Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Top three barrels made?

YEP!

I like Lilja. They'll probably get all my business from here on out.

How about a Swede? Good Lapua brass, decent selection of bullets, low recoil.

I have a thing for Schneider as they've treated me really well over the life cycle of quite a few tubes.

Channlyn has been good to me as has Krieger, Shilen and Hart.

Been around quite a few Lilja's my last two were far from my favs so not sure I'd go that way again. The 2 weight I had (.270) was accurate but incredibly dirty, and the 1 weight (.270) I recently had was the all time biggest pia tube I've ever been around. It was also the skinniest tube I've ever had and will go back to my no less than .6" at the mzl rule.

Several friends are liking their Bartleins, I've never worked with one but I do trust their word as these guys are shooters.

Lots of good barrels out there these days, can get a rough one from anyone I spose so I look for how they live and die their life and I look for trends.

Dober

Kreiger was another one I was thinkin of...

Ingwe

The Krieger I had Arnold did in 300 Wby for it, it was cut to 23" and about .65" at the mzl and an absolute dream of a barrel. Broke in quickly, shot very well (mainly used 165 Sierra HPBT, 200 Sierra and 200 Noz). The barrel was tough, cleaned up well and lived a very good life.

Shot a lot of chucks with that rifle, mainly @ long range with the 200 Sierra's. It was a wicked good chuck stomper!

It also taught me that the big 7's are just as capable and yet more user friendly.

Dober

Mark: Any experience with Kreiger in .22 cal?

ingwe

Personally no, but have a couple of friends who've run them pretty hard mainly in 22/6mm's and such and Swifto Ai's.

Never heard complaint one. I think you should consider calling Gary Schneider and having him build you a tube.

Dober

We will look into it when the time comes...gotta get a few other pieces and parts first...so far this is the germ of an idea..but it seems to be festering into a full blown infection!

Ingwe

Send it to me.

That's right, you've held that rifle.

Bartlein(point cut)5R
Krieger(point cut)now availible in 5R also
Rock(point cut)5R
Lilja(button cut)

My next project is going to have a Barlein gain twist barrel....just for grins!!

yeah, that is definitely a sweet rig. Everything about it just works.

That one would make a sweet 6-06AI.

I would rank the top three barrel makers.....

Krieger
Bartlein
Lilja

I have used others that were good, but I have had more exceptional barrels from those three makers than the others.

I have two Krigers right now chambered in 223. One on an AR that is 1 in 7.7 twist that is superb. The other is a 1 in 7.7 twist on a 700 Rem. action that is shoots very well. The barrel on the 700 has 3000+ rounds down the tube and it is not showing any cracking in the throat.

You can't go wrong with a Krieger.

PaPa260

Last month got 30-338mag used a Lilja barrel gunsmith has a Bartlein 5r for a 284 be ready soon and Kreiger 5r on order for a 300WSM.

Buttoned
Hart
Schneider
Douglas

Cut rifled.
Rock
Chanlynn
Brux


dave

Had a 30-338 for a long time. Great cartridge.

I dont beleive this question can be answered there are so many good barrel makers out there to say three are better than the rest cant be done in my opinion.
You will receive all kinds of answers which are usually peoples favorites for one reason or the other for example steelhead doesnt like hart but i have five rifles with hart barrels and have had great luck with them as well as top bench rest shooters and most dont like douglas but my nula rifle shoots .5 moa or better with a chromemoly douglas.
pick the one that your smith likes or offers the taper that you like and i dont think youll go wrong.

gene

Rock,

Can you expand on this statement? Is this from first hand experience? Not a slam, just looking for clarification. Pac-nor is one I'm considering.

Thanks
GK