Barrels 2020

[Matno]

Wow
You're the first guy with good knowledge to give x caliber a good review.
I've heard nothing but bad stuff about them

That's weird. I spend an inordinate amount of time reading reviews, and I've never heard negative reviews about X-caliber. I've spoken directly with them a couple of times and emailed several times, always with great responses, and as I said above their barrels are very well made. My only complaint was about the time I had to wait to get my second barrel, which to be fair was within the predicted window of 8-10 weeks at the time. I'm curious what bad stuff you've heard.

 

[jbasas]

I just built a 6.5 PRC earlier this year with a Carbonsix barrel (26", 1-8 twist) and it shoots 1/4" groups with 4 different loads. I can get between 3/8" andc1/2" with little effort. Even shoots factory ammo great. I couldn't be happier, it shoots much better than me.

 

[HRM Johnny]

Tag

 

[JAYgs8163]

There's a entire thread on SnipersHide and they mostly give Preferred a big thumbs up big time. Anyways.... my smith cut my chamber and did the threading and mine cleans very easy and shoots lights out. 20" 300WSM, 1/10 twist.

Preferred barrel blanks (the company)

I just mean at what round count did you see an increase in velocity, some barrels are around 70-80, some around 150, just wondering how many rds to plan on before really starting load developement Ok I get you now. Well I’d be lying if I told you I knew at this point. This is a new barrel...

www.snipershide.com

 

[JMW67]

as stated in an earlier post its not the number of good barrels a company makes that gives them their reputation its the number of bad ones that slip through they can all make great barrels just how many in a row

 

[Jakeweb09]

Ahh, the unicorn pixie dust!

I have 2lbs I'd be willing to sell or trade on some other powders here in Washington

 

[Glenn Tullius]

Hart is the very best barrel i own out of mgm, mcgowen, shilen and lilja.

 

[new2mud]

View attachment 230685

Heart shot at 200 yards, almost field dressed.

Have no idea how you ever tracked that deer down after the shot. Great harvest!

 

[FEENIX]

I have 2lbs I'd be willing to sell or trade on some other powders here in Washington

I appreciate the offer but I have plenty of powder to try. The beauty of reloading is making it work with what you have. Perhaps others might be interested. Thanks again.

 

[TXTrained]

I have been thinking about this for awhile and I want to make a thread discussing barrels and their quality as of now. Barrels like all things go up and down and change over the years. I know of a few barrel manufactures who have stepped their game up in the last couple years and seem to be producing better results. I currently am running Bartlein barrels and have no complaints about them. I however am very curious and I always like to experiment and learn more.

Having said that, if any of you could just give me a brief review or opinion on recent barrels you have used/installed/inspected I would really appreciate it. This is not a bashing thread, but I want it to be sort of a guide and understanding of where barrels stand as of 2020. I'll start off and say from my experiences , I see mainly Bartlein, Brux, Krieger, and Proof barrels. Those all seem to do well, but how about all the other guys?

Depending on caliber..But I like Shilen quite a bit.Ive had good luck with Faxon and Krieger too.

 

[FEENIX]

Have no idea how you ever tracked that deer down after the shot. Great harvest!

LOL! Here's another picture ...

 

[Eagleye242]

I have used most of the major manufacturers barrels over the past 35 years. At present I have 3 - Benchmarks [very good, IMHO] 1 Krieger, 1 Bob Jury, 1 Douglas, 2 Harts, 1 Pac-Nor [from before the fire] 1 Bartlein, 2 McGowen. They all shoot very well indeed. 1 of my McGowens is on a sporter weight 308 Norma Magnum [26", 1-10" twist] This rifle is exceptionally accurate, and has regularly produced groups under ½ moa at 200 & 300 meters. [218 & 327 yards] with both the 165 and 175 grain Barnes TTSX. One of my Benchmarks is a 27", 1-8 twist heavy BR rifle in 6mmBR. It is consistently a 1/4 moa rifle, right out past 800 meters. I can only remember getting one problem barrel, and it was crooked. Dave.

 

[Deputy819]

Dang! Talk about the proverbial 'Red Carpet'! Is that this season?

 

[Send it 284]

Could you elaborate on the issues with Preferred? I am in the market for a prefit to save wear on my hunting barrel and not a lot of companies offer lighter contours in in the sub-$400 area. I'm not looking for benchrest, just something around MOA to bang steel with and practice at distance. I'm currently looking at a wilson from Ragged Holes, Preferred, or one of the lighter contours from X-caliber. Xcaliber worries me that they specifically exclude their lighter contours from their accuracy guarantee. I'd buy a criterion but I'd have to sand my stock open even more to fit it.

It seems every time I read a stack of positive reviews I find a few really negative ones and I go back to the drawing board. All of the feedback in this thread has been very helpful.

To add to the thread:

I have a criterion target barrel from NSS in 6.5 creedmoor that shoots very well and does not walk with heat.

I have a rock creek #2 from PVA that shoots way too good for how light it is and has been very very easy to load for. Easily a 1/2 minute barrel in 6.5 PRC. Cleaning is a breeze as well and the barrel runs relatively fast.

I had a bartlein in the past that was excellent was well.

The two I had issues with were about a year ago.
They both had issues throwing flyers, and had cold bore poi changes between 1-2 moa.
Also they copper fouled badly, I'm seeing a pattern with cheap barrels and fouling issues.

I sent one of the barrels back to Preferred and they gave me another for free.
I just started loading for it and unfortunately the chamber is out of spec, fired case are so tight at the neck that I can't even push a bullet in, and that's with Norma brass neck turned to .015.

Not trying to bash these guys, but with barrels you certainly get what you pay for.
I'm done trying to save a few hundred bucks on a barrel, consistency is well worth the investment