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Lija barrels question

HuntFarther

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2012
Messages
812
I just got word that a person has had something like 10-15 barrels go bad that were lija. To me this just does not seem right, and there should be some info here if that is the case. I guess the guns are losing accuracy because the barrels are to soft? I just think I am going to call dan and ask him. This is truly b.s. right?
 
I'm calling bs on this story, especially since its one person who has had problems with 10-15 barrels, something doesn't sound right. I have Lilja barrels on my builds and have had no problem. My 300rum has 1000 rounds thru it in last 18 months and still a tack driver. With that being said, my latest build with Lilja barrel will be here Monday. I'll start breaking in this week.
 
there was a recent problem with barrel steel that affected barrel life.
quite a few barrel makers had problems and lilja could have been one of them.
it wasent the fault of the barrel makers but that of steel quality they received.
im of the opinion it was recognised fairly quickly and dealt with.
i have a friend who had a large 338 built this year. the barrel was shipped
to the smith after a several month wait from a supplier other than lilja.
the smith received a call instructing him not to use that barrel or any others
made in a specific time frame.
i dont own any lilja barrels but have friends who do. ive heard nothing but
good reports about his product.
hopefully this type situation wont affect the reputations of those involved.
 
I am really thinking that dan might be getting the heat for something else that could have taken place. Maybe the steel is soft, that is what I was told the problem was with the barrels.
 
My lilja barrels are as flawless as you can get as far as I can tell. Same for a friend of mine whose 2 rifles now wear Liljas. I know a prominent builder who used to use Shilen until they had a bad spell. He changed to Lilja for several years but stated he received some barrels that wouldn't shoot well and requested replacements. It wasn't many, maybe a handful or less. He stated to me Dan told him he doesn't make bad barrels. The builder moved on to Hart and as far as I know hasn't changed.
 
My lilja barrels are as flawless as you can get as far as I can tell. Same for a friend of mine whose 2 rifles now wear Liljas. I know a prominent builder who used to use Shilen until they had a bad spell. He changed to Lilja for several years but stated he received some barrels that wouldn't shoot well and requested replacements. It wasn't many, maybe a handful or less. He stated to me Dan told him he doesn't make bad barrels. The builder moved on to Hart and as far as I know hasn't changed.

I had a shilin barrel on a rifle years ago. Long story short the accuracy went to crap and I spend about 5 years on and off trying to figure it out. Finally someone told me Shilen had some bad steel at one time so I contacted them and told them the story, time line and everything. Their anwser was "send it back" no quesations asked they replaced it no charge noting. Their customer service was THE best I have ever delt with. I can recommend them. Everyone has a lemon now and then, its what they do about it and Shilen stands behind their products and I would not hesetate to buy another barrel from them.
 
I had a shilin barrel on a rifle years ago. Long story short the accuracy went to crap and I spend about 5 years on and off trying to figure it out. Finally someone told me Shilen had some bad steel at one time so I contacted them and told them the story, time line and everything. Their anwser was "send it back" no quesations asked they replaced it no charge noting. Their customer service was THE best I have ever delt with. I can recommend them. Everyone has a lemon now and then, its what they do about it and Shilen stands behind their products and I would not hesetate to buy another barrel from them.

I'm very pleased with my shilen barrels. First custom barrels I've ever owned. 7Mag, 300 RUM, and just last year, a 280. Hart was my #2 custom barrel on a 270. My Shilen barreled 7mag was the first rifle I ever got 1 hole group at 100 yards and also repeated 1 hole group with shots of 3-4.



