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What barrel Shilen or Lilja

Smalltruck

I'm getting ready to order a new barrel for my wby vanguard in .223. If you had to choose a barrel brand of these 2 which one and why? I've never had either of these so I'm looking for input. Thanks for any help.

George
 
I have 2 liljas and 1 shilen and they are all three of them are shooters. I wouldn't hesitate to buy either one, if money is an issue then I would pick shilen they are a little cheaper,
 
I have 2 each stainless steel Liljas and Shilens. All of them shoot very well, and I would not hesitate to buy another of either one.

Personally I think the Lilja barrels break in a little quicker and easier. Other than that you have a win win decision. :) WD
 
I have 2 Shilen 224cal in the Ratchet groove, bot are chambered in 222 rem and shoot extremely well, as good an any others,( Brux, Bartlein and Kreiger )that I have. Stainless Select Match from the Barrelman, was shipped in a reasonalbe time frame. I would buy another without hesitation. Does take some breakin to get the accuracy, but they clean extremely well.
 
Fuel for Thought-- Shilen is one of the few barrel makers that admits they do NOT ALWAYS make perfect barrels- AS they have Match and Select Match.

Personally I like Cut rifled barrels as I believe they can be held to closer/tighter tolerances as far as twist.

Good Luck

Jim
 
Like Jim said GOOD LUCK. I have had a 30 cal. on order since Feb. 5, 2013.Am STILL waiting for it. Yep Shilen. They do make a good barrel, if you can live to enjoy it. Tommy Mc
 
Save a few bucks and get a Shilen stainless match grade from the Barrelman($210 plus shipping). In a factory sporter/varmint rifle I do not believe you will tell the difference between a match and select match.
 
My new select match stainless Shilen RUSTED! Outside of barrel developed a rust spot near front if barrel :o must have had some moisture on it when I shut the case last time. Some Flitz took care of it...

So far it has been accurate but does not clean up as fast as my Krieger, but since I can order Savage prefits from Shilen, I will order more!

Their customer service was great. Ordered in early March and recieved in july.
 
I have about 140 rounds through my new 308 Shilen Select Match. Still get some copper fouling but not much and it appears to be a fast barrel. I shot the smallest 5 shot group I have personally ever shot yesterday!

If the speed and accuracy I got were not a fluke....i will be VERY pleased and gonna place an order for another Select Match!
 
I have had a bad experience with a Lilja. Had one in a .280 Rem with a #4 Lilja. And I would be lucky if I got a 1" 3 shot group. They were usually 1 3/4" on average. I put everything I could think of threw it. Different powders, bullets, primers, seating depth, changed scopes, you name it. I spent way more money on trying to find a load than I should have. My smith that I used, sent the rifle to Lilja. They sent it back and said there was nothing wrong with the barrel and all the smith work was good. They DIDN'T even shoot it. The smith took care of me right. He asked me what I wanted him to do, rebarrel it or what. I traded in the rifle. I was just threw playing after all that. Now I use Kriegers and couldn't be happier. But I would go with Shilen just from my personal experience. I don't like posting negative stuff on here. But, I lost a lot of sleep (and money) over that rifle. And did not feel I got the customer support I should have gotten. That one Lilja barrel is the reason I am a cut barrel guy now.
 
I have both on hunting rifles and am happy. I would probably go with whoever had what I wanted in stock, or could supply what I wanted in the most reasonable period of time.
 
I have a Lilja on my 358 Norma Mag and it shoots very well. Took a long time and a lot of components to find a sub 1/2 MOA 3 shot load for it, but it shoots the lights out now and cleaned up very nicely after break-in. But Dan Lilja can be a real pain to deal with because "he knows it all and you are a lesser human being than he". In light of the customer support at Lilja, I will never buy a barrel from them again. But that's just my experience and personal decision.

I Have a Shilen Chrome Moly Match on my newly built 6.5 Remington Magnum, but haven't fired a single round through it yet.

Also have a Shilen Stainless Match Ratchet Rifle barrel sitting on the shelf getting ready to go on a new 243 LBC Turbo build. Of course haven't fired it either cuz the rifle isn't even built yet.

Can give feedback once I get a chance to shoot my Shilens, but I'd imagine you'll have made your decision by then. Good luck with whatever you choose :)
 
BigD,

Sounds like my personal experience all over again. With all the great barrel makers today, their is no point in dealing with any company that will not back their product. My Shilen in 6ppc is a tack driver. First group, while cleaning between every shot, was a nice .262 for 5 shots. Doesn't get much better than that. ;D

Regards, Paul
 
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