ? They are and have been for a long time. Being aware and getting it resolved…..two entirely different issues.

 

[68Hoyt]

Kristy told me the 2 year wait only applies to the stainless select match rimfires because of the taper lapping, the chrome moly ratchet match barrels (which I've use plenty of and are very good) are 6-8 months

My understanding on material and manufacturing of barrels
It is easier and faster to manufacture an accurate barrel from stainless than it is chrome molly , in center fire the stainless will last longer because of the heat , in rimfire the chrome molly will last longer than the stainless because of the abrasive resistance
Stainless is also popular because it is corrosion resistant
There is a reason those old 40-50-60+ year old target rifles still shoot well with there carbon barrels

Now back to your comment why can they get the chrome molly barrels out quicker ?
Material ? Machining ? Labor ? Tooling ?
If it was material all of the barrel makers would be behind , correct ?

Hey @FrakG a little insight into the manufacturing side of things please