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Which barrel manufacturer should I go with for 6br build?

CanusLatransSnpr

I'm new to this rifle rebarreling game and I was wondering what you folks out there consider to be the best barrels. I'm thinking a 10" twist at a finished length of 26". Not building a bench gun, just an efficient, accurate varmint gun. The bullets I plan to use will range from 55gr. Nosler BTs on up to 87gr VMaxs. However, I like the little extra twist to play with heavier bullets should I decide.

I'm thinking single point cut rifling over the button rifled barrels, less stress to them during manufacturing and a more true twist. As far as contour a #8 style from Krieger's specs.

Would like to get some real world testimonies and opinions from seasoned shooters.

Thanks, Mike
 
I have barrels by Hart, Krieger, Broughton, Bartlein, McGowen, H-S Precision and Shilen. Any of them can shoot extremely well but not all barrels by any given maker will. For your stated application, any of the above would be fine. Other likely candidates are: Brux, Douglas, Lilja, Obermeyer, Pac-Nor, Rock Creek or Schneider.

If you prefer cut-rifled barrels, that will limit your choices. I personally make little distinction between top quality cut or button-rifled barrels. Each has been lapped to a uniformity that makes them almost indistinguishable, even with a borescope. Some barrel makers offer special profiles that may be desirable for one reason or another. Cut-rifled barrels can often be ordered with specific twists, helpful when shooting very heavy bullets that require fast twists at the limit that bullets can tolerate.

We are very fortunate to be able to choose, among many fine barrel makers, which barrel to buy.
 
easy choice..

the cut bbls last longer , foul less, have less stress , and have more uniform twist.....I shot button bbls since the 60's and when I finally got my first Krieger it was love at first cleaning and OBTW the target lookd better than ever.....my round counts can be longer between cleaning without loosing accurach and bbl. life is aprox 2500-3000 rather than 1500 if your luky.....Roger
 
choosing which barrel to go with can give you a headache, it does me anyhow. what I do now, instead of researching them all to find out which barrels are winning, is to just pick one of the reputable makers that i haven't tried yet and order one. ive tried douglas, hart, wilson, and am waiting on my first krieger 5R. my next barrel could be one of these: brux, schneider, obermeyer, broughton, mcclennen, lilja, spencer, to name a few. but just remember, any barrel maker, even though they are the "best" makes duds every now and then. so you can't label them as bad makers if you get a bad one. if you do, get another from them--that next one could be the once in a lifetime barrel.
 
Something else to consider is the wait time. Shilen mentioned 14 to 16 weeks. Brux and Pac Nor were about the same. Ordered a Pac Nor. Got a reply note that it would be 4 to 6 weeks. Mikie likes it!! ;)
I've got Shilen, Douglas, Pac Nor and they're all shooters. ;D
 
Mike,

There is a lot of good info in the posts you have received.

In my experience, the main difference between button and cut bbls is the useful round count. Cut bbls last longer. Compared two bbls that I chambered up in 6XC. The Pac-Nor was wonderfully accurate and expired at 2000 rds. The Krieger matched the accuracy but went to 2600 rds before the X count went down.

Also, the 5R or 5C rifling is worth looking at as that land design doesn't allow fouling to hide at the land/groove junction like normal rifling. Bartline is making this land profile in cut bbls.

At the cost of purchasing and fitting, I like to maximize my round counts from any bbl I purchase.

Bob
 
Benchmark Barrels in Arlington, WA have been putting out some nice barrels. I would certainly consider them for your next build. I would put them up there with Shilen for quality. I don`t think you`d have that long wait either. I`ve seen quite a few shooting 600 yard BR in the NW.
Jeff
 
I've bought a fair number of Hart barrels over the past few years, and they have all been excellent. Delivery time is averaging 4 weeks. But, I've also bought Shilen's and Krieger's, my most recent for a 6ppc re-barrel. Cannot really complain about any of them.
 
