Shilen Select Match

[Longrange57]

You definitely might want a faster twist. Shilen is a great barrel! However, the past several years Kreiger and Bartlein have ruled at many top matches. Greg at Southern Precision can probably fix you up if Shilen can't.
I'll post some results for top shooters out west and what they use.

 

[Longrange57]

I have had several Brux barrels for long range rifles that shoot fantastic. You won't necessarily beat a Shilen, but may get something else sooner.

 

[jelenko]

I forgot to mention the Criterion barrel was 223 - so the 2000 rounds seemed 'light' to me. I'm used to 223 barrels holding out til 2500 - 3000.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

@ Dusty,
Sounds like you or, a customer might have had, a bad experience with, a Criterion ??
I do think that, we have to separate "Match / Bench rest, quality" Performance from, a casual shooter's use, like me, that's happy with, Sub 1/2 MOA groups and, a sub $2300. Rifle. I was just curious about, what you've experienced with, the Criterion bbl's.
ALL, the components of my latest build ( HS Prec. stock, Barrel, Nut, Lug, Rem 700 action, Jewell Trigger, 6.5 x 20 scope, base / rings, etc.,. was less than 2,200. and,.. I'm havin' Fun.
Rifle's now shooting, in the 3's on my 2nd trip out.
@ jelenko,.. I'd be happy with 2,000 Rds of descent ( 1/2 MOA accuracy ) New Criterion Barrel's are, reasonably priced and I can, Fit them up, myself. Yup, I had heard that, Criterion's warranty was, "good".

I dont consider them really a budget barrel price wise. I would praise them in the next tier down but in that price class no. If they meet your accuracy needs then thats all that matters. They do seem to have a good following with the barrel nut crowd and thats a good thing. Options are always a good thing!

 

[rogina]

I forgot to mention the Criterion barrel was 223 - so the 2000 rounds seemed 'light' to me. I'm used to 223 barrels holding out til 2500 - 3000.

My 223r custom barrels last about 7000 rounds. I have a Pac-Nor that I have 11,400 rounds thru it and you can still cover 10 at 100 yards with a Nickle. Good enough to kill a p. dog at 400 yards.

 

[22vartarg]

Still waiting for my Shilen barrel I ordered back in June of 2020.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Still waiting for my Shilen barrel I ordered back in June of 2020.

Id say your order was lost

 

[22vartarg]

I was told that it passed final inspection back in mid January and waiting to be bead-blasted.....it has not shipped yet.

 

[70sdiver]

Was that order straight thru Shilen ?

 

[22vartarg]

No... thru Northlands Shooting Supply, they put the order in right away 6-15. For some reason the hold up is with Shilen. Was to be done in 5 months, but we have long past that time frame.

 

[JSH]

Prefit Select in 17 Remington, I have been nothing short of very happy with it. Some say others make a better barrel for the 17’s, if they are better, I will have a tough time measuring groups with my equipment.
Cleaning. Easiest barrel I have ever had in any caliber.

 

[cjames]

Prefit Select in 17 Remington, I have been nothing short of very happy with it. Some say others make a better barrel for the 17’s, if they are better, I will have a tough time measuring groups with my equipment.
Cleaning. Easiest barrel I have ever had in any caliber.

A few years ago at the DSC Show John Krieger told me when he was building a 17 cal. which they didn't make. He called Ed Shilen and got one from him. That said a lot to me about Shilen barrels.

 

[sparker]

Ordered a .30 cal Palma Barrel from Shilen three weeks ago. It arrived yesterday.

 

[dryhumor]

I have a 14T select match in 220 Swift. Kudos to Shilen and the smith. It shoots extremely well...

 

[justinp61]

I got to put a few rounds through my Shilen SS Select match yesterday, 22-250, 24", varmint contour, 1-12 twist. Pretty much breaking the barrel in, the ammo I shot was loaded about 10 years ago for my mdl 12. It'll fun to see what it'll do when I start working on loads for it.

I ran about 35 rounds through it and there is very little copper.

All 5 shot groups except for the two foulers.

 

[justinp61]

Today I ordered another Shilen SS Special Match. This one for my Savage mdl 16, 260, 24", heavy sporter contour with a 1-9 twist. I was told 12-16 weeks.

 

[wagonman]

Today I ordered another Shilen SS Special Match. This one for my Savage mdl 16, 260, 24", heavy sporter contour with a 1-9 twist. I was told 12-16 weeks.

a 1-9 twist will be a perfect match for 120- 130gr bullets but you will be living on the edge with 140gr high bc bullets a 1-8 is good for both bullets, just giving one mans opinion. my shilen 1-8 handles 130 bergers well as a 142 smk and 147eld

 

[justinp61]

a 1-9 twist will be a perfect match for 120- 130gr bullets but you will be living on the edge with 140gr high bc bullets a 1-8 is good for both bullets, just giving one mans opinion. my shilen 1-8 handles 130 bergers well as a 142 smk and 147eld

I settled on the 1-9 because I deer hunt with 120gr Sierra's and will probably try some lighter stuff for coyote/groundhogs. A 130 will be the heaviest it'll ever see.

 

[46and2]

No... thru Northlands Shooting Supply, they put the order in right away 6-15. For some reason the hold up is with Shilen. Was to be done in 5 months, but we have long past that time frame.

Ordered a Crierion from NSS.
James told me right out of the gate it would be at least 6 months.

 

[dc.fireman]

I bought my Shilen Select Match barrel from Northland Shooting Supply - what a great barrel, and I appreciated all the advice Jim @ NSS gave me on the barrel switch out process for my Savage M12.

FWIW, mine is a .260 Rem. Match chamber, so yeah - it has a slightly longer leade for the heavies.