Shilen rimfire barrel current lead time

[Greyhorse]

FYI
I just spoke with Shilen about ordering a couple of rimfire barrels, their estimated ship date is 2 years out.

 

[CharlieNC]

Shilen is known for producing a top, if not the best, rimfire barrels. Seems like they would focus on this vs midpack centerfire products.

 

[StuNY]

Yeah, I love those barrels but also had an order in for 6 months (they told me 3 months to receive at the time of order) then when I checked in they told me 2 years as well. Must be a lot of challenges for them, hope they recover soon!

 

[tac284]

Did they happen to say why such a long lead time? Is it driven by individuals ordering or is there a manufacture that uses these barrels on a production gun?

 

[TRSR8]

Did they happen to say why such a long lead time? Is it driven by individuals ordering or is there a manufacture that uses these barrels on a production gun?

Because, according to several sources they have had several production issues, disruptions and lack of consistency, which begs the question “ are you going to get what you expect?”

 

[1Merlin]

Perhaps the reason the wait is long is that they refuse to compromise quality and will not ship anything less. How long it takes is how long it takes. I'll wait for a winning barrel.

But damn. 2 years?

 

[doclu60]

Because, according to several sources they have had several production issues, disruptions and lack of consistency, which begs the question “ are you going to get what you expect?”

Perhaps the reason the wait is long is that they refuse to compromise quality and will not ship anything less. How long it takes is how long it takes. I'll wait for a winning barrel.

But damn. 2 years?

1Merlin, TRSR8 is correct. Problems with getting properly trained employees, which promoted production issues. I know of several barrels that were produced before they suspended production that were very bad. In fact, I may own one (select match Octagon from KSS). I also have had a .850 select match ratchet on order since the 2023 ARA Outdoor UL Nationals and haven't seen anything yet.

Scott

 

[cavedweller60]

1Merlin, TRSR8 is correct. Problems with getting properly trained employees, which promoted production issues. I know of several barrels that were produced before they suspended production that were very bad. In fact, I may own one (select match Octagon from KSS). I also have had a .850 select match ratchet on order since the 2023 ARA Outdoor UL Nationals and haven't seen anything yet.

Scott

I have one that came from them about 6 months ago and I am just about done trying to get it to shoot. I have tried dozens of lots of every match grade ammo out there and it is just not a great shooter...maybe not even a good shooter. I almost refused it when I got the chance at it because of the rumored consistency problems and I am beginning to think I should have.

 

[Timnichols]

I think I would call them about your barrel I bet they will do something.

 

[doclu60]

I have one that came from them about 6 months ago and I am just about done trying to get it to shoot. I have tried dozens of lots of every match grade ammo out there and it is just not a great shooter...maybe not even a good shooter. I almost refused it when I got the chance at it because of the rumored consistency problems and I am beginning to think I should have.

The smith who did my Octagon is experienced in lapping a taper in said barrel (current Octagons are/were straight lapped, not taper lapped) and I don't blame him at all about the barrel. He has several out there that are winners, and not just in club matches! He told me it took a lot of work to lap my barrel. I haven't given up on it yet, but it just isn't doing it right now. I mostly shoot Muller and Shilen and have had really excellent barrels from both, and mediocre barrels from both. That said, one poster here said he'd wait for a winning barrel referring to Shilen, but I'll clue him in on something, no matter what MFG makes the barrel there is no guarantee any of them will be winners. Even in the best of hands, with the best of ammo.

Scott

 

[Emmett Dibble]

Yup… my order is over 2 years now… sigh.

 

[cavedweller60]

I think I would call them about your barrel I bet they will do something.

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.

 

[cavedweller60]

The smith who did my Octagon is experienced in lapping a taper in said barrel (current Octagons are/were straight lapped, not taper lapped) and I don't blame him at all about the barrel. He has several out there that are winners, and not just in club matches! He told me it took a lot of work to lap my barrel. I haven't given up on it yet, but it just isn't doing it right now. I mostly shoot Muller and Shilen and have had really excellent barrels from both, and mediocre barrels from both. That said, one poster here said he'd wait for a winning barrel referring to Shilen, but I'll clue him in on something, no matter what MFG makes the barrel there is no guarantee any of them will be winners. Even in the best of hands, with the best of ammo.

