And the best answer is something will eliminate certain barrel makers.
I wanted a Brux for my last barrel and they wouldn’t make it without a takeoff in hand (I wanted to give them measurements). Then they said they wouldn’t make the blank even until I sent them the barrel. Lilja made the blank and Redneck sent them the takeoff when the blank was ready.
I once waited way, way past delivery estimate for a Rock. Like, I ordered another barrel from a different maker a year later and then got them at the same time.
I once was going to order a Benchmark but they wanted a custom contour fee and it was going to be a near $450 barrel, there are other good barrels.
Krieger and Bartlein won’t make skinny SS barrels if that’s important to you. Some guys really think cut barrels are superior and they will use a CM Krieger.
The barrel makers I’ve had:
Bartlein
Krieger
Rock Creek
Brux
Obermeyer
Pac Nor
Lilja
Plenty of others left to try. My next will be a Schneider, evidently their turnaround is super fast and they must do something right because the Marines use them for their sniper rifle barrels. I’m not a Marine but I respect them all the same.
