Kyle,
Many have put on more barrels than I; I've had 12 or so installed.
I recommend putting Stick and Boxer (same dude) on ignore. He knows his [bleep] but his language is abusive and he will ridicule any question you have.
As for barrel I recommend you come up with some logic train for choosing your barrel maker.
Do you want a stainless barrel or a chrome moly (i.e. so it can be blued) barrel?
Do you want a cut rifle barrel (some are picky about cut rifled vs button barreled)?
Do you want a hand lapped barrel? Lapping is typically done by high end barrel makers, but not all, i.e. Douglas. And not everyone likes Douglas as a barrel maker.
Do you have a gunsmith to install the barrel? From reading your post above I think you want a gunsmith because you also want stock bedding done and I would want them done at the same time. Or alternately will a barrel maker/installer bed the stock and change the trigger for you?
How heavy do you want the barrel and total rifle weight? Many people choose WAY too heavy a barrel for their first aftermarket barrel.
If, for instance, you decided you want a #2, stainless steel, cut rifled barrel you've eliminated most barrel makers. I think only Rock Creek Barrels (I have 2, both before Mike Rock retired) and Pederson barrels (I've never used them) make thin contour cut rifled barrels.
If, for instance, you decided you want a #2, chrome moly, barrel and you don't care about cut rifling you have more options. Krieger, Brux, Bartlein, Shilen, Lilja, Pac Nor, X-Caliber, and many more make that barrel. But I don't think Hart makes a chrome moly barrel.
So come up with some criteria and then narrow down to the right maker for you. I personally have or have had Brux, Bartlein, Rock Creek, Lilja, Rock Creek, Pac Nor, and Obermeyer barrels. I haven't installed the Obermeyer or Lilja yet. All the others shoot better than I can, so I don't think you'll be disappointed with any of them. You will be disappointed if you get any of them too heavy.
v/r
Joel
