If you had to choose, which one for a 7mm08 rebarrel?

I would, without question...........................................................................go with the one I could get the quickest.

That was my impulse as well....Ive never used either, but never heard a bad word about either....

I've had versions of both, in multiple calibers. They both shoot well. Neither are a skinny stainless tube. I think the smallest contour you can get in the Bart is a 2B. I don't know about Brux; the one I have right now is a 3. Rifling is different (5R vs 4 groove), but that's a wash.

If you don't mind the heft and you only wanted one or the other I would get the one with the shorter wait or less cost.

brux has been really good for me

I am curious on this to can't imagine you could go wrong with either

Love my #3 Rock!

Brux does a true Remington Sporter conture if that suits your fancy.

Fluted, or not?

For me for what it's worth being a "Traditionalist" no flutes. That said I don't own one but i would like to try one.

This

I have 7MM-08's with one of each, a fluted Brux #3 and a no flute Bartlein 2B. So far I'd have to give the edge to the Bart, its started off shooting just a bit better than the Brux and seems less fussy?? And really the 2B is dang near a Rem sporter contour so it just works nicely. Really happy with it so far, pretty sure Bugholes has them in stock.

Not a great picture but it mostly shows the difference I think.
Barrel on left is Rem factory sporter (SPS stainless 7MM-08), next is the Bartlein 2B, then the Brux #3.
The Bartlein is a bit beefier than the factory barrel but not much.

Truth !

+1 This would be my pick.
Good luck with your project.

Krieger. Start at the top.

I have a Brux 264 win mag that shoots great! I've heard good things about Bartlein as well. Good luck!

Yep.

Have a couple of Brux, a Krieger, a Broughton 5C, a Hart, just off the top of my head, probably missing a few.

My last two projects ended up with Shilen tubes due to quick turnaround. Both surprised me how fast they were finished. I don't think Shilen is quite in the league with the best cut rifle barrels, but they're good. And both of these are hunting rifles, not LR Match guns.

DF

I find it interesting when people mull the differences between high end custom barrels when the application is a sporter.

Of course I shouldn't say too much since I like to trim that last quarter MOA of group size from hunting handloads that will primarily be used on deer/hog size targets inside 300 yards.

It's a sickness I tell ya!

I agree.

I like the finer tubes to squeeze the last bit of performance, but in a hunting type gun, it probably doesn't matter that much.

My top LR hunting rifles are Brux and Krieger.

DF

Yep.

Loonyism...

DF

I'm of the opinion that it would be pretty hard for most shooters to demonstrate (in a statistically significant way, using sporter weight rifles and barrel contours) meaningful differences between various name barrels.

If they were both sitting there I'd grab the Bartlein, both brands have shot fantastically for me, but Bartlein has the better reputation in my opinion.

Availability would be a bigger issue, especially for a sporter. I just got a Hawk Hill to try out on my comp gun for when I rebarrel it, as I couldn't find a Bartlein in the configuration I wanted in stock.

I can't really say because Shilen is my first choice in a barrel when building a rifle.

Forgot about my HS Precision, 240. They make an in house, cut rifle barrel that's about as good as Brux, Krieger, etc. They look about the same to me thru the Hawkeye and shoot about as well, at least in my experience.

I've never had a Bartlein, have heard some good things about them. Some think Bartlein in the only barrel...

DF

To the op...I've owned one of the barrels on your list, and it was a dog. My buddy had a similar experience. Pm if you want...

I have never had a Brux, but do own several Bartlein barrels. All have been absolute shooters that like several different loads. If I am going with cut rifling, it is my first choice.

Barrels don't matter nearly as much as people like to think, they rate near the bottom of my give a f*ck list on a build sheet.

Every barrel manufacture has had a junk barrel leave their shop. Many more 'bad' barrels are the result of a schit smith working on it, or a schit stock with schit bedding, or schit ammo, etc...

Raider, I'd happily gun either of those barrels on a rifle and never have a second thought cross my mind on if I made the right call.

Or a schit barrel...

Yeah, I already said that, try to keep up.

The reason I narrowed it down to those two is because they're both in stock and ready to deliver. I don't have patience enough to wait 4 months for others.

What's the going rate to cut the chamber, shorten the tube, thread, recrown, fit, etc, etc etc.?

I've used several Brux and think very highly of them. I am currently playing with my first Bartlein, but it is darned good too. If both are immediately available, pick whichever most closely matches your contour requirements and after that, let the price decide.

John

$250 - $350. I highly recommend going with a top name with chambering and fitting.

John

+1

JG, I'd probably go Bartlein if both are ready to ship. I am perfectly pleased with my two Brux tubes, just don't have a Bartlein. That choice would fix that dilemma...