 
Anybody know what Hart's customer service is like. I recently had a brand new Hart installed on my 308 and it shoots like pure crap. I had a hart on it before and it shot lights out. Hence the reason I went with them for a second go round. I tried 155 amax's, 168 amax's, 178 amax's, 168 SMKs, 175 SMKs, 190 SMKs, 168 VLDs, 190 VLDs, 208 amax's, RL15, VARGET, N140, IMR4064, 4320, 4895, N540, N550, benchmark, H4350, RL17. On the lands, off the lands, BR2s, 210Ms, Rem 9-1/2 primers. Nothing. Out of over 500 rounds I could find a couple of consistent 1 MOA loads and shot only a few 1/2 MOA groups with zero repeatability. I tried refacing the barrel and re crowning it, inspected the chamber and throat. All was perfect. Didn't foul bad and cleaned very easy. Just wouldn't shoot. I thought after 100 rounds that it was me until I took my 6.5 to the range and shot them side by side. Bam, consistent 1/4 MOA with the 6.5 and 1-3 MOA with the 308. Then I went through everything on the rifle again. Made sure everything was torqued to the proper settings etc...still no good. I tried a different scope. Nothing. Then I fit my 6.5 barrel to my 308 and vice versa. No dice. The 6.5 barrel on my 308 rifle shot lights out. My 308 barrel on my 6.5 platform shot the same. Like poop. A couple weeks ago I had a new Bartlein fitted to my 308 chambered in 308. Bam. Instant shooter. You will never convince me that this hart barrel in nothing other than a lemon. I've been thinking about sending it back but I fear that it will make me more frustrated in the end than I already am.

Thoughts?

Btw, my 6.5 barrel is a lilja and was hands down the most accurate barrel I have ever used. That said after babying it for 400 rounds the **** hit the fan. Accuracy fell off and cleaning became he!!. After fire lapping, I brought it back to life. It started to suffer another 100-200 rounds later. I had an inch cut off the breech and 1/2" off the muzzle. Shot lights out for another 100 rounds and accuracy again has fallen off and has become the most impossible barrel to clean. I chalked it all up to it just being my caliber choice. The 6.5x284. Now I'm rethinking that maybe it's due to something else like bad steel. I babied that thing like crazy. 1 minutes or more between shots. Complete cool down after 3 shots. Cleanings every 20 rounds. Did not hot rod it. Break in and cleaning per Dan's instructions, loads were worked up slowly and never pushed. By the book I did everything right.
 
Anybody know what Hart's customer service is like... ...I've been thinking about sending it back but I fear that it will make me more frustrated in the end than I already am.

Thoughts?

You've got a lot of patience to put that kind of effort into this barrel. I'd send it back. Worst they can do is say go shovel snow. Maybe they'll replace it with another good one!
 
If there is any truth to what the OP is hearing my bet is that one call to Lilja would resolve it.

The barrel makers as people have pointed out are not running the foundries, they by the raw steel blanks and finish them to various levels.

Everything I know about them tells me they will honor their commitments to their customers. If you have a bad barrel have your smith contact them rather than just getting angry.
 
If there is any truth to what the OP is hearing my bet is that one call to Lilja would resolve it.

The barrel makers as people have pointed out are not running the foundries, they by the raw steel blanks and finish them to various levels.

Everything I know about them tells me they will honor their commitments to their customers. If you have a bad barrel have your smith contact them rather than just getting angry.

Very well said!
 

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Michael E., I've never had a customer service issue with Hart so I can't help you there but I've bought their barrels direct and they've done work for me, rebarreling an action. If I had the problem you describe I would contact Hart or have your gunsmith do so.
 
I have had great customer service from Hart and used one for my last build. Lilja has the worst customer service in the business as far as anything close to a warranty. As had been state Dan has never made a bad barrel. Don't waste your time and money with someone who will not stand behind their product.

Regards, Paul
 
If there is any truth to what the OP is hearing my bet is that one call to Lilja would resolve it.

The barrel makers as people have pointed out are not running the foundries, they by the raw steel blanks and finish them to various levels.

Everything I know about them tells me they will honor their commitments to their customers. If you have a bad barrel have your smith contact them rather than just getting angry.

I only asked this just because someone here is telling his customers that is what happened to his gun and to 10-15 other ones. I feel something fishy and figured that if there was one way or the other the truth will surface.
 
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