Alright if you want a real answer I will do my best to rank barrels and speak a little on my reasoning and experience. I don't claim to know it all and this list really is nothing more than arbitrary preference.
1st tier. Krieger. Krieger is showing up a lot at the Williamsport 1000 yard Benchrest Club in PA. They are also used by top ranked Tactical Smiths like Mike at Tac Ops and Terry Cross. They have been in business a very long time and make an outstanding barrel. However they don't make small Sporter contours if that is what you are after. I think #5 is as small as they go fo 30 cal and 7mm. I don't think very many will argue that Krieger is not 1st tier.
1st tier Bartlein. The guys who founded Bartlein used to work for Krieger and are using some of the most advanced computerized barrel making equipment in existence. They also have a strong Benchrest following. They can do any contour, any rifling and gain twist as requested. Again I don't think that many will argue that Bartlein isn't 1 st tier.
1st tier Hawk Hill. These guys are a smaller shop and are putting out a consistent product and are winning some matches. Good following is Tactical Circles. Not well known in Benchrest but seem to be holding their own.
1st Tier Proof Research- these guys pioneered carbon barrels but also make regular cut rifled stainless barrels. Another upgraded shop with good technology and gaining market share in Tactical Circles.
1st tier-. Mike Rock worked with Krieger under Boots Obermeyer. They make excellent barrels. They also l believe do the drilling for another top maker Mueller. They are also making a line of button rifled barrels for PVA have a good following. I believe they have been tied up most of the year with government contracts and are not taking orders at this time.
1st tier Mueller Works. Dan Mueller knows how to lapp a custom barrel. His 22 Rimfire barrels are in very high demand and are made of unobtainium. They are button rifled which is preferred for 22 Rimfire since it takes so long to break in and smooth out a cut rifled barrel with 22 Rimfire. Very strong in Rimfire Benchrest. Their cut rifled center-fire barrels are great as well.
Benchmark 1st tier-. Benchmark is well known for rimfire as well. They have a strong following in Rimfire Benchrest and make great center-fire barrels as well. I think benchmark had lots of barrels in the most recent PRS blog ranking and are gaining market share against several cut rifling manufacturers while other button makers have lost market share.
1st tier. Schneider, Maker of the famous M40 Marine Sniper barrels. They are well known in Tactical Circles. Not a lot in Benchrest but seem to have a consistent product for the M40. Don't want them pointed at me.
Shilen select match, 1st tier. A strong Benchrest following. Shilen rachet 22 Rimfire barrels along with Mueller and Benchmark represent the 3 top Rimfire competitors in today's Benchrest. They also make excellent center-fire barrels and are atop name in the industry. They do make 2nd rate barrels and I will put them on my 2nd tier list.
Brux 1st tier. Making excellent cut rifled barrels and deserve recognition. Not as old as some of the other companies but gaining market share and winning matches. I have read that sometimes their barrels are tight and some say they can't get into a high node reloading because of pressure issues. Very high quality.
Other 1st tier makers out of business Broughton, Obermeyer is retired I believe,
2nd tier. These are mostly top quality makers but have lost market share for one reason or another. Not updating equipment or not fixing and addressing problems with satisfaction.
Lilja-. Used to be the big name in Rimfire. I have heard many reports of them refusing to replace or correct a barrel that didn't shoot to standards. Button rifling. Have made great barrels and I'm sure continue to do so but like I said have slid in market share.
Hart-. Hart- used to be one of the biggest names in shooting. Continue to make great quality button barrels but don't have the market share they used to have. Still seen in Benchrest but mostly holdovers from their glory days. Would have been top tier 20 or 30 years ago for sure.
Pack Nor-. High quality button maker. Their shop burned down a year or 2 ago and they have rebuilt. Haven't seen a barrel out of the new shop yet. Jury is still out.
Douglas-. Another big name from yesteryear. Great quality button maker but don't have the market share they used to have.
Centurion-. These are the button rifled devision of Krieger. Not their flagship barrels but seem to make great barrels for the money and have a good following. Probably similar to the PVA button barrels that Rock Creek is making.
3rd tier,. Mcgowen, Saturn, ER Shaw, Green mountain. These guys never really where top contenders. They make barrels better than factory but aren't considered true precision.
4th tier. Factory barrels.
Outliers. There are some outliers that I don't really know where to rank.
K and P seem to be making great barrels Chad at LRI puts them on his rifles and seems to be very happy. Not sure exactly where to rank them but I'm leaning toward 1st tier.
MPA barrels. Masterpiece arms bought Spencer barrels some time back. I don't know if they are continuing to make their own barrels. I have heard they are using X caliber barrels. I'm leaning toward 2nd tier.
Other outliers include high quality factory barrels like found on Anchutz, Sako TRG rifles and FNH rifles. Don't want these pointed at me either.
Aight I might have one LW that's hammering right now.....