DF

Given where you are it's too bad Mike Bryant retired.

Both are really good and I wouldn't hesitate to use either. I've had one Brux and three Bartleins. The Bartleins were the last three I had fitted and right now don't see a reason to use anything else, they're fantastic. I like the 5R rifling, it really does seem to copper foul less, none at all in the case of my three.

What action is it going on?

I try to use the brand the smith prefers. Went bartlein for my 6creed and couldn't be happier. I've not had a bad barrel yet(from any maker)and don't think of myself as lucky either...haha

I see a lot of guys saying this but I don't subscribe to it. I'm not building the rifle for the smith to shoot, I'm building it for me and I want what I want. I'll gladly welcome his advice and input but in the end if he doesn't want to use what I want for the build then I'll find another gunsmith. It's all about having confidence in your equipment and if I got talked out of what I really wanted then I won't have confidence in it and won't be happy with it. I've let smiths talk me into things in the past and always regretted it, no more.

Come on man? Youre taking that pretty far out of context.The point is we have several different best barrel makers to choose from. So when I don't care if it's hart douglas Lilja bart brux pacnor etc I use the one the smith likes. Besides I choose gunsmiths that actually know more about rifle barrels than I do.

Big difference in letting a smith decide barrel maker and getting talked out of or into something. If your want a Krieger the smith used a bartlien and that makes you loose confidence in the equipment you're worrying about the wrong thing

I would only go with Bartlein or Krieger barrels. Never anything else.. They are only 20 mi. down the road. Keeps it easy.

Crow, I'm planning on putting it on a Tikka 595 action (not 100% certain about this yet). I want to cut it down to 24", and probably wind up with a Micky Sako hunter stock. I have no idea what/where to send it to get the work done, but I've been wanting to do this for a while so I've started to piece it together.

JG, I honestly don't know who are the Tikka specialists. I would call Jon Beanland in Gould OK and pick his brain. If he can't do it then he'll know who to recommend.

Any popular smith is going to be a year out. That is why ordering a barrel and having to wait is generally a moot point.

That's not entirely true. Beanland took about 5 months to get to my last two builds but he's getting pretty well known now. Part of that was waiting on my action to come from Borden. There are some very good smiths that aren't really that well advertised that will turn one around quickly, especially if it's just a barreling/chambering job without any stock work. I know an extremely good BR smith that if I drop a remington 700 & parts off at his shop on Monday will have it done by Friday. Most of these guys fly under the radar, you just have to look for them. Unfortunately gunsmithing seems to be a profession where guys do more socializing and talking than actual work. I don't know why so many gunsmiths are such poor businessmen. The ones that can focus and run an efficient shop can turn out quality in a timely manner.

+1 about Mike!!! The best!!!

In defense of Kaleb, the smith is an important part of the equation.

Barrel makers sometimes have peaks and valleys in their production and quality. Occasionally the product isn't quite up to past reputation and the smith is generally the first to know.

Also, product warranty varies among makers, some easier to work with than others. The smith will have his finger on that pulse more than the consumer.

And, the smith's reputation is on the line as much as the barrel maker. So, a heart to heart discussion with your smith is, IMO, very important. If you insist on a brand he doesn't like, then he may have reason to throw some blame your way if all doesn't turn out as expected.

If you insist on Bartlein, for example, pick a smith who likes them, who has a good relationship with them. You're stacking the odds in your favor that your "plan will come together" without glitches.

DF

Excellent points fellas....thanks.

Good point.

But, JG's barrel choices are both in stock, ready to ship.

So, he needs to find a smith who is comfortable with this particular project.

DF

Krieger

unless he wants a SS barrel smaller than #5...

The ONLY thing for certain,in regards to The Do Nothing Gang is...that when it's all said and done,there will have been a fhuqk of a LOT more said,than done.

'Raider would be best served by more fences and a scattergun that patterned 00-Buck well,given her "demands". Laffin'!

One moment she waxes eloquent on her "hard charging" ways and the next,she's torn on which portion of the window to lick first. Bless her heart! The Tikka TURD Polish is fhuqking EPIC humor!!!

Wow.

Mebbe she'll muse boolits,glass and mounts next?!?

My fingers are fhuqking crossed!!!!!!

Laffin'!

I know Robert Gradous likes Krieger and Bartlien if that says anything...........

Boots is the king all else calmer too his every word. But smiths make guns shoot just helps having the right pipe for the job.

PS don't over twist. 😉

Brux if only because their service is better and they'll stand behind it if there's a problem. I'd go Rock if that's an option.

Bb

The high end custom stress relieved hand lapped barrel brands are all the same to me in a hunting situation.
But if a shooter BELIEVES the brand barrel he has is better, that may make a real difference.