Lynn: I agree with your recommendation of a Bartlein, and I wanted to try one (would have been my first), for the current 6ppc re-barrel. Tried to find one thru many different sources, and no one would or could quote a delivery date. One quote did say "Maybe next Summer". Called Sinclair and had the Krieger I need in my hands in less than 5 days. Will try for a Bartlein with the next re-barrel, but will place the order far enough in advance. I've never heard anything but praise for them.
 
Lots of good choices out there right now. Hard to beleive we went from the big three of Douglas, Hart and Shilen to all thos listed above. With pretty much what everyone else has said any of the names mentioned will give you good results.
Unlike Mr Beckett and Rodger I have not found the Button barrels to give out faster than a cut rifle barrel. Cetainly have not found that one cleans better than the other with the exception being Douglas. It seems to me ( and this is only my experience) that Douglas does not put as much time into lapping there barrels before they hit the door. Despite that, Douglas barrel can shoot real well too.
Burning up barrels seems to be my specialty in the last few years. I have had Button barrels last the same round count as my Kriegers or Rock Creek's. Again this is just my expereance, you may find it difrent than I do.

Got my first Brux on a gun right now. Looking pretty good so far.


Good Luck with your build.
RussT
 
Lynn thanks for the recommendation of the Bartlein and 8.5" twist. Its things like the twist that I am ignorant of. I don't mind being ignorant, stupid is a whole nother story. This barrel will be going on a trued S&W 1500 action. I didn't have much faith in this action until I took it to the smith, who will be doing the work for me, and he was impressed with the action. It is a Howa action that was put together with S&W specs. The way the bolt meets up with the breech is similar to Remington's three rings of steel design, integral recoil lug and actually the tang is very thick and recessed into the stock, acting as a recoil lug also. The trigger on it is phenomenal breaking some where from 8-9 ounces of pull. I think it will shoot exceptionally well as a varmint rig! It doesn't take anything special for rings and bases either, same as Remington 700.

Mike
 
Nothing wrong with a Howa 1500 action thats for sure. I like your idea of going with a 10 twist. If your going to shoot varmint bullets no need for an 8 twist. Get a krieger or a barlein like Lynn said and try that 10 twist out. I think you will really enjoy it with the bullets you mentioned. Dont forget about the Berger 80 and 88gr varmint bullets. they are very very accurate and would be a nice fit in that 10 twist barrel. Good luck and enjoy! Lee
 
Guys once again, thanks for all the great info. I'm gonna go with a Bartlein or a Krieger, whoever can get me a blank the quikest. The smith thats building this rig for me used to be a barrel maker for Krieger, so hes kind of partial to Kriegers. He also told me the guys at Bartlein used to be employed by Krieger. I thought all of this was kind of interesting. Thanks again all!

Mike
 
try accuracy one for a bartlein barrel. i'm putting a 6br together and my smith had a bartlein barrel in a few days......they have a on going monthly order with bartlein to keep the shelf stocked with the most popular calibers. i got lucky with them having the contour and twist i wanted.

the wed site don't list what they have. you need to call them
 
I have a safe full of Savage actions with custom built Pac Nor barrels on them...from 20 Vartarg to 358 Win...very accurate...easy to keep clean...very reputable company to deal with.....never a problem with any of mine.....
 
I've got a Benchmark on my 6BR and like it very much. Only about 500 rounds thru it now. It's the first non-factory barrel I've ever owned. I was and still am amazed how accurate my rifle is and how quickly the bore cleans up.

I have an 8 twist. I was planning on shooting heavy bullets, BUT is seems the only thing on the shelves are lighter bullets around here. I haven't passed on a box of 107 SMKs yet. I guess I need to mail order some bullets.

I've met the Harts in Lafayette, NY. The are great people. I thought Hart Barrels didn't sell just barrels. I thought they require their barrels to be mounted by themselves or any one of the gunsmiths they know????

Like I said this custom rifle business is new to me. I had Stockade Gun Stock from NE build a rifle on a Savage target action. I couldn't be happier with everything.

Take care,

Jeff
 
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