Which barrel manufacturer to go with?

[Bmccart]

I have a rem 700 long action that I'm going to be buying a barrel for here soon. Thinking I'm going to go with a 257 wby, 1-7 or 1-8 twist, 26". Going to be a whitetail/muley/antelope gun. Who's the best barrel manufacturer to go with? Thinking about going with one of the pre threaded and chambered Shilen barrels. Any other suggestions?

 

[1894C]

Pick a major brand and run with it. Krieger, hart shillen, bartlein, benchmark etc. I usually look for a short lead time or an in stock from bug holes etc.

 

[CApighunter]

I've used Brux and proof without issues, just had my smith cut an Origin prefit with a rock creek and he said it's the straightest barrel he's ever seen. All the major manufacturers make good blanks, pick what's in stock and go for it.

 

[MagnumManiac]

Personally, have used Shilen, Hart and Bartlein from the US, and a couple from Australia. Have been very happy with all, but my all time hands down best barrel maker that I use is Bartlein. Barrels are flawless.

Cheers.

 

[L.Sherm]

Use whatever your smith recommends.

 

[1894C]

Anybody that can run a barrel to the fourth decimal place is beyond good enough. Many outside of the manufacturing world do not understand exactly how impressive it is to have a barrel cut to the fourth decimal place when a human hair is ONLY three decimal places. Bad barrels happen. But those that understand the process realize you're 10 times as likely to screw up putting the a **** near perfect barrel on a morbidly out of spec action, screw up a bed job, or ream a poorly concentric chamber than you are to get a bad barrel from any of the top 5 to 10 barrel manufacturers.

Krieger, Hart, Shillen, proof, benchmark, Brux, lilja, Bartlein you name it. The name on the barrel is meaningless if you have someone booger up the rest. It's a component not a stand alone item.

 

[rhamilton]

I have been running https://preferredbarrelblanks.com/ for a couple of years now they are as good as any of the top 5 barrel makers and generally have a much shorter lead time if not in stock. I know they are pulling some .257 1-7 & 1-7.5 barrels out of their oven this week because 2 of them are mine. Look them up.

 

[Lab rat]

Love my Lilja 26"in 7mm

 

[jedimonkey]

Broughton (North), never had a bad one.

 

[Swamplord]

257 Wby is a hot rod, go with a cut-rifled vs a button rifled barrel for throat longevity, buttons wash out quicker

Rock Creek Barrels make awesome fast twist 257 cal barrels

 

[bigngreen]

Broughton (North), never had a bad one.

No longer in buisness.

 

[Jack C Patterson]

I just had my M-70 7mmRM rebarreled with a Shilen. This is the second Shilen barrel I've had done. The first was on a MRC X-3, both are great shooters. 26 inch chrome moly.

 

[Mram10us]

krieger is my favorite based on quality and the way they run their business

 

[nksmfamjp]

There are many good, but not a clear best. Shilen makes a good barrel, readily available at Brownells, good price, satisfaction guaranteed!

Just something to consider....saves you $100 maybe.

If you buy a brand X, bring it to gunsmith Z and it shoots like crap, you will own it if the gunsmith decides he doesn't want to prove his work is good. This is a relatively rare case, I believe.