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Where did all the barrels go?

I've been buying and installing barrels for nearly fifty years. I can't remember when it was that a barrel job started costing more for the blank than it did for my labour, but I reckon about 25 years ago?
A lot of barrel makers spend a great deal of their time on AR barrels. Everyone wants that govt' contract if they can get it. For myself, I probably have enough barrels on hand for the duration, but I still buy one from time to time.
Barrels, stocks, reloading supplies, you name it, these are not the best of times! WH
 
D Coots said:
Barrel makers are in business to fill a need, and to Make Money. It's the American way. Get in business and start from scratch like Tracy Bartlein did...nothing to it..................
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Don't think I haven't considered it lol. I could cash out the ol' 401K and get a CNC lathe, I'm not the most business savvy guy out there though, my main focus is on engineering design usually. It's fun to dream though.
 
Will Henry said:
I've been buying and installing barrels for nearly fifty years. I can't remember when it was that a barrel job started costing more for the blank than it did for my labour, but I reckon about 25 years ago?
A lot of barrel makers spend a great deal of their time on AR barrels. Everyone wants that govt' contract if they can get it. For myself, I probably have enough barrels on hand for the duration, but I still buy one from time to time.
Barrels, stocks, reloading supplies, you name it, these are not the best of times! WH
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Our government is buying a LOT more than ar15 barrels. They are buying barrels of all kinds. And not just for "the military". They have contracts in place now that supply all kinds of private mercenary forces and homeland security. Homeland security never existed before 2002. It has been growing very much in a linear fashion ever since and basically has a near infinite budget.

Rock Creek has nearly completely stopped supplying barrels for gunsmithing needs. They are 100% a government contractor now. That was one of the big ones right there. I know a few people in the barrel business, and I know who their customers are and it's not gunsmiths. If they do ship to gunsmiths for target shooting it's a small percentage.
 
urbanrifleman said:
Well. That's kind of what we're being taught these days. That the American way is about money. Actually that was never true until just recently when this certain group of people took over.

Henry Ford started his company because he wanted to make cars. Henry Ford just liked making things. He liked giving a man a job. He liked the pride that went with it. He did not particularly care about money, never did. This was the age of the industrialist. They had to go borrow money from the capitalists who didn't care about making anything except money. He fought the capitalists his entire life.

Henry Ford was a great man, and he was an "America first" man through and through. And not a fake one like we have today.

Not to cause a drift from the thread but I thought a little history perspective was in order.
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Yep, I understand what you're saying, I lived it for over 45 years growing my multi-hundred dollar business. But I had to make money to pay employees, upgrade equipment, ect. That came first. If it was just about the money I had plenty of opportunities to sell anytime at a nice profit. I didn't until 4 years ago. This is not a new phenomenon.
 
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dusterdave173 said:
My new 223 Urban Rifleman barrel took two weeks. So far it has shot 1/2 MOA with 85.5 Bergers, 75ELDM, 53 vmax, and Surprise! Today it shot a ragged one hole group with 40g vmax. It is doing things it is not supposed to do. 7 twist with ISSF long freebore. All that joy for a 2-3 week wait at the lowest price on the market.
Buy one of these to get you by until you can get that magic pipe from the high dollar folks
I understand competition guys want the very best no matter the cost but… you go prairie dogging the wind will negate the diff between the two choices— for me anyway so I am an Urban guy from now on.
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what range are you shooting at ?
 
That’s a good price, I’m surprised it’s not sold.
 
I have a custom Krieger arriving today. I ordered it in April of last year. Not complaining. Just glad it’s done. Chrome moly, 6.5mm, fluted, 8 twist, 30” finish.
 
jmoeller22 said:
No need to be snarky is there? Instead of being a dick you could've given info about where you got the barrel. Have a good one.
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Well, I noticed that Bruno's had 2 blanks in the caliber and profile I use. I ordered one on the spot, and told a few buddies there was one left. That one was gone in a few minutes (sold to a guy who ordered one from Krieger several months ago, and is due in May next year.)
 
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