Preferred AI Barrel Maker/Smith?

[NateVA]

What is your preferred barrel maker and smith for AI rifle barrels? It seems there appears to be a wide selection of them and I'm trying to chase down substantive reviews of each different variant. So far I've heard of Mile High, Gradous, Hawk Hill, and many others. I'm wondering if there's a prevailing favorite, and also what results people are getting from their current barrels.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

PVA

 

[Night Assassin]

Dave Tooley !

 

[Rmas308]

accurate ordnance AI prefits are solid.

 

[morganlamprecht]

Red Beard Gun Works has spun up all of mine over the years

 

[phlegm]

The Mile High and Accurate Ordnance barrels I've seen have been lasers.

In all truth, I've never seen a barrel hung off an AI that didn't shoot well.

 

[BullzeyeNJ]

Gradous or TS Customs. Both have shot tight for me with hawk hill, krieger and benchmark blanks.

 

[jfields]

Red Beard in Corpus.

 

[winniethepooh]

Proof prefits!!!!

 

[surgeon260]

Gradous.

 

[W54/XM-388]

Dave Tooley would be a good one to start with.
There are also quite a few vendors that stock ready to ship AI barrels.

 

[Jeffd]

Short Action Customs

 

[Hondo1]

Most accurate, easy to load for barrel I’ve ever been around was a 6.5 Creedmoor Gradous Barrel out of my former AT. I have a mile high barrel in my AX that shoots really too but load work ups were far more involved.

 

[bohem]

Dave Tooley's been doing it longer than any of the rest of us mentioned and he does a fine job at it and he's a great guy.
That said, I feel we (PVA) make a pretty darn good barrel ourselves.

We are also making shoulderless AI prefits with a barrel nut that will accept the BarLoc setup for shouldered barrels so that folks can convert their old AIAE's for use with a quick change setup.

 

[_shawn_]

red beard in corpus has done every barrel for my ai and a couple for other rifles i've had

 

[Smithcollector]

Gradous. Not only because of the ease in load development, and the accuracy, but the fit and finish are unbelievable. Nearly impossible to see the line for the thread protector. The caliber marking lines up, not just facing the right way on the barrel but where you can see it through a notch in the hand guard. His work is outstanding.

 

[Aaron47pb]

I’ve shot Tooley, Gradous, MHS, and Accurate Ordnance barrels. They have all shot great. But I will say that I recently got out of reloading and I’ve shot some of the best groups of my life (in the 0.2s) with factory Hornady 108 ELD Match and an Accurate Ordnance prefit.

 

[truth]

I've had great luck with barrels from Wade.

https://www.stutevilleprecision.com/about-us

 

[Kiba]

I've had AI barrels from Tooley, Win Tac (AINA), Wade Stuteville, and PVA. All were within spec and all were tack drivers. Currently have a 6 Dasher barrel from Wade on my AT and a 6.5 Creedmoor barrel from PVA on my AX, both started with Bartlein blanks.

 

[300ATT]

Dave Tooley and Mile High. Barrels from either source shoot lights out.

 

[NateVA]

And you all just shoot your barrels from the start instead of doing a break-in?

 

[phlegm]

And you all just shoot your barrels from the start instead of doing a break-in?

Clean once, then shoot.

 

[300ATT]

I put a dry patch through and then shot and then cleaned after 4-500 rounds ... worked great and keeps on working great.

 

[trophyhunter]

I think all the mentioned barrel spinners do an amazing job. With that being said I think my biggest issue with any is turnaround to me or getting in contact with my smith.

RedBeard gun works (361)704-6069 has been exceptional in answering all my questions, super fast turn around and phenomenal accuracy

 

[bribri]

I've shot a few different barrels but none of them were as good as the one's from TS Customs.

 

[texag0842]

Moon has been doing mine.

Red beard also seems to consistently put out hammers. I've had one of Dave Tooleys and it was a performer as well

 

[JS624]

Sawtooth Rifles.

 

[vivdav]

Red Beard's with amazing service and take care of their customers. Hawk hill and Proof. Accuracy is fantastic

 

[Gilly]

I’ve got a 6x47 from Short Action Customs and a 6br and 6.5 saum from mile high both shoot very good. I have SAC doing another 6x47 right now came down to lead time really and fact the first one shot so well.

 

[300ATT]

Frankly, every barrel that I have, AI - (lothar walther), tooley, bartlien (milehigh) ... shoot great.