Welp, there went Douglas Barrels lol

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Minuteman
  • Oct 11, 2013
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    Originally, Boston
    Douglas just had a price increase. For a BUTTON rifled CARBON steel barrel they now want 725 DOLLARS lol.
    Guys. https://precisionrifleblog.com/2024/04/20/best-custom-rifle-barrel-what-the-pros-use/

    If someone has 725 for a barrel, they DAM SURE arent buying a carbon steel button barrel lol. NO ONE already uses Douglas (I happen to love them, but one of the reasons I loved them was their prices) Now, no one is really going to buy those barrels. And they want 800 for a stainless button barrel? Are you trying to say that if someone has 800 dollars burning a hole in their pocket, and they have Bartlein, Brux, Kreiger, Proof, or Benchmark to choose from, that they'd choose YOU instead? You're out of your dam mind lol. Nevvver gonna happen.
    There was a reason they had only a 4 week turnaround (both of mine were about that long) What do you think you're turn around is going to be now?
     
    Douglas just had a price increase. For a BUTTON rifled CARBON steel barrel they now want 725 DOLLARS lol.
    Guys. https://precisionrifleblog.com/2024/04/20/best-custom-rifle-barrel-what-the-pros-use/

    If someone has 725 for a barrel, they DAM SURE arent buying a carbon steel button barrel lol. NO ONE already uses Douglas (I happen to love them, but one of the reasons I loved them was their prices) Now, no one is really going to buy those barrels. And they want 800 for a stainless button barrel? Are you trying to say that if someone has 800 dollars burning a hole in their pocket, and they have Bartlein, Brux, Kreiger, Proof, or Benchmark to choose from, that they'd choose YOU instead? You're out of your dam mind lol. Nevvver gonna happen.
    There was a reason they had only a 4 week turnaround (both of mine were about that long) What do you think you're turn around is going to be now?
    Where did you come up with a Douglas barrel for $725.00?
    I didn't see anything in your link that point to that price point.

    Going to their website today, I ran through their order process for a 8"twist, 6mm, stainless, contoured blank. Their list pricing was $400.00.

    What am I missing here?
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Dirty D and kthomas
    Are you sure that's not the price for a chambered and threaded barrel?
    FFS
    That is exactly what he was referring to but did not give any details on.

    I went back to their website and priced a complete rebarrel using one of their CM blanks. $725.00
     
    It is for chambered and threaded, but it's too much for a chromoly button barrel.

    I can buy a cut rifled stainless brux for 440 (less with discount) have it installed for 300 and be within 15 dollars of a stainless button douglas.

    That link I provided was to show that no one uses Douglas barrels. The only people (besides me incidentally lol) that used Douglas were old hunters that wanted a quality but affordable option to keep their old rifles in service. They werent really one of the go-to premier makers people use to build rifles to win prs or other competitions these days, but they priced themselves inside the brux/bartlein barrel realm, which I thought was sad personally. Again, I love douglas, but they are NO kreiger/brux/proof. They were priced what I thought was appropriate for what they offered, which is why I used them previously.
     
    Last edited:
    • Haha
    Reactions: Tx_Aggie
    This thread is how people get 'boo'ed'. :LOL:

    ***********

    I actually have zero experience with Douglas, but that seems to be on par with Hart (and I respect them). It is also $30-50 less than a Lilja these days. If the Douglas is 'just as guud', then it would appear that they are still a decent price - even though we wish everything was priced the way it was 10 years ago.

    The last button barrel blank I purchased was a Broughton 5C...so that will say something about how long ago that was. I do have a few pretty decent factory button barrels though.
     
    I get it. I love Douglas and wish them the best, but they were awesome because you could get a quality button carbon steel barrel put on for like 580 bucks, and now they're in brux territory and that sucks. Too expensive now.
    Tell me this then, when they were cheaper, how many of you, and all the competitors were linin' up for one? Now that they're right around brux/kreiger territory, would you still line up for one? Do you think that line will increase or decrease?
     
    “My favorite part about precision rifle shooting as a hobby is the joy of hunting for bargains and best value purchases.”

    -Nobody Ever
    Ok so you just run directly to the most expensive maker possible, straight away eh? So every one of your guns have Proofs on them right? And all have Tangents on top. Well hey, it's nice to be rich I guess.
     
