Barrels 2020

[L.Sherm]

One of the big advertising phases has been how cut rifling does not induce stress into the steel like a button does. Thats true, but a button is stress relieved after its made. If that cut barrel had stress in it from the steel mill, it still has stress in it after its rifled and you buy it. Theres pros and cons to both methods.

Alex this last paragraph sums it all up, people don't reliaze how much any gun barrel manufacter is up to the mercy of the steel they get. Its in 16' sticks and any were in that 16' piece could be a bad 2'. I saw it in I piece from a lot of CM.

 

[Jud96]

Alex this last paragraph sums it all up, people don't reliaze how much any gun barrel manufacter is up to the mercy of the steel they get. Its in 16' sticks and any were in that 16' piece could be a bad 2'. I saw it in I piece from a lot of CM.

I agree with Alex as well.

 

[Rflamm250]

I've had em all brux, bart, proof, rock creek, hart, Broughton, benchmark, and hawk hill.

I prefer hawk hill over all of them. They clean and break in the easiest and AMAZING accuracy everytime.

Brux and bart would be a close second for me

Agree Hawk Hill and Brux are all I use. For the same reasons.

 

[Hugnot]

I have used Hart, Douglas, Lilja, PacNor, & McGowen. All with good results, no preferences except McGowen has given me the best service and best deals.

Some photos:

These are my casual 300 yard targets, tossing out sighters they go about .3 MOA - all with McGowen barrels, 6mm AI, .204R & .20P. These are slightly used Walmart paper plates except the black target was shot with a .20P. Not having the sophisticated optics to examine bores, and extensive comparative analysis protocols I am unable to produce any ratings. I used to be into NRA HiPower and liked Hart barrels but now I can get good 600 yard rodent scores with my McGowen barrels. The McGowen barrels are real shiny inside and are real easy to clean using GunSlick foam and 5-20W synthetic motor oil. I can see what appears to be a series of interference rings inside the grooves. The 6mm AI has a 5R barrel. I have always wanted to see what a 3 LG barrel would be like.

 

[LTH181818]

Agreed!

Just trying to warn people. Not saying it's all the barrels fault, the Smith could also take some of the blame

Agreed, fluting, brakes mostly I want to not send 200 rounds thru the barrel testing it. I want loads that should shoot good, to shoot good.

 

[Tac-O]

Is it correct that Krieger won't do stainless barrels in a Sporter contour lighter than a 5?

 

[Alex Wheeler]

It depends on the bore size. You should call to be sure, but in my experience these are the smallest in SS. 6mm-#3, 6.5-#3.5, 7mm-#4, .30, #4.5, .338 #5

 

[Tac-O]

Well, I was hoping to get a stainless barrel from brux, Bart, or Krieger, 22-24" , 30cal, that is no more than 3lbs. I had started an online order with brux, but on confirmation over phone, he said they don't do stainless smaller than #4.

It doesn't seem possible with any of these mfrs because of their minimal contour requirements.

Thoughts?

 

[Deleted member 103481]

try lilja and rock

 

[nksmfamjp]

Well, I was hoping to get a stainless barrel from brux, Bart, or Krieger, 22-24" , 30cal, that is no more than 3lbs. I had started an online order with brux, but on confirmation over phone, he said they don't do stainless smaller than #4.

It doesn't seem possible with any of these mfrs because of their minimal contour requirements.

Thoughts?

That's weird. Brux built me a 30 cal 1:10; #3 blank SS in June.

 

[Another Casual]

Is it correct that Krieger won't do stainless barrels in a Sporter contour lighter than a 5?

I've had similar issues regarding contours with criterion. They offer custom contours but don't list the size limitations.

Krieger has them on their custom order page. Select a caliber and steel and it will show which are available. For instance, in 7mm they won't go smaller than #5 in stainless, but you can get the #0 in chromemoly.

 

[Tac-O]

That's weird. Brux built me a 30 cal 1:10; #3 blank SS in June.

I've had similar issues regarding contours with criterion. They offer custom contours but don't list the size limitations.

Krieger has them on their custom order page. Select a caliber and steel and it will show which are available. For instance, in 7mm they won't go smaller than #5 in stainless, but you can get the #0 in chromemoly.

I have noticed with the others that they state somewhere the minimum contour. I thought #3 was ok with brux because it was the lowest option for online ordering. Maybe I'll call and speak to the guy a bit more. His name was Ken. He said the website shouldn't have allowed it and it should be fixed :/

 

[Vol1975]

I've had 3 - not a large pool experience on custom barrels but here is my 3
1 - 7mm Bench mark barrel that is a great barrel with over 1k rounds. Been a solid 1/2 gun for a long time.

1-7mm Bartlein. Could never really get the gun to shoot as good as the benchmark. Tried a lot of different loads and other aspects to get gun to shoot. barrel now been removed

1-300 prc Hawk hill barrel. 180 ish rounds thus far and barrel is really good. So far been a 1/4 barrel from the start. Now with this gun which may make a difference is everything was put together using top products where the others were just barrel replacement of old guns.

 

[1000yards]

Preferred Barrels formerly MGM
Total garbage, same goes for Oregon Mountain Rifles.
My smith said the last one he received was crooked in two different directions, no wonder I couldn't get it to shoot consistently.
McGowan isn't much better

I have two of each Preferred and McGowen. All four rifles are under 1/2 MOA, closer to 1/4 if my old eyes do their part.