I have a medium length mauser action ready for a barrel. I have been using Lothar Walther and they guarantee 1/2 inch at 100 yards, but I was hoping for a good sporter 24 inch barrel which is more budget friendly to deer hunt with. Any suggestions or just bite the bullet and get another Lothar Walther in 7mm08 at $426.25 + shipping.?
What barrel for a deer rifle?
- Thread starter Jay Byrd
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066wally
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I'd look for a Shillen barrel at midwayusa.com or directly from Shillen. Douglas, Hart, Lilja, HS Precision are others I'd look into. No issues with LW but the price sounds high to me.
Recently finished a 7-08 ai with a mcgowen barrel. First mcgowen barrel to use but so far it seems to be good shooting around .75" with my first fireform loads i tried.
lancetkenyon
Well-Known Member
Is that $426 already chambered? You said "get another Lothar Walther in 7mm08 at $426.25 + shipping".
If that is chambered, I doubt you will find anything cheaper. Maybe ER Shaw?
Most good blanks are $325-750 retail.
If that is chambered, I doubt you will find anything cheaper. Maybe ER Shaw?
Most good blanks are $325-750 retail.
I just gave Preferred barrels a try for the first time and it was everything I needed for a PRS build. $265 base price. It is shooting the 131 Blackjacks at 1" at 200 meters. I was impressed that it had no visible copper build-up during break-in. I fired two, 2-shot groups and found no copper when cleaning, so I shot a 10-round ladder and still no copper. Dialed it in at a mild 2800 fps using RL26.
Every bit as accurate as the Bartlein I pulled off. I currently have barrels from Bartlein, Hart, Douglas, Proof, Green Mountain that I fitted to a mini-14 (and now Preferred); they honestly all maintain great accuracy but Preferred stepped up and sent me a great shooter very quickly so I thought I would give credit where due.
Every bit as accurate as the Bartlein I pulled off. I currently have barrels from Bartlein, Hart, Douglas, Proof, Green Mountain that I fitted to a mini-14 (and now Preferred); they honestly all maintain great accuracy but Preferred stepped up and sent me a great shooter very quickly so I thought I would give credit where due.
johnnyk
Well-Known Member
I used a LW, Savage pre-fit, 6.5-284Norma in the past and it was a very slick barrel. Not much fouling at all and it was at least 1/2 MOA with everything I shot in it.
I purchased a Shilen Savage pre-fit from Northland Shooters Supply and it is great! Makes me feel like a pro! James Kessler is a great guy to deal with also.
Last, but not least, I got a Pac-Nor (yes, Savage pre-fit) right before their big fire in Oct 2019. 28", 8T stainless super match in .300WinMag and it stacks the 215gn Bergers, 212gn & 225gn Hornady's on top of each other. Super nice, accurate barrel. After installing, I ran a unithroater (Ryan Mantha) reamer in it and increased the throat and OAL for the 212gn Berger runs 3.7"+. Simply phenomenal shooter. The 212/215's run 3050-3070fps and the one load I tried with the 225's was 2965fps. This is with RL26.
I purchased a Shilen Savage pre-fit from Northland Shooters Supply and it is great! Makes me feel like a pro! James Kessler is a great guy to deal with also.
Last, but not least, I got a Pac-Nor (yes, Savage pre-fit) right before their big fire in Oct 2019. 28", 8T stainless super match in .300WinMag and it stacks the 215gn Bergers, 212gn & 225gn Hornady's on top of each other. Super nice, accurate barrel. After installing, I ran a unithroater (Ryan Mantha) reamer in it and increased the throat and OAL for the 212gn Berger runs 3.7"+. Simply phenomenal shooter. The 212/215's run 3050-3070fps and the one load I tried with the 225's was 2965fps. This is with RL26.
Yes, I had a great guy, he specialized in mausers and lived pretty close. Low-Tec Gunsmithing. He may be retired now. The barrel is backordered 2 months so I will be looking in the mean time. I was thinking about Parkerizing, it is tough and non-reflective. Have to plug the bore and chamber. Stock is a Boyd's laminated. Green, brown, grey black. I will float the barrel and bed the action. One I bedded I added aluminum filings to the epoxy mix, made it beautiful too, like metal-flake.
Idaho Lefty
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I used to, Custom Build, Mauser 98's in, the 1970's, 80's to, mid 90's ( did Bluing, Custom Glass Bedded, Finished & fitted stocks, Installed Barrels, Pads, etc. ) I used to buy Douglas, Premium Bbl's from, Brownell's and Hand Chamber them ( Hand ream, as they were, "short Chambered" & set, Headspace ) cut / Crown, etc. They ALWAYS shot, Sub 1 MOA in, .25-06, .270 Win, .280 Rem and .30-06 ( Test shot, W/ Fact. Rem. Corelokt's ) before, I sent them out, the Door.
You might check with, Brownell's to see if they are still available, IF you have access to, a Reamer, Lathe and other Tools Nec. OR, check to see, how reasonable $$$ wise, a Gunsmith would charge to Install one. Douglas Barrels were ALWAYS, a Reasonably Priced,.. "shooter" barrel and heard that, they still, ARE !
You might check with, Brownell's to see if they are still available, IF you have access to, a Reamer, Lathe and other Tools Nec. OR, check to see, how reasonable $$$ wise, a Gunsmith would charge to Install one. Douglas Barrels were ALWAYS, a Reasonably Priced,.. "shooter" barrel and heard that, they still, ARE !
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Idaho Lefty
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Looks like, they are STILL making "Short Chambered" Barrels, by Shilen !
Another GOOD Barrel at, a reasonable price !
Yes, I went with a Shilen, 7mm08. Midway had them on sale so tax and shipping was under $300. Now I have to get in line at the gunsmith. He has a considerable backlog. They are 26 inches so will have him to cut and crown to 24 inches. I have a 26 inch 270 Winchester and the free-bore is a little long so I can get almost magnum speed if I wish.
