Bartlein or Krieger ?

[Swamplord]

Would like all y'alls input on which one you would choose and why, based specifically on barrel quality, accuracy and throat/rifling longevity and not on waiting period or customer service, as both barrels are in stock and ready to ship
they are identical .... 31" 10 twist 5R Light Palma contour

I own one Bartlein for my 338 Wolverine, but haven't fired it yet as project is ongoing
I am expecting my 300 Wolf reamer any day now and an in stock bbl is a glorious thing !
Have always read great reviews on both based on quality and performance.... negative reviews are always based on long waits and poor service, in this situation it's a non issue

anybody here with 30 cal mags use these barrels ? comments ?

 

[MudRunner2005]

I think you can't go wrong with ANY of the major reputable barrel mfg's out there, like Krieger, Douglas, Bartlein, Brux, Obermeyer, Rock Creek, Shilen, Hart, or anyone like that who has been in this game for years and has an excellent reputation. I was generalizing names, my appologies if I left any other good mfg's out of the list, it was not intentional.

My smith once told me, "Well, I can sell you whatever blank you want depending on how big your wallet is...But the truth is, in my years of experience, it's not in who makes your barrel blank....It's who builds your gun that determines how accurate it's gonna be."

And so far, he's been right. He's rebarreled actions of mine with old take-off Remington barrels he had sitting in a 55-gallon drum in his shop that he just gave me, and he trued everything up, and that rifle was shooting 1-hole groups @ 100 yards. Which leads me to believe that when you're as good as he is, it doesn't matter who made your barrel blank, but how good the smith is that does the work, and how well he knows his equipment.

gun)

 

[IdahoCTD]

I really doubt you can go wrong with either. Krieger is at the top of just about every equipment list for benchrest weather it is 1000yd or 100yd. I've had really good luck with the 3 Bartlein's I've built with and I have a few more waiting for me to do something with them. I also have a few Krieger's on rifles and they also shoot really well. I also have a few Krieger barrels in the safe waiting on me. If it was me I'd pick the cheaper one because there probably isn't a difference in the barrel that you'd notice.

Unlike Mudrunner I know that the barrel is the single most important part of a rifles accuracy. A bad barrel can't be fixed by the best gunsmithing in the world. A good barrel will shoot well even chamber in a 3 jaw chuck (not common practice for accuracy gunsmiths). I've seen it done a few times and every time I shake my head in disbelief but they still shoot.

 

[MudRunner2005]

I really doubt you can go wrong with either. Krieger is at the top of just about every equipment list for benchrest weather it is 1000yd or 100yd. I've had really good luck with the 3 Bartlein's I've built with and I have a few more waiting for me to do something with them. I also have a few Krieger's on rifles and they also shoot really well. I also have a few Krieger barrels in the safe waiting on me. If it was me I'd pick the cheaper one because there probably isn't a difference in the barrel that you'd notice.

Unlike Mudrunner I know that the barrel is the single most important part of a rifles accuracy. A bad barrel can't be fixed by the best gunsmithing in the world. A good barrel will shoot well even chamber in a 3 jaw chuck (not common practice for accuracy gunsmiths). I've seen it done a few times and every time I shake my head in disbelief but they still shoot.

A bad barrel is a bad barrel....Who said anything about making a bad barrel shoot? I was talking about good take-off barrels that were capable of shooting regardless of brand, if the smith does his job. How does that make me "unknowing" that they barrel is the most important part of the equation???

I guess I'm just a moron, so I'll leave the conversation now...Yall have fun.

Good luck with the build, Pro.

 

[Swamplord]

I currently use Benchmark, Obermeyer, Brux, Rock Creek and Hart in my wildcat guns, Bartlein also just haven't had the opportunity to shoot one yet...

A friend has a Kreiger in 7mm-338 Lapua that shoots lights out waayy out there ! another guy runs a Bartlein in 6.5 WSM with fantastic accuracy and the velocities are freakin insane for this wildcat, I've heard that the Bartleins tend to run faster with their 5R gain twist type of rifling over the Kreigers ..

Both told me order whichever is available and ya won't go wrong.....
I just placed the order for the Bartlein because of the 5R rifling, the Kreiger wasn't in the 5R
at the same time I ordered a 31" 8 twist 5R Light Palma Bartlein in 6.5mm for my 6.5 Prometheus wildcat to replace the 27" 8.5 twist Brux that I am using for fireforming brass and load developement

I went with Bartlein because of the 5R and simply because they also had the 6.5 barrel in stock ...
at $340 each and shipped out today it is a **** good deal I think !!!

 

[Kurt]

i run a 6.5 bartlien 5r and it is a hammer

 

[MontanaRifleman]

I currently use Benchmark, Obermeyer, Brux, Rock Creek and Hart in my wildcat guns, Bartlein also just haven't had the opportunity to shoot one yet...

A friend has a Kreiger in 7mm-338 Lapua that shoots lights out waayy out there ! another guy runs a Bartlein in 6.5 WSM with fantastic accuracy and the velocities are freakin insane for this wildcat, I've heard that the Bartleins tend to run faster with their 5R gain twist type of rifling over the Kreigers ..

Both told me order whichever is available and ya won't go wrong.....
I just placed the order for the Bartlein because of the 5R rifling, the Kreiger wasn't in the 5R
at the same time I ordered a 31" 8 twist 5R Light Palma Bartlein in 6.5mm for my 6.5 Prometheus wildcat to replace the 27" 8.5 twist Brux that I am using for fireforming brass and load developement

I went with Bartlein because of the 5R and simply because they also had the 6.5 barrel in stock ...
at $340 each and shipped out today it is a **** good deal I think !!!

Disregard

 

[IdahoCTD]

A bad barrel is a bad barrel....Who said anything about making a bad barrel shoot? I was talking about good take-off barrels that were capable of shooting regardless of brand, if the smith does his job. How does that make me "unknowing" that they barrel is the most important part of the equation???

I guess I'm just a moron, so I'll leave the conversation now...Yall have fun.

Good luck with the build, Pro.

Don't take it as a insult because it wasn't. Your smith saying that how it's put together is all that matters is BS in my opinion. I gave an example of several that were put together shabbily yet they shot really well. Could they have shot better if they were put together "better"? I'm sure they would have shot a bit better but a good barrel will shoot without going the extra mile on the gunsmithing end. Like I've said before....the barrel holds 95+% of the accuracy potential of the rifle. It can be screwed up if it's not put together right but for someone with some skill it can still shoot **** well.

So I wasn't really arguing with you, I was disagreeing with your gunsmith.

 

[Bodywerks]

I Run A 260 Krieger And A 338Lm Bartlein. Both Shoot Lights Out.

 

[gebhardt02]

Two Krieger 308's that shoot lights out, two Bartleins that do the same in .243 Win., one .300WM Bartlein that was toast in 1200 rounds (normal for my type of shooting) and another Bartlein .243 Win that has about 600 rounds of .243 Win through it and on track to be toasted at 1200 rounds as well. Have another Krieger on order for one of my .243's. Both of those barrel manufacturers make great barrels! FWIW, I'm going through about 3 barrels a year.

Geb

 

[elkaholic]

I have two 30/375 S.I.'s; one with a Krieger 4 groove and one with a Bartlein 5r. Both are good shooters but the Krieger is better. This may well be because the Krieger is on a BAT action and the Bartlein on a B78. Both clean up very well and the Krieger is 25' faster, but again, has a melonited barrel. Bartlein owners use to work for Krieger. Bartlein is a much newer co. and my smith says he has (never) had any trouble with Kriegers service. I don't think you could go wrong with either, but because of the long time quality, I would go with Krieger........Rich