Gunsmithing Custom Barrels

[cornhusker86]

I have owned at one time or another barrels from; Shilen, Schneider, Pac-Nor, Hart, and Douglas. They were chambered in cals. ranging from 223 to 338-378. I can honestly say that they were all very accurate and yet not one make stood out as being better than the others.

My question is this; Is there a brand of barrel that is demonstrably better than the rest? I realize that just as some prefer Chevy over Ford, or Gibson to Fender, or Marshall to Mesa, everyone has their favorite. It seems to me that once a certain level of quality is reached, that it's really a matter of personal preference.

Thoughts?

 

[crvbs]

I don't know Squat about barrels other than i' m looking for one for my 264, after 30 years it's gone. Are any better for magnum's than the other's.

 

[Long Range 338]

They all have their fans, and custom barrels should all be superior to factory barrels. You left out Bartlein, Krieger, Benchmark, Brougton, Rock, Obermeyer, Proof, etc.
The extra dollars should equal better quality barrels and tooling. We live in an excellent time to be shooters.

 

[Long Range 338]

Now if you want to start a debate, ask which is the best rifling type an twist rate......

 

[cornhusker86]

Now if you want to start a debate, ask which is the best rifling type an twist rate......

I figured brand was provocative enough.

 

[THEIS]

Hi,

Barrel brand does not matter, as long as you get one with FFP. ?

Sincerely,
Theis

 

[cornhusker86]

Hi,

Barrel brand does not matter, as long as you get one with FFP. ?

Sincerely,
Theis

Front Focal Plane rifling? That's a given.

 

[THEIS]

Hi,

Forward Facing Polygonal....

Sincerely,
Theis

 

[cornhusker86]

Hi,

Forward Facing Polygonal....

Sincerely,
Theis

Is that anything like hammer forged gaintwist?

 

[pmclaine]

Is that anything like hammer forged gaintwist?

Left hand or right hand twist?

Is that determined by whether you live in Australia or the USA?

Never mind Australia and New Zealand are soon to not have any firearms.

 

[cornhusker86]

Left hand or right hand twist?

Is that determined by whether you live in Australia or the USA?

Never mind Australia and New Zealand are soon to not have any firearms.

The 1 in 12 twist portion is left hand. As the rifling transitions to 1 in 10 it becomes right hand. I thought that was a given.

Never been down under, but I have been to a rodeo and two county fairs...

 

[Loonhunter]

Hi,

Barrel brand does not matter, as long as you get one with FFP. ?

Sincerely,
Theis

Fucking fair price?

 

[Supersubes]

I’ve always been very interested in working on different makes of barrels. While the lions share of my chamber jobs have been on Bartlein and Krieger, I’m always happy to play with a new maker’s tube. I have a friend, who’s a pro gunsmith, who won’t even consider using anything but a Bartlein 5r for a customer gun. I tease him at every opportunity, because that’s what friends do, but between us we’ve never seen a Bartlein that didn’t shoot REALLY well.

For personal barrels, they’ve all shot well, but if I was to pick a standout, it’s a Broughton 5c 6.5. My mentor chambered it for me in .260, and it was magic. Later I hacked several inches off of it and rechambered it to creedmoor as one of my first chamber jobs. Still magic. Just nothing but small groups regardless of what you shoot through it. I have a Bartlein 5r 6 Creed that I did a few weeks ago that’s shaping up be that same way. Just a little more effortless to shoot really well than the average.


It’s interesting to see how short range benchrest has swung hard to cut rifled barrels, with the overwhelming majority being Bartlein and Krieger. 25 years ago it was all Hart and Shilen.

 

[cornhusker86]

I have to admit that I've never heard anything bad about the Bartlein bbls. I have a 270 WSM that needs a new tube and I'm leaning that way.

 

[30338]

Hawk Hill rates a look as well.

 

[camotoe]

The 1 in 12 twist portion is left hand. As the rifling transitions to 1 in 10 it becomes right hand. I thought that was a given.

Never been down under, but I have been to a rodeo and two county fairs...

I've been ordering 5r for years now with 2 lands and groves going to the left and 2 to the right. Then one going straight down the middle. What I've found is this will stabilize the bullet before it leaves the barrel..... No yawing here

 

[camotoe]

Bartlein is an excellent choice.

 

[bjay]

You hand any after market custom barrel to a SMITH that knows how to chamber! It will be accurate..
More accurate than putting 3-5 good shooter together..

 

[crunchy]

Quality, price, service. Not necessarily in that order. I picked Benchmark as they are not only in my home state, but provided a quality product before the date quoted, at a reasonable price. Excellent customer service.

 

[Shanerbanner10]

Most all custom barrel manufacturers these days produce a barrel that is capable of shooting .0" groups. The smiths makes or breaks it.

 

[Geno C.]

Most all custom barrel manufacturers these days produce a barrel that is capable of shooting .0" groups. The smiths makes or breaks it.

They might be capable but how many actually do?

 

[Shanerbanner10]

They might be capable but how many actually do?

Too many variables.

 

[Holland375]

I have build rifles with all off them. They are all exceptional barrels. Every once in a while one shows up that shoots better than the others. Bullet weight doesn't seem to affect them or load. Wind affects them less than a normal one. Humers.

 

[308Gunner]

I have had barrels from Krieger, Shilen and the last 2 have been Broughton 5C's one in 308 and the other in 6.5 SLR all shot really well. The 308 is a hammer with any bullet you put in it, the 6.5 SLR is unreal thanks to WTO. Having said that my next one will be a Bartlein gain twist going left, not for some magic that it will inpart I just want to try one. As stated above the Gun Plumber that you use is the biggest factor when going with a good barrel.

 

[Diver160651]

Gain Twist Rifling / GTR ???

Is this the Gay Tiger Rifling equivalent to go with the 6mm GT thread?

 

[brianf]

the Gay Tiger just never gets old

 

[Alabama556]

I have owned a bunch of barrels and I have never had a bartlien that would not shoot great. I have a pac nor that shoots great also.

Is it the load?
Is it the barrel?
Is it the smith?

 

[Sniper266]

I recently watched a video where david tubb talked about how he liked schneider barrels because when you look at them with a bore scope there are very few, if any, tool marks in the rifling. But i think to compare a “lot” of barrels from each manufacturer for tool marks is unrealistic. Especially for the average guy.

Bartlein holds some world records from my understanding though.

 

[TresMon]

Give me any cut rifled, hand lapped barrel....

 

[cornhusker86]

Gain Twist Rifling / GTR ???
View attachment 7046181
Is this the Gay Tiger Rifling equivalent to go with the 6mm GT thread?

LOL

Never heard of the gay tiger til just now.

Gain twist is real and been around for years;

bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2014/08/radical-gain-twist-barrel-for-ar-and-high-power-rifles/

 

[Shankin]

LOL

Never heard of the gay tiger til just now.

Gain twist is real and been around for years;

bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2014/08/radical-gain-twist-barrel-for-ar-and-high-power-rifles/

True story. I feel like Scheumann has been making gay tiger barrels for 1911’s since I was a kid.

Rock of the Marne!

 

[oneshotmike]

I have to say that Bartlein has done me well. Proof Research also makes a nice barrel.... a lot of personal preference, availability and what your smith will recommend. Really can't go wrong with the top manufacturers.