    I get it. I love Douglas and wish them the best, but they were awesome because you could get a quality button carbon steel barrel put on for like 580 bucks, and now they're in brux territory and that sucks. Too expensive now.
    Tell me this then, when they were cheaper, how many of you, and all the competitors were linin' up for one? Now that they're right around brux/kreiger territory, would you still line up for one? Do you think that line will increase or decrease?
    Since when are they in Brux territory? Most cut rifled barrel blanks go for $420 (Douglas is under $300) and up, then add $350 (some places may be less) to chamber and prefit. On top of that it is still a very high quality barrel. Prices have gone up, Pay the price, not sure where you will find an equally accurate barrel for less money. and yes I have 3 Douglas Barrels. One on my Custom Sharps 1874 and 2 on ARs.
     
    Since when are they in Brux territory? Most cut rifled barrel blanks go for $420 (Douglas is under $300) and up, then add $350 (some places may be less) to chamber and prefit. On top of that it is still a very high quality barrel. Prices have gone up, Pay the price, not sure where you will find an equally accurate barrel for less money. and yes I have 3 Douglas Barrels. One on my Custom Sharps 1874 and 2 on ARs.
    Douglas only button rifles. When all is said and done for douglas, their button stainless is 750 installed now. A cut rifled brux is 440, with around 300 to install, tell me which one you're going choose. Granted, I know you're going to say button is just as good as cut rifling, and button barrels have won an infinite amount of old benchrest competitions in the past, and you'd say that now, here in this situation - but had I started another thread about which rifling is better, you'd see a whole mess of people talk about how they'd never take a chance with a button barrel and how they're just not worth the gamble. Just trying to be fair.
     
    That link I provided was to show that no one uses Douglas barrels.
    That is so off the mark, I can't even manage a coherent reply.
    If you think PRS is the bulk of the custom barrel blank users, you are hugely incorrect.

    The only people (besides me incidentally lol) that used Douglas were old hunters that wanted a quality but affordable option to keep their old rifles in service.
    That is what Douglas and Shilen have excelled at for years. Good quality at affordable pricing.
    They make really good barrels at a production rate that opens up entire OEM markets for makers as well as customers in that tier of user. If they didn't offer a good value for their type customers, they wouldn't be in business.

    For a fact they are a different product than Krieger, Bartlein, CRB, Proof, etc. but they do an excellent job of servicing a segment of the market that none of the cut rifle barrel companies could accommodate. And, that segment of the market is huge as in many times larger than anything PRS related.
     
    Douglas only button rifles. When all is said and done for douglas, their button stainless is 750 installed now. A cut rifled brux is 440, with around 300 to install, tell me which one you're going choose. Granted, I know you're going to say button is just as good as cut rifling, and button barrels have won an infinite amount of old benchrest competitions in the past, and you'd say that now, here in this situation - but had I started another thread about which rifling is better, you'd see a whole mess of people talk about how they'd never take a chance with a button barrel and how they're just not worth the gamble. Just trying to be fair.
    I consider a Douglas to be on par with Brux and I have more trust in the Douglas than the Brux if they are the same price. Also not sure you have real world recent prices from an equally skilled shop. And anyone who considers a Proof to be the top of the heap for a Stainless barrel needs to see a Doctor. Just to be fair I am done feeding the troll, will someone else care for junior until his parents stop by to pick him (they/them/it?) up.
     
    That is so off the mark, I can't even manage a coherent reply.
    If you think PRS is the bulk of the custom barrel blank users, you are hugely incorrect.


    That is what Douglas and Shilen have excelled at for years. Good quality at affordable pricing.
    They make really good barrels at a production rate that opens up entire OEM markets for makers as well as customers in that tier of user. If they didn't offer a good value for their type customers, they wouldn't be in business.

    For a fact they are a different product than Krieger, Bartlein, CRB, Proof, etc. but they do an excellent job of servicing a segment of the market that none of the cut rifle barrel companies could accommodate. And, that segment of the market is huge as in many times larger than anything PRS related.
    Well said
     
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    Since when are they in Brux territory? Most cut rifled barrel blanks go for $420 (Douglas is under $300) and up, then add $350 (some places may be less) to chamber and prefit. On top of that it is still a very high quality barrel. Prices have gone up, Pay the price, not sure where you will find an equally accurate barrel for less money. and yes I have 3 Douglas Barrels. One on my Custom Sharps 1874 and 2 on ARs.
    Sounds right to me. Last Brux I got cost just a hair over 800 with chamber and threading done by a very reputable shop.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: oldrifleman
    I have a Douglas barrel on a gas gun, 6arc spun up by CLE and I can't find a factory load that it shoots over a half. I didn't buy it because it was the cheapest but because it was the only one they offered that was the profile I wanted, but cheaper is not a bad thing.
    I have a Douglas in 300 Blk sold by PRI (CLE) that seems to like everything I throw at it.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Keeper22
    This thread is how people get 'boo'ed'. :LOL:

    ***********

    I actually have zero experience with Douglas, but that seems to be on par with Hart (and I respect them). It is also $30-50 less than a Lilja these days. If the Douglas is 'just as guud', then it would appear that they are still a decent price - even though we wish everything was priced the way it was 10 years ago.

    The last button barrel blank I purchased was a Broughton 5C...so that will say something about how long ago that was. I do have a few pretty decent factory button barrels though.
    Broughton was good stuff.
     
    Douglas just had a price increase. For a BUTTON rifled CARBON steel barrel they now want 725 DOLLARS lol.
    Guys. https://precisionrifleblog.com/2024/04/20/best-custom-rifle-barrel-what-the-pros-use/

    If someone has 725 for a barrel, they DAM SURE arent buying a carbon steel button barrel lol. NO ONE already uses Douglas (I happen to love them, but one of the reasons I loved them was their prices) Now, no one is really going to buy those barrels. And they want 800 for a stainless button barrel? Are you trying to say that if someone has 800 dollars burning a hole in their pocket, and they have Bartlein, Brux, Kreiger, Proof, or Benchmark to choose from, that they'd choose YOU instead? You're out of your dam mind lol. Nevvver gonna happen.
    There was a reason they had only a 4 week turnaround (both of mine were about that long) What do you think you're turn around is going to be now?
    My Douglas shoots awesome. Unbelievably well for an ar15 with hot factory tmks
     
    So every one of your guns have Proofs on
    IMG_2502.gif
     
    The last big barrel order my unit made was for 500 stainless Douglas air-gaged blanks. Reasonably priced and we didn't have to wait a year for them.

    Those got turned by Gene Barnett, and we fluted and chambered them to make the 3rd Infantry Division's M16A4 SDM rifles.


    1744765447614.png
    sdmr.jpg
     
    The last big barrel order my unit made was for 500 stainless Douglas air-gaged blanks. Reasonably priced and we didn't have to wait a year for them.

    Those got turned by Gene Barnett, and we fluted and chambered them to make the 3rd Infantry Division's M16A4 SDM rifles.

    Fake news.
    Can't be true.

    Did you not read the OP's statement that nobody uses them.
    Get out of here with your fake AI generated Army gun pictures.

    Pfffft.
     
    this whole thread is based on the premise that Douglas barrels are somehow inferior. i reject that premise. and it seems like others do too
    No, they're not inferior. I love my douglases to death. All I was trying to say was that they're not a cut rifled Kreiger or Brux or Bartlein. Again, they're great barrels, but how often do you see people buying 1500 dollar custom actions for their new best build, barrel it, shoot it a while then decide to sell it on here because of whatever reason, and on that action's a douglas button barrel? I've never seen that. Sure, you might be able to find one, but one doesnt prove a point. I've never ran across an expensive build on here, and it have a douglas on it. I never said Douglas makes bad barrels, just expressing an opinion, much like when others say the top end leupolds or nightforces dont belong in the top group of scopes-that douglas isn't in the same tier as the other 750 dollar stainless cut rifled barrels are, thats all.
    When someone saves up a bit of coin to spring for that bat, or borden or defiance action, with a foundation stock on order, a button douglas is not on their list of barrels to complete that build. It's just an opinion and observation.
     
