15.1" Lilja Recce Barrel

ingEneer22 · Aug 3, 2024

Working on a NSW Recce build and just got the barrel I ordered from Lilja. I ordered their 15.1" M4 Recce profile barrel in .223 Wylde. Shipping was lightning fast but king of disappointed when I opened the package. The barrel itself looks to be very nice but the M4 extension is one of the roughest I've ever seen.

- The M4 feed ramps aren’t centered (see the blue circles on the pic)
- There is material behind the lugs still (see red arrows)
- The chamfer around the lugs is off center
- Generally poor machining, seems unfinished, especially around the feed ramps. (see the green circles)

I reached out to Lilja and they pretty much acknowledged the problems and said that they switched to new style of machining this spring and that I had one of the old M4 extensions. They said go ahead and install it and see if you have any issues...that just doesn't sit well with me. For a $575 barrel, one should expect better. I asked to return the barrel and have a newer M4 extension installed on it, still waiting to hear back.

Has anyone else had any issues with Lilja barrels, specifically the M4 extension? If they are unwilling to resolve the issue, I will be looking into other options. Any recommendations out there? I know Craddock has a few options and a great reputation.

Trigger Monkey · Aug 3, 2024

That'd be a no for me dawg, there's no way I'd assemble that on an upper. Lilja would be getting that back.

ingEneer22 · Aug 3, 2024

Trigger Monkey said:
That'd be a no for me dawg, there's no way I'd assemble that on an upper. Lilja would be getting that back.

It's definitely going back, ball is in their court as to whether or not they want to fix it or refund it.

dogman · Aug 3, 2024

Nothing a dremel won't fix

I would be a bit mad, myself.

oldrifleman · Aug 3, 2024

Run away!

msgriff · Aug 3, 2024

Frankly, it should be a bit embarrassing to put out that kind of work. @Lilja Riflebarrels

BCP · Aug 3, 2024

ingEneer22 said:
Working on a NSW Recce build and just got the barrel I ordered from Lilja. I ordered their 15.1" M4 Recce profile barrel in .223 Wylde. Shipping was lightning fast but king of disappointed when I opened the package. The barrel itself looks to be very nice but the M4 extension is one of the roughest I've ever seen.

- The M4 feed ramps aren’t centered (see the blue circles on the pic)
- There is material behind the lugs still (see red arrows)
- The chamfer around the lugs is off center
- Generally poor machining, seems unfinished, especially around the feed ramps. (see the green circles)

I reached out to Lilja and they pretty much acknowledged the problems and said that they switched to new style of machining this spring and that I had one of the old M4 extensions. They said go ahead and install it and see if you have any issues...that just doesn't sit well with me. For a $575 barrel, one should expect better. I asked to return the barrel and have a newer M4 extension installed on it, still waiting to hear back.

Has anyone else had any issues with Lilja barrels, specifically the M4 extension? If they are unwilling to resolve the issue, I will be looking into other options. Any recommendations out there? I know Craddock has a few options and a great reputation.

View attachment 8472239

Yeah that looks like shit

John? · Aug 3, 2024

@ingEneer22

Thanks for posting that picture and the detail. Please do follow up and let us know how they handle the return.

I’ve never bought from Lilja but was considering them for a Grendel build. This post gives me pause. Perhaps I should look elsewhere.

My Service Rifle barrels in 5.56 from CLE AND WOA have been excellent. Nothing like the picture you posted.

-john

7mmShooter · Aug 3, 2024

For Lilja to let that out… is abysmal. I’ve had generic BCA type barrels that were better finished.

MaximusDecimusMeidius · Aug 4, 2024

Have you given them a chance to correct it before blasting them?

Every company out there puts out some stinkers at times.

I'm sure they will make it right if you ask them

BCP · Aug 4, 2024

They told him to use it anyways, I’m surprised it made it past a visual inspection.

I’ve had lilja barrels before and they were 1st class this trash barrel they sent him amazes me tbh

MaximusDecimusMeidius · Aug 4, 2024

That's definitely different for LILJA. They are normally top notch. I wouldn't use that barrel either

msgriff · Aug 4, 2024

MaximusDecimusMeidius said:
Have you given them a chance to correct it before blasting them?

Every company out there puts out some stinkers at times.

I'm sure they will make it right if you ask them

As stated above, they told him to install it and run it. The question I have for you, would you invest your time and expense to complete that build and test it based on the pictures of that barrel extension? Would you have concerns about any long term issues that may arise in the future?

