Clark or Shilen 'mid' contour barrel ??

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fish30114

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Nov 14, 2010
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Canton Georgia
#1
Am trying to decide between two 'midweight' contour barrels, the Shilen or the Clark. The Clark is a little over $100 less than the Shilen, both have excellent reviews. I have actually ordered both, and my friend will get whichever one I don't run.

Looking for experienced users opinions and recommendatioins.
 
#2
Re: Clark or Shilen 'mid' contour barrel ??

I can't comment from personal experience on the Clark barrels but can say that I have heard great reviews on them. I can comment on Shilen barrels from personal experience. I have a Shilen varmint contour on a 10/22 22lr and the comparison in accuracy between the factory barrel and the Shilen is like comparing night to day. At 50 yds it went from a minute of pepsi can rifle to a sub-moa rifle once the Shilen barrel was installed and the VQ trigger group was installed. I also have a Shilen .920 barrel on a 77/22 22lr, and a Shilen 10/22 magnum barrel on my 96/22 22 mag rifle. They are also like comparing night to day in terms of accuracy.
 
#3
Re: Clark or Shilen 'mid' contour barrel ??

Hilbillee, I think you are the one who posted the link when Midway got the Shilen's in stock. I've got one of thsose on the way (should be here tomorrow) and a Clark coming, I figured I'd just look them over and make a decision, but wanted to see what others had to say. I got the two stage trigger in from Kidd, with a few other bits, and I like the trigger--if anything it's a hair light for what it is, I have Jewells set lighter, but they are more crisp on the letoff stage.....having said that, accuracy had improved only slightly, and I'm hoping the barrel will get me where I am wanting to be.

Fun tinkering with the 10/22, wish barrels on my centerfires were as easy to change out!!
 
#4
Re: Clark or Shilen 'mid' contour barrel ??

I have Clarks, a 20+old Clark/Douglas and a couple Clark/Lothar Walthers, I also have a M-41 barrel, I've been very pleased.
I have tried a Shilen, but certainly wouldn't turn one down.
My other 10/22 experienced is with KID and Volquartsen (the carbon-my daughter felt a 16" Clark fluted was too heavy).
All shoot well.
 
#6
Re: Clark or Shilen 'mid' contour barrel ??

kombayotch, I had actually seen that data, pretty convincing in favor of Shilen, I kind of wonder if that is because they are one of the few makers that had been building barrels for the 22 circuit, along with Lilja in tems of major mfgs.

Said another way, I wonder if any of the top guys has even tried much else??? Regardless, it seems like the Shilen will be a good choice.

Thanks for the link.
 
#7
Re: Clark or Shilen 'mid' contour barrel ??

Let me say up front that I have no personal experience with the Clark midweight barrels, but like everything that leaves their shop, I am sure it is a first-rate product or they wouldn't put their name on it.

That said, I have been using Shilen barrels for all the 10/22 rifles I have put together for myself and others and they have all been at the top of the heap in terms of quality/consistency/accuracy. I prefer the 20", 0.920 diameter, 1:16 twist, Bentz-chamber barrels, but the two midweight variants I have seen and used have been exceptional as well.
 
#8
Re: Clark or Shilen 'mid' contour barrel ??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hilbillee</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I can't comment from personal experience on the Clark barrels but can say that I have heard great reviews on them. I can comment on Shilen barrels from personal experience. I have a Shilen varmint contour on a 10/22 22lr and the comparison in accuracy between the factory barrel and the Shilen is like comparing night to day. At 50 yds it went from a minute of pepsi can rifle to a sub-moa rifle once the Shilen barrel was installed and the VQ trigger group was installed. I also have a Shilen .920 barrel on a 77/22 22lr, and a Shilen 10/22 magnum barrel on my 96/22 22 mag rifle. They are also like comparing night to day in terms of accuracy.
</div></div>

Sorry for the slight hijack here but, Hilbillee did you go with the varmint or standard contour barrel on that 96/22M? I'm ready to buy one and I can't decide between the two. I'd like the light one but I hate to sacrifice any accuracy.
Thanks





For the OP,
I have a Clark barrel on my 10/22 that I had them install around '96 or '97 that is an absolute tac driver. I don't know which blanks they used back then, I've been told the early ones were Shilens but they use different ones today. Hope this helps...
 
#9
Re: Clark or Shilen 'mid' contour barrel ??

Clarks M-41 barrels are currently Shilen, 10/22,22/77 are Lothar Walther.
When I got my first 10/22 barrel was from Douglas.
I don't whether others came from suppliers.
 