    325 for a stainless barrrel that will shoot. And u can have it in a month if they dont have one in stock is waht ur looking at. fitted is my time, They shoot well. Anyone can make a bad barrel and Im not going to flame anone however I waited 11 months for a barrel and to get the the tooling marks aout of what was supposed to finish @26" it became 19" amd never shot the way I wanted or felt it should have. Didnt shoot box ammo at all and was at best 1/2 moa once in awhile. consistently closer to a minute. The latest douglas I am shooting is shooting a 215 Berger sub half moa at over a mile has less than 2 inches of vertical at 1k and shoots everything I put through it Factoy ammo everything is sub moa and the hammer bullet shoots dots in the .3 range at 650yds. The only long shots Ive shot with them. They are great barrels for a bargin price
     
    325 for a stainless barrrel that will shoot. And u can have it in a month if they dont have one in stock is waht ur looking at. fitted is my time, They shoot well. Anyone can make a bad barrel and Im not going to flame anone however I waited 11 months for a barrel and to get the the tooling marks aout of what was supposed to finish @26" it became 19" amd never shot the way I wanted or felt it should have. Didnt shoot box ammo at all and was at best 1/2 moa once in awhile. consistently closer to a minute. The latest douglas I am shooting is shooting a 215 Berger sub half moa at over a mile has less than 2 inches of vertical at 1k and shoots everything I put through it Factoy ammo everything is sub moa and the hammer bullet shoots dots in the .3 range at 650yds. The only long shots Ive shot with them. They are great barrels for a bargin price
    Showing how well the douglas barrel performs isn't refuting any opinion I was trying to convey. My douglas shoots in the ones; best shooting rifle I've ever shot. I never attempted to express a viewpoint on their performance. The point was their performance to cost ratio. It was the best in the business. The point is that now they're not a bargain any more.
    The point was, that a Malibu is a nice car, and does everything a Cadillac does, but for 25,000 dollars less. But, does it do it as nicely? Or for as long? No. But it's close. And that's fine as it's 25 grand less. Now, if GM priced the Malibu to 65,000 dollars, inline with Cadillac pricing, would you still buy a Malibu, or step over (not up any longer, over) to a Cadillac? Of course you would. Why wouldnt you?
     
    If u send it to Douglas to do it will be installed with a straight chamber to a straight bolt face. and u will have it in less than 2 months. Even if you have a special twist. Its hard to put a price on time. if I bill at a weekly rate while i wait ur looking at close to 300k for that wait of 11 months. Then add it is less overal costs with no perciveivable difference in performance how is it over priced or pricing itself out of the market? Cut or buttoned has no difference in overall performance when done right and Douglas Shillen Pac Benchmark etc make a barrel that will shoot world class when loaded properly.
     
    Showing how well the douglas barrel performs isn't refuting any opinion I was trying to convey. My douglas shoots in the ones; best shooting rifle I've ever shot. I never attempted to express a viewpoint on their performance. The point was their performance to cost ratio. It was the best in the business. The point is that now they're not a bargain any more.
    The point was, that a Malibu is a nice car, and does everything a Cadillac does, but for 25,000 dollars less. But, does it do it as nicely? Or for as long? No. But it's close. And that's fine as it's 25 grand less. Now, if GM priced the Malibu to 65,000 dollars, inline with Cadillac pricing, would you still buy a Malibu, or step over (not up any longer, over) to a Cadillac? Of course you would. Why wouldnt you?
    You don't come across as being very bright . Please be poor in silence .
     
    Yea? How many high end builds have you casually run across out there with douglas barrels on them Haney?

    so your argument is that douglas barrels arent being used because they arent for sale?

    man, just admit this thread was a bad idea and take the loss. You have one of the MOST respected and lauded gunsmiths in the country refuting everything you say. it might be time to reconsider your position.
     
    No. My argument is that for one reason or another, they're not as considered, as the other brands are. Look around.