Apparently, this barrel extension issue is not isolated.

MaximusDecimusMeidius · Aug 4, 2024

I’m about to install another 11.5” proof ss

Here is the same view of it

ingEneer22 · Aug 4, 2024

MaximusDecimusMeidius said:
Have you given them a chance to correct it before blasting them?

Every company out there puts out some stinkers at times.

I'm sure they will make it right if you ask them

Of course, and this was not intended to be a Lilja blasting thread. If they make it right, I will certainly let y'all know. And yes, even the best companies put out stinkers from time to time. It's what they do to make it right that sets the the professionals apart.

My last email from them stated that they don't see anything that would cause any issues and that I should go ahead and run it.

LRRPF52 · Aug 5, 2024

I lost track of how many Lilja barrels I had come through my hands for group buys that guys wanted Cerakote work done on back in 2014.

I never saw an extension look like that. They were all some of the best extensions I’ve ever seen, maybe BAT Machine.

That extension looks like it didn’t make it to the tumble-polish process, which is what a lot of upper-brow barrel makers have been doing. That should never have left their internal QC before even getting to shipping, and is not consistent with anything I’ve ever seen from the company.

Slick66 · Aug 5, 2024

They make their own extensions??

ingEneer22 · Aug 6, 2024

LRRPF52 said:
I lost track of how many Lilja barrels I had come through my hands for group buys that guys wanted Cerakote work done on back in 2014.

I never saw an extension look like that. They were all some of the best extensions I’ve ever seen, maybe BAT Machine.

That extension looks like it didn’t make it to the tumble-polish process, which is what a lot of upper-brow barrel makers have been doing. That should never have left their internal QC before even getting to shipping, and is not consistent with anything I’ve ever seen from the company.

That’s reassuring. I hope they make it right, so far it’s been 5 days since I’ve heard anything back from them.

ingEneer22 · Aug 6, 2024

Slick66 said:
They make their own extensions??

They do

Slick66 · Aug 6, 2024

ingEneer22 said:
They do

Why?? I can't imagine why any barrel maker would do that, especially if they turn out something like that.

And then go ahead and screw it on. Crazy.

ingEneer22 · Aug 16, 2024

Just an update: they sent me a return label, and received the barrel back yesterday. We will see what the new one looks like!

M4.AZ · Aug 17, 2024

That’s crazy that they told you to give it a go. Got one recently for my Recce and it was top notch. Wish they were a little less polished and more matte but I’m enjoying it

ingEneer22 · Aug 17, 2024

M4.AZ said:
That’s crazy that they told you to give it a go. Got one recently for my Recce and it was top notch. Wish they were a little less polished and more matte but I’m enjoying it

Yeah, I was kind of shocked. Very much looking forward to getting a nice replacement.

AZgrendel · Oct 25, 2024

I recently bought a Lilja 16" 6.5 Grendel barrel with the same extension you are showing. It was through Six Sigma who had ordered a bunch of shorter than normal Grendel barrels from Lilja. I do metal finishing and was able to clean it up pretty decently but It was a far cry from the quality I expected from Lilja. The barrel has been a huge disappointment. Showed some promise with the first few groups but just gets worse. About 300 rounds in now and nothing groups under 3". I've tried everything I can think of but I'll go start a separate thread about that.

roostercogburn98 · Oct 25, 2024

AZgrendel said:
I recently bought a Lilja 16" 6.5 Grendel barrel with the same extension you are showing. It was through Six Sigma who had ordered a bunch of shorter than normal Grendel barrels from Lilja. I do metal finishing and was able to clean it up pretty decently but It was a far cry from the quality I expected from Lilja. The barrel has been a huge disappointment. Showed some promise with the first few groups but just gets worse. About 300 rounds in now and nothing groups under 3". I've tried everything I can think of but I'll go start a separate thread about that.View attachment 8532178

That looks like it was made by stoned beavers

LRRPF52 · Oct 27, 2024

The fit, feel, finish, and performance of the Grendel barrels we got with the group buy was some of the best I’ve seen in the industry.

That was 10 years ago though. I think they used tumble-polished BAT Machine extensions that were the cleanest, smoothest, nicest extensions I had ever seen.

They didn’t look anything like that. Something is way off if you’re only getting 3” groups.

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