Best barrel manufacturer

[bamban]

Yeah except dodge sucks

Agreed...

 

[big johnson]

Shot Douglas XXX for years with no problems , Benchmark now just because that's who my smith is hooked up with. With the modern machinery used today everyone has good barrels and you can always get one that is bad. Most of the newer companies, the guys have worked for the better known companies and spun off to start their own just like any other trade.

 

[cabelasken]

my 3 customs wear Shilens. haven't had an issue with them except that one needed a 150 round break in. It also requires 2 fouling shots before the hunt, the other two do not.

 

[bamban]

my 3 customs wear Shilens. haven't had an issue with them except that one needed a 150 round break in. It also requires 2 fouling shots before the hunt, the other two do not.

Go Shilen!!!

 

[Justice1327]

Broughton barrels are the best I've ever used, Unfortunately they no longer make barrels, I wish someone would pick up where they left off making barrels using the 5C rifling. But Hart barrels are hard to beat too.

Someone in Tenn/Kent bought the equipment from Tim. Not sure why they arent up and runnin. seems like a waste.

 

[bamban]

Mark Chanlynn Barrels
Few here will know his barrels.

I do. Sully at Westwind Rifles, another Obermeyer protégé, uses Chanlynn barrels.

 

[Jeffrey Van Zandt]

Bartleins are and have been the barrel of choice by a large majority of PRC shooters. There are tables and graphs online. I don't know the numbers on benchrest competitors. A lot of variables such as cost and availability over the last 20 could affect the numbers.
That being said, I lean toward cut rifled barrels mostly due to internet info. My neighbor is a gunsmith and builds a lot of customs and rebarreled actions. He uses Hart barrels exclusively (button rifled) and swears by them. His rifles are very accurate.

I love hart but the waiting time is two long and yes bartlin are outstanding match barrels but again wait time . I go to bug hole for barrels in stock and now just about all are proof pre fits no wait time or less then two weeks but they are all good

 

[Pdvdh]

Nice to know which barrel manufacturer produces the lowest number of lemons.
If you happen to get a lemon, it still painful. And if the barrel manufacturer won't replace their bad barrel, it means I'm funding the continuing production of those lemons over time.

 

[ImBillT]

Most of the custom barrel manufacturers make good enough barrels to win matches, but if I'm paying retail for a new blank, it's going to be a Krieger until something changes my mind.

One of the best shooting barrels at 100yds that I've ever owned is a Hart.

 

[Litehiker]

PROOF barrels are often Bartlein barrels with CF wrapping. As far as I know PROOF does not make the steel barrels, they just CF wrap them.

I'd go for a Bartlein stainless factory lapped barrel in 5R rifling.

 

[bultinkle]

Proof sells steel barrel blanks also.

They contour their own steel barrels and then wrap them.

 

[L.Sherm]

PROOF barrels are often Bartlein barrels with CF wrapping. As far as I know PROOF does not make the steel barrels, they just CF wrap them.

I'd go for a Bartlein stainless factory lapped barrel in 5R rifling.

Its been about 5 years since proof quit wrapping bart barrels, maybe more.

 

[JRS3]

So many variables and "the best" is so subjective.

I have or had Kreiger, Bartlein, Shilen, Lilja, Pacnor, Benchmark, and Proof Research (CF). All have shot very well.

The Bartleins are on the two bolt rifles I use the most and consider my most trusted rifles. Grab and go anywhere, these rifles get the nod 90% of the time.

I have Kreigers on both bolts and autos and they shoot amazing but I just don't use those rifles as much as I should.

The the rifles with Shilens, Lilja, and Pacnor all shoot good, about the same. No slouches with any of them but the rifles just don't get picked up much.

My lone Benchmark is a .280 AI, 9 twist, Sendero built by HCR that is an absolute drill. I have used it but being heavy-er, it's for "Beanfields" and similar. Dang, I need to hunt this rifle this year…

The Proofs are on both bolts and autos and are my favorite, fun setups that are being used more and more. All of them are fantastic shooters. My next "projects" are all being planned around Proof CFs so that should show my Happiness with them.

Again, all of the above is based on experiences. None have been bad choices. If I wanted an all steel barrel, Bartlein would probably be the winner. Proof's Carbons have been very good to me and I just like the look of the CF.

 

[L.Sherm]

Green Mountain, hands down.

I've got 3 or 4 in 17 and 20 cal they shoot pretty **** good.