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Does anyone have any opinions on Lilja barrels and how they compare to bartlein barrels? Or is there no real significant difference? Thanks
I have had Several dozen barrels of many top makes fitted by top smiths. In that time I have had two that shot substandard. The only two Lilja’s I tried.
I received poor CS on both.
Might have been bad luck.
Not sure it was bad luck. I had a terrible experience with a 6.5 Grendel Barrel from Lilja. The gas port had a burr protruding in the bore and there was surface rust in the extension and on the outside of the barrel. The owner gave me a really hard time, claiming this was "normal" from storage and that the burr would go away after shooting (I couldn't get it with a bore brush). After an extended email exchange he finally agreed to take it back and refund my money. I'd never buy another barrel from Lilja based on that experience. Way to many other good barrel makers out there. I have had nothing but good experiences with the Bartleins and Proofs I've used.
And BenchmarkI usually try to stick with the B’s... Bartlein and Brux.
I usually try to stick with the B’s... Bartlein and Brux.
Just curious sir, do you still have anything to do with Nesika?Since this has morphed into a barrel plug campaign, I'll throw my two bits in it: Kenny Johnson of K&P barrels located in Rapid City, SD.
Ken is my "go-to" guy. The relationship started around 5 years ago and we've been thick as thieves ever since. K&P barrels are single-point cut rifled. I like that process much better from a machining standpoint because the steel is harder. Crunchy stainless just makes a better chip.
Accuracy is on par with any other marquee brand. What really sold me is the customer service. I buy a lot of product. On the rare (very rare) occasion that there has been an issue, he's 20 minutes from my door. When I approach him with an issue he literally looks at me, shrugs his shoulders, says "well that sucks", takes the old stick from me, and within 24 hours I have a new one.
Yes, within 24 hours I have a new one. Now, I do buy a lot from him so there is some favoritism I'm sure, however, the mere fact that he takes my word at face value and doesn't sit there and piss and moan over it goes a long, long, long way.
For the record this has happened 6 times in the 5+ years we've been doing business.
-Just another name to throw in the hat.
Details on your match rifle & practice rifle(s)?I don't have near the experience as some of these folks because I'm not a Smith, but, anecdotally I can say:
My cut rifles barrels have all been hammers. I've had a button rifle or two that hammered, I've also had a few that didn't.
We're all trying to pinch pennies and be frugal where we can.
Personally, at this point I only use cut rifled barrels, last two have been Bartliens, for my match gun.
I'm not shitting on button barrels, I've been using those as practice tubes because they're about half the price, see higher round counts and longer strings of fire, and are easily replaced.
What I can say is if I'm driving 4-8hrs, or flying further, staying at a hotel, paying match fees, possibly renting a car... all to shoot a match, I'm not chancing the performance of the barrel.
These days, Bartlein all the way. Having said that if I saw an awesome price on a K&P, Krieger, Hawk Hill, etc. that's easy money savings and I wouldn't hesitate.
Details on your match rifle & practice rifle(s)?
Nice. 6.5x47/6x47 Lapua is a amazing round. That brass can take serious punishment. What stock/chassis and scope?It's the same gun with a different barrel, bolt head, and magazine for each purpose.
6x47L 1:7.5tw for matches, currently a Bartlein, and I have a 1:7tw Criterion in 223 for practice because 223 can be loaded on a progressive and sees upwards of 5k rounds of barrel life.
Match barrel currently has 1400+ on it and still hammering, I'm going to add a hundred rounds per local match, give or take, till it dies, I'm shooting for 2k+ and I believe it's a fully attainable goal with a cut barrel that isn't being pushed to the redline it's whole life.
Bighorn TL3 action for the win. Everything between practice and match is the same except caliber.
Going to try a stainless Proof barrel for my next practice tube.