Custom barrel

[Laker_Taker]

I am looking for a new barrel any thoughts on brands? This would be for Hunting.

Thanks LT

 

[DrMike]

There are any of a number of fine barrels on the market today. Among those I have owned for hunting rifles or shot on others are PacNor, Hart, Shilen and Bevan King. Each was excellent for the task at hand.

 

[IdahoCTD]

I have had really good luck with Bartlein, Kreiger, Broughton, and Schneider. I've been leaning towards Bartlein lately as the last few have been pretty exceptional. I just got another 6.5 Bartlein barrel in to build another 6.5-300wm. I've used a ton of Harts in the past and had so so luck with them. That doesn't mean they can't build a accurate barrel as some of my most accurate rifles had Hart's on them but some of the worse were Hart's as well.

IMO never skimp on a barrel as it accounts for 95+% of the accuracy in a rifle. If you look at long range benchrest the first three companies I listed dominate the barrels used.

 

[truck driver]

The one that's missing is a sleeper, Douglas makes a very nice barrel. I've used them in the past for rifle, pistol and muzzle loader.

 

[FOTIS]

Bartlein, Kreiger, Broughton, shilen, pac-nor, lilja, brux

 

[Guy Miner]

LT - what kind of rifle?

How demanding are you on your accuracy standards?

Asking, because although I normally go with the Krieger barrel, there are some less expensive alternatives if you just need to have an old hunting rifle re-barreled because it's shot out.

A quality custom barrel, like a Krieger, installed by a reputable gunsmith, is an expensive proposition, maybe $600 or so, depending. Often Ruger or Remington will re-barrel with a factory tube, for a fraction of that cost. If it's just for hunting... Why not? Most of my factory hunting rifles can achieve more than adequate accuracy with factory barrels.

Guy

 

[SJB358]

A quality custom barrel, like a Krieger, installed by a reputable gunsmith, is an expensive proposition, maybe $600 or so, depending. Often Ruger or Remington will re-barrel with a factory tube, for a fraction of that cost. If it's just for hunting... Why not? Most of my factory hunting rifles can achieve more than adequate accuracy with factory barrels.

Guy

Guy makes a good point.. Chances are since they are working on an individual rifle, it could come out danged good. Wonder what the cost is?

 

[nvbroncrider]

Well from Pac-Nor a new barrel fitted and chambered and blueprinting the action runs right at $600. It's not too bad.

 

[Guy Miner]

Yeah, I've paid the $600 ish for a new Krieger, installed. Several times. It gets less expensive once the action is already blueprinted and the smith just has to chamber, cut, crown, thread and spin on the new barrel.

Ah, according to Ruger's web site, it varies by model, but about $100 gets you a new Ruger barrel, installed.

http://www.ruger.com/service/serviceFees.html

That's pretty doggone good for a new barrel! My Number One, even in .375 H&H, can shoot just under MOA...

Guy

 

[SJB358]

Yeah, I've paid the $600 ish for a new Krieger, installed. Several times. It gets less expensive once the action is already blueprinted and the smith just has to chamber, cut, crown, thread and spin on the new barrel.

Ah, according to Ruger's web site, it varies by model, but about $100 gets you a new Ruger barrel, installed.

http://www.ruger.com/service/serviceFees.html

That's pretty doggone good for a new barrel! My Number One, even in .375 H&H, can shoot just under MOA...

Guy

You aren't kidding. That isn't bad at all Guy.. Never knew that.

 

[Guy Miner]

For a guy who isn't shooting competition, or trying for top level accuracy... Why not re-barrel via the factory?

It's only a fraction of the cost and you get just as good a barrel as served well before.

Don't think factory barrels can shoot well?

Team Savage... Beating most other teams in 1000 yard F-Class competition here and abroad.

USMC basic riflemen, plunking shot after shot into the silhouette target at 500 yards, prone, with iron sights, issue rifles and issue ammunition...

I've got a First Place medal from B.C. Canada, from a long-range match I shot in the 1990's with a Remington factory barrel...

Or look at Dr. Mike's handload results from all those factory rifles he works up loads for...

Yes indeed, a factory barrel can shoot, and shoot well.

That said, I'll likely keep using Krieger barrels on my Green Machine...

Guy

 

[Thebear_78]

Douglas is where I always start. Only if looking for something special(twist,contour) do I look for something else.