Scott

Mine is a ratchet, from everything I've heard and read, they require minimal lapping by the smith.

 

[TRSR8]

Mine is a ratchet, from everything I've heard and read, they require minimal lapping by the smith.

They should require zero lapping by the smith. They should come with proper taper lap, only one of the issues. Not many smiths can do it properly to begin with.
Whatever reason(s), for now they have apparently lost their mojo. Assuming they get back to regular output, by no means is there any certainty the barrels that did so well a while ago can be replicated

 

[doclu60]

I was typing almost the same response as TRSR8 just posted, especially the comment that they should require no lapping by the smith. I was told by a Shilen employee that ratchet production was stopped before Octagon production was because they did not have the talent or experience in the work force to properly taper lap the ratchets. Taper lapping and straight lapping are two totally different things with a different set of talent levels.

Scott

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

I was typing almost the same response as TRSR8 just posted, especially the comment that they should require no lapping by the smith. I was told by a Shilen employee that ratchet production was stopped before Octagon production was because they did not have the talent or experience in the work force to properly taper lap the ratchets. Taper lapping and straight lapping are two totally different things with a different set of talent levels.

Scott

Scott,

If I recall a similar thing happened with Lija many years ago. when their best lappers retired with no one to take their place. look what happened to them, almost no one uses their barrels for RFBR.

Lee

 

[prone.life]

Check with James at Northland Shooters Supply, great guy to deal with; he claims to stock Shilen rimfire barrels here.

 

[doclu60]

Scott,

If I recall a similar thing happened with Lija many years ago. when their best lappers retired with no one to take their place. look what happened to them, almost no one uses their barrels for RFBR.

Lee

Lee,
It was before my RFBR days started, but I have heard the same. At my first ARA Nationals in 2016, there were only 4 Lija barrels on the equipment list out of 99 listed. Last year there were still 3 out of 125. Most of those were pretty far down the pack. No telling how old those barrels were. They seem to be doing okay now with pre-fit replacement barrels.

Scott

 

[Coyote1936]

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 a single one of these newer guys gives a crap about their parts. They can’t retain information and they sure as heck aren’t going out of their way to learn something new because that would take effort.

Out of 20 some people thru this shop in three years only one has shown promise. But even his work ethic is lacking. And we are having these guys do very basic manual machining.

Nobody can hand sharpen a drill. Nobody can think of ways to do set ups on one off parts. And god forbid they know the basic fundamentals of machining. Some of these guys have been here for 5 plus years. They all want the big bucks but refuse to put in the work to learn it.

There is plenty of great newer machinist out there. But far too little to spread around. The pay in this industry is ridiculous. For the years of knowledge it takes to become very good, your time and effort would be better suited at a factory job. You can still make a good living but it’s getting harder and harder to find that place that offers that. Tons of factory jobs pay better in my area. Better benefits, better retirement plan.

With more specialized machining like barrel work all I can say is good luck. It’s sad that very very few take pride in creating something anymore.
And that’s not a bash at shilen in any way, shape or form. That’s talking about their production issues. I feel their pain 1000%!!!!!

 

[FrankG]

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 a single one of these newer guys gives a crap about their parts. They can’t retain information and they sure as heck aren’t going out of their way to learn something new because that would take effort.

Out of 20 some people thru this shop in three years only one has shown promise. But even his work ethic is lacking. And we are having these guys do very basic manual machining.

Nobody can hand sharpen a drill. Nobody can think of ways to do set ups on one off parts. And god forbid they know the basic fundamentals of machining. Some of these guys have been here for 5 plus years. They all want the big bucks but refuse to put in the work to learn it.

There is plenty of great newer machinist out there. But far too little to spread around. The pay in this industry is ridiculous. For the years of knowledge it takes to become very good, your time and effort would be better suited at a factory job. You can still make a good living but it’s getting harder and harder to find that place that offers that. Tons of factory jobs pay better in my area. Better benefits, better retirement plan.

With more specialized machining like barrel work all I can say is good luck. It’s sad that very very few take pride in creating something anymore.
And that’s not a bash at shilen in any way, shape or form. That’s talking about their production issues. I feel their pain 1000%!!!!!

Well said!

Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels