Custom barrel - what you get

[Guy Miner]

Time to time I get asked what it is that I'm paying for when I get a top-notch custom barrel, that often times costs as much as a new rifle by the time it's chambered, cut, crowned and installed. This video from Dan Lilja, a custom barrel maker, explains it better than I can:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf9zZqn0 ... r_embedded

Regards, Guy

 

[Scott Spencer]

I hope Pac-Nor does my 338-06AI justice! :grin: Getting ready to send my rifle off to them for that conversion from my 30-06.

 

[DrMike]

You get what you pay for. Thanks for posting this link, Guy.

 

[Desert Fox]

You can request a video of your barrel bore when ordering one from Lilja.

I hope Pac-Nor does my 338-06AI justice! Very Happy Getting ready to send my rifle off to them for that conversion from my 30-06.

Not sure about their work but I can attest to the quality of their barrel. I have one of their 3 grove in my 308 and it's a hammer.

5 shot at 110 yards with 155 grain Scenar

10 shot at 110 yards with 168 grain Nosler Comp

Another 5 shot group at 110 yards ( right)

 

[DrMike]

DF,

That is a pretty good testimony of the quality of their product. There is some fine shooting demonstrated there.

 

[Powerstroke]

When I was having the .260 built I requested a Lilja barrel - after the fiasco who knows what ended up on it, but it's a shooter.

 

[jmad_81]

Interesting. I'm hoping Pac Nor does a great job as well. My 24", #4 fluted, three groove in 280 AI is four to five weeks out they say. Can't wait!

 

[killdeernow]

I just wish Lilja installed them. I'm thinking about having my 223 WSSM done up by either Hart or Pac-Nor because they install it.

 

[JD338]

My 280 AI has a Hart 24" #5 fluted barrel.
Very accurate and easy to clean.

JD338

 

[Scott Spencer]

A quick update.....I decided to go with the standard .338-06 and not the Ackley. I figured that if I ever decided to sell it I would have a larger market with the commercial version over the wildcat version.

Besides, the ballistics on the A-Square version look pretty dang impressive and should meet my needs plenty. :grin:

 

[DrMike]

Good choice, Scott. I was really torn between the 338-06 and the 9.3 X 64 for my current project. My hunting partner carries a 338-06, and it is a great round. I like the Whelen, but the 338-06 has perhaps even more to recommend it. You are correct that the data presented in the literature does make it attractive.

 

[Elkman]

I had a 338-06 for several years, killed two elk with it. Great round loved it, rifle did not preform consistently so I sold it and built my 35 Whelen. Love it also but no blood. :grin:

 

[Mighty Peace]

I went with a PacNor Stainless Supermatch-grade #5 blank barrel. My gunsmith cut down to 24", bored to a 338-06 Ackley Improved, crowned, fluted and powdercoated. Only comp0laint was a cosmetic mistake but its ok. Still looks and shoots great.

Love the rifle !!!! Need to initiate it on a Bull Moose I was drawn for this year as no Bull Elk last year. If no moose, then hopefully an elk.

 

[Scott Spencer]

Penny, from PacNor, called me today and they are starting work on my rifle. I went with a 23" stainless super match grade barrel, 5 groove rifling, recessed flat crown, with 1:10 twist. They will choose the largest barrel that will fit my Ruger M77 factory wood stock and go from there on the dimensions and contouring.

 

[FOTIS]

Had a 378 bee mag from pac-nor. 1.5" at 300 yards with 270 failsafes!

 

[Guest]

Lilja 260 with a Pac Nor 22-250 on the way. Hope it is as good as many on the "boards" say theirs is.

 

[YakAk]

After a long wait, My Cooper Jackson Hunter 338-06 is being shipped. Looking forward to using it this fall. Now to decide what scope will sit on top. Those of you with 338-06 rifles, what bullet do you like to use? I am starting with the 210g PT.

Steve

 

[DrMike]

My hunting partner uses the 200 grain AB to very good effect in his 338-06. However, there is nothing wrong with the 210 PT. You will be well-served with that bullet.

 

[bullet]

Thank you Guy, I loved Dan's video. He did a barrel for me on one of my 30-06 Ackley Improved rifles and it always shot extremely well. That video says it all. If we get a factory barrel that shoots consistently and cleans up very easy, we just got lucky, that is all there is to it.

 

[257 Ackley]

YakAk -
I have a Sako Finnbear (hunter model) that was converted from a 7X 64 Brenneke to a 338-06 about 15 years ago. It loves the 210PT bullet. The load that works well is not "smoking hot", but is very accurate: 30-06 Nosler brass, 53.5 grains of R15, Federal 210M primers, OAL is 3.42. Only critter that I have shot that will come close to what you have in Alaska was a Canadian moose in 2007. That combo dropped the bull where he stood (right next to the river :grin: ).