 

[usmc 89]

I have bartleins on two of my match rifles and couldnt be happier. I have also had good luck with kreiger and lilja barrels. I won a benchmark and am giving them a go on the 300 jazz. 26" 1-9 twist 5R for the 230 hybrids. There are several top notch barrel makers out there but if I were to buy one blind I would opt for either a bartlein or kreiger for the fact it costs the same to install a premium barrel as it does a less expensive one in regards to the smith bill.

 

[taylorce1]

Really for me these days I don't find much of a difference between the major barrel makers for what I want. What I do is find the barrel maker that has a lead time for what I want to do. My .338-06 I just finished came down to only Pac-Nor. I wanted a Brux but they wouldn't do a #3 contour in a stainless steel barrel and Pac-Nor was the one I found willing to do it in a reasonable amount of time. IIRC I waited 14 weeks for my barrel, and most other places were 6-12 month lead times.

 

[257 Ackley]

I have bartleins on two of my match rifles and couldnt be happier. I have also had good luck with kreiger and lilja barrels. I won a benchmark and am giving them a go on the 300 jazz. 26" 1-9 twist 5R for the 230 hybrids. There are several top notch barrel makers out there but if I were to buy one blind I would opt for either a bartlein or kreiger for the fact it costs the same to install a premium barrel as it does a less expensive one in regards to the smith bill.

Spot on Jeff...I just ordered a Bartlein medium palma to finish at 30" that will cost $325. Chamber and threading is $225. Most "hunting" barrels for big game will never need to be replaced in a lifetime based on the number of rounds fired. If it is a p-dog/target barrel that has 1000 + rounds fired per year, it may need to be replaced every few years.

My advice is buy once, cry once if it is a big game hunting rifle. I have a 6.5WSM with about 400 rounds down the tube after 3 years. This is a horrible barrel burner, with most guys getting between 6-800 rounds out of a barrel. Most of the rounds down the tube came from load development and bullet testing. With regular annual use for a deer/antelope hunt it should last me another 30 years. I highly doubt there will be a need to replace it. If you are talking about calibers that most of us hunt with, our grandkids won't burn them out from shooting. Buy the best you can afford and don't look back. Find a gunsmith with a good reputation for building quality rifles and get him the rifle as soon as you are done hunting this year. that way you should have it back by next summer and have plenty of time to develop loads for next year.

 

[PJGunner]

I've had four rifles rebarreled with Douglas barrels and every one of those rifles will shoot better than I can. The 7x57, 30-06, and .280 Remington are all sub-MOA and the .308 Win. is close. Have been too busy with the .280 and 30-06 trying new bullets so the .308 is taking a back seat, at until I find a load I like with the other two rifles for an upcoming elk hunt. Currently I'm planning on the .280 as primary and the 30-06 as back up for the hunt. That's subject to change depending on my whims. :lol:
Paul B.

 

[EOD Diver]

Many of the gunsmiths I've spoken with like Kreiger and Bartlein. They explained that they just see fewer bad ones from them. I'm embarrassed to say that I've yet to shoot my Bartlein blueprinted and barreled 270 Win (still a work in progress with the metalsmith), but I have shot my Nosler Legacy 300 Win a fair bit. It has a PACNOR tube on it and, so far, is the most accurate rifle I've ever owned, producing groups way under 1/2". It even shoots better than my match rifle, a factory Remington 5R (yes, believe it or not actually do own a M700) 308 Win with a Shilen trigger that's no slouch. I've never had PACNOR rebarrel/blueprint an action for me. I sold off a New Haven Super Grade in 300 Win with oversize barrel after a lot of time trying to get it sub MOA, but I regret not sending it to PACNOR for a new pipe. It still killed a lot of elk for me shooting 1.5 MOA. Anyway, both PACNOR and Bartlein were a pleasure to deal with over the phone, and Frank at Bartlein is a class act. Happy barrel hunting and remember that half the fun is in the selection and build itself!

Joe

 

[SJB358]

I almost forgot about that beautiful Legacy you have Joe. That is a shooter for sure.

 

[EOD Diver]

Scotty,
Thanks bud. I must have a screw loose to even consider trying the new 190 ABLR out when that regular 200
gr AB works so well, but I guess that's why we're all here on this forum. I'm looking forward to that beautiful pre-64 of yours going afield and some pics from Oregon. Best of luck man.
Joe

 

[SJB358]

Thanks Joe. Everything is ready to go. Probably get another range day yet, but the 338 is ready to hunt. Gotta start washing and packing clothes..

Yeah, that 190 would be pretty awesome in your 300 Win Mag. Then again, with how well the 200's shoot, your ready to hunt as is..