Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Shilen Barrels for a custom rifle - thoughts?

I have a newer Remington 700 sps long action that has been wasting safe space so I have decided to build a rifle. I have ordered a Shilen Match Grade SS #3 contour .30, 1/10 twist barrel and plan to chamber in 30-06....Cant explain why, I have no need for one, never liked the cartridge, and really don't see myself hunting with it, but I guess it could be a nice accurate loner rifle.

Anyways, wanted to get some feedback good or bad about Shilen Match barrels.(I can always return the barrel before we start work) Can I still cerakote over the stainless finish if I desire? The number 3 contour finishes about .625 at 24" - thick enough to flute? Would that offer any real benefit? Lastly, are shilen barrels picky or when done right do they shoot well?

I plan to load a 180 nosler Partition dummy round just shy of magazine length (So it will still feed) and chamber based on that round/dimensions.

I have two Shilens, a 340 in a #5 with deep flutes and a #3 in 358 Winchester. Both shoot very well and neither is fussy.

Have five here in the safe and not a turd in the bunch. They all have shot great and clean up easy.

Yes you can cerakote it.

I have always had great luck with shilen barrels. My .280AI has a SS # on it and its an absolute hammer.

Got three and all are absolute hummers. All shoot consistently in the twos with no problem.

Shilens have always treated me well. I'd advise you to check with them before having it fluted.

Oh, and by the way, the '06 will take anything on the North American continent!

Shilen's are very good barrels. In 32 years of Smithing I have never had one come back for any reason.

Shilen barrels are the only barrels I keep in stock in my shop. I will order and install any barrel the customer wants.

Wade Hull of Shilen will make special runs of barrels if the tooling is available. A few years ago I made and chambered a few 1919A4 barrels in 8X57 out of SS so the MG shooters could use the cheap eastern European corrosive ammo. A call to Wade got the ball rolling because he had to use 1.5 inch SS to have enough material to match the original contour of the 1919 barrels.

Shilen barrels is a class act. IME

have had excellent luck with shilen barrels.

Ed

I have had only a sample of one and it was a great barrel !

I have 8 right now. Never had an issue with any. Been thinking about a Bartlein, but just to try somthing different. One thing I do like about Shilen is I can usually get them fairly quick through "The Barrel man. " good prices and service.Google " The Barrel man" not an endorsement but he is a great guy to deal with . Never had a problem. These guys have been building barrels for a long time. Regarding fluting I think they say on there website that if you flute it, your warranty is void. Other than that they shoot if they are screwed on right. Never had a smith tell me not to use one.

This group is from a Shilen #-3 1-10 twist.

Their Select Match barrels are probably the best in the industry. Out of 7 shillen barrels, never a problem.

You wouldnt by chance be willing to share a picture of the rifle? Like to see what a finished #3 contour is looking like.

Okay, here are a few pictures.










That's all I have uploaded.
This rifle was made by Brown Precision.

It has a nice balance. Feels nice in my hands. It now has a Leupold VX 6 on it.

This rifle has always shot great.

Just got a #3 back from IT&D they screwed on a 700SA and chambered 25-284. Will be a while before I get to shoot it.

I've never owned a Shilen either. Based upon input from Dennisinaz I just purchased a Shilen 6mm 1:8 for a 6x47L project (6.5x47L necked down to 6mm).

Sure hope it works. Going to use a Defiance Rebel action, have not decided on a trigger yet. Probably going to use a McMillian stock.

Still thinking about glass also.

Wish me luck.

I have three of their barrels. They will shoot better than I can hold them. They are easy to get to shoot.

I also have only a sample of one but it's a good one. My 400 Whelen wears a Shilen barrel. Entirely happy with it.

Here is a group from my .280AI with a #3 Shilen zero check target.


I put first the shot right on the money then I totally flubbed the second shot and then the next two went where they were supposed too.

At the point this group was shot the barrel had been about 250 rounds without cleaning.

I've got one on my M70 280 AI, a winny fwt contour, it's been a great shooting barrel, no complaints at all.