    They're barely even talked about or considered. I love the barrels, but they're just not as popular as the others are. When people start to consider brands to build up a nice rifle, they rarely come up as an option. People always gravitate torwards kreiger, bartlein, proof, shilen, benchmark, hawk hill, brux etc. When people put out feeler questions as to 'which should I choose', very rarely does Douglas get a mention. Why is that? Lack of advertising? I'm not sure, but if you look around you'd see. Theres no way you cant see that. (look in the for sale section; all proof, bartlein etc etc. why though?)
    This isnt a position I need to 'win', or 'lose', it's just an opinion. If you could prove Douglas is just as considered as these other brands then I'd say ok then, there was more to it and I missed it. Cool. But I'm not seeing it. Was the thread a 'bad idea'? Sure I guess. But so are ALLLL THE OTHER opinions you see expressed here every single minute, about how some person feels another nice product sucks in their viewpoint. You see that all the time here. Like 'Schmidt & Bender scopes suck.', or how some really nice factory actions are just horrible because they're not custom etc etc. Neither of those are true. S&B scopes are nice products, and there are plenty of factory actions that are nice. I'm not trying to win anyone over to a side, I was just venting. The vent being that a not as popular brand is now wanting all the super popular brands same prices.
     
    No. My argument is that for one reason or another, they're not as considered, as the other brands are. Look around.

    They're barely even talked about or considered. I love the barrels, but they're just not as popular as the others are. When people start to consider brands to build up a nice rifle, they rarely come up as an option. People always gravitate torwards kreiger, bartlein, proof, shilen, benchmark, hawk hill, brux etc. When people put out feeler questions as to 'which should I choose', very rarely does Douglas get a mention. Why is that? Lack of advertising? I'm not sure, but if you look around you'd see. Theres no way you cant see that. (look in the for sale section; all proof, bartlein etc etc. why though?)
    This isnt a position I need to 'win', or 'lose', it's just an opinion. If you could prove Douglas is just as considered as these other brands then I'd say ok then, there was more to it and I missed it. Cool. But I'm not seeing it. Was the thread a 'bad idea'? Sure I guess. But so are ALLLL THE OTHER opinions you see expressed here every single minute, about how some person feels another nice product sucks in their viewpoint. You see that all the time here. Like 'Schmidt & Bender scopes suck.', or how some really nice factory actions are just horrible because they're not custom etc etc. Neither of those are true. S&B scopes are nice products, and there are plenty of factory actions that are nice. I'm not trying to win anyone over to a side, I was just venting. The vent being that a not as popular brand is now wanting all the super popular brands same prices.


    Did you miss this point that was made?

    If you think PRS is the bulk of the custom barrel blank users, you are hugely incorrect.
     
    Let me ask this question then; for all of you that say a douglas is no less than a brux/kreiger/bartlien, AND they were 150 bucks cheaper (sometimes 200 dollars cheaper), then why weren't they at the top of the list for barrel popularity? Not making a statement to show they're inferior, I'm genuinely asking this question. Is it advertising then perhaps?
     
    No. My argument is that for one reason or another, they're not as considered, as the other brands are. Look around.

    They're barely even talked about or considered. I love the barrels, but they're just not as popular as the others are. When people start to consider brands to build up a nice rifle, they rarely come up as an option. People always gravitate torwards kreiger, bartlein, proof, shilen, benchmark, hawk hill, brux etc. When people put out feeler questions as to 'which should I choose', very rarely does Douglas get a mention. Why is that? Lack of advertising? I'm not sure, but if you look around you'd see. Theres no way you cant see that. (look in the for sale section; all proof, bartlein etc etc. why though?)
    This isnt a position I need to 'win', or 'lose', it's just an opinion. If you could prove Douglas is just as considered as these other brands then I'd say ok then, there was more to it and I missed it. Cool. But I'm not seeing it. Was the thread a 'bad idea'? Sure I guess. But so are ALLLL THE OTHER opinions you see expressed here every single minute, about how some person feels another nice product sucks in their viewpoint. You see that all the time here. Like 'Schmidt & Bender scopes suck.', or how some really nice factory actions are just horrible because they're not custom etc etc. Neither of those are true. S&B scopes are nice products, and there are plenty of factory actions that are nice. I'm not trying to win anyone over to a side, I was just venting. The vent being that a not as popular brand is now wanting all the super popular brands same prices.

    And
    If you’re explaining you’re losing.

    -Stan
    oh he lost a very long time ago! As was explained to him by one of the very best smith inn the country, their target market is NOT PRS. And they sell a huge number of barrels to military, sportsmen, the AR market. The fact that Basic User is too Stupid to understand what is being told him/her/they or is too butt hurt to accept that is astounding.