#10
Re: Clark or Shilen 'mid' contour barrel ??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fish301</div><div class="ubbcode-body">kombayotch, I had actually seen that data, pretty convincing in favor of Shilen, I kind of wonder if that is because they are one of the few makers that had been building barrels for the 22 circuit, along with Lilja in tems of major mfgs.

Said another way, I wonder if any of the top guys has even tried much else??? Regardless, it seems like the Shilen will be a good choice.

Thanks for the link. </div></div>

You can bet that at that level of competition, many of those shooters have evaluated several barrels before choosing the one they end up using in the national matches.
 
#11
Re: Clark or Shilen 'mid' contour barrel ??

No kidding!
A semi-retired radiologist friend buys 6MM barrels by the 20 lot.
He describes himself as an idiot savant chamberer.
The good barrels are keepers, the chaff is sold off as hunters, varminters,what have you.
 
#12
Re: Clark or Shilen 'mid' contour barrel ??

I have a sporter type Shilen barrel on my 77/22. It hates Wolf Match Target, Federal GMMM and Ely target stuff,and keyholes Aguila SSS 60gr(at 50yds), but loves RWS target with blue label. With the RWS, it is capable of 1/4-1/2" at 50 yds(only distance I've got to shoot it at so far), it also likes Rem. Subsonics, and will keep those around 1/2-3/4" at fifty yards if I do my part in keeping the reticle from jumping around on the target. I believe this bbl is 20", I'll be trimming it back soon to 16.5 soon.

ETA: My Shilen bbl will not chamber CCI Stingers, so if you want to shoot those, may have to use a normal chamber in the bbl.
 
#13
Re: Clark or Shilen 'mid' contour barrel ??

I just put a Shilen .920 on my 77/22 and ran a quick test this weekend.

I went to my local gun shop and purchased every thing they had that was match quality. I decided to test 10 unsorted
and then weigh the remaining 40 and use the most consistent 10 out of each box of 50, so each group is 10 shots at 50 yards.

001-3-1.jpg


Target bulls measure .5" across, .25 across the white.

Im thinking wolf looked the most consistent...
 
#15
Re: Clark or Shilen 'mid' contour barrel ??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: frog5215</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Uh, how many fouling shots did you shoot between brands?
It can take 10-30 or more rounds before a stable bore condition arrives. </div></div>

0 or 10 depending on how you look at it...
 
#17
Re: Clark or Shilen 'mid' contour barrel ??

Good info folks--I installled the Shilen this morning, I had to lube it well and tap it on pretty hard, but it is on there--now I have to open up the barrel channel...will do my best to sneak up on it---open for any tips on that process!!
 
#19
Re: Clark or Shilen 'mid' contour barrel ??

I've used a golf grip wrapped in sandpaper on some barrel channels before...worked pretty good, have wondered if it's worth investing in a tool specific to the task....have only done a few barrels over a really long time, and have quite a few wooden stocks.......
 
#21
Re: Clark or Shilen 'mid' contour barrel ??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: frog5215</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I always a GunLine barrel bedding tool.
Maybe a socket and coarse sand paper, lacking the right tool. </div></div>

That's what I used, a socket and rough sandpaper. Also did a few passes with fine sandpaper to smooth it up.
 
#23
Re: Clark or Shilen 'mid' contour barrel ??

I have had several 10/22s and 77 bolt action rimfire rifles built or sent in to be redone by Clark and they all where extremely accurate and reliable rifles. The only Shilen barrels i have used were varmint rifles built in the past. I would keep both and try them, but if you need to get rid of 1 of them i would keep the Clark barrel. I personally do not think the Shilen barrel is worth a 100 bucks more. Good luck with your choice and happy shooting.
 
#29
Re: Clark or Shilen 'mid' contour barrel ??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: shooter65</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Had Clark and Shilen. Go with a Kidd. </div></div>

Funny note Shooter 65, I actually thought about a Kidd, got their pin kit, charging handle and spring kit, and 2 stage trigger group--nice stuff--I just wanted to go to a smaller contour barrel though. The Shilen is on my rig, and the clark is on my friends, both are shooting about the same so far, only about 75-100 rounds through each of them yet, so probably a bit of barrel settling in yet to go....they are both shooting around 1/2" at 50 yards, was pretty windy, so only shot a few groups at 100, around and 1.5" at 100.....we shall see, but I do like the contour, think it looks good on my rig!
 
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