Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Mid Priced SS barrel choice?

The steel is crap, and most barrel makers have it. Bench rest shooters aren't getting but 500 rounds before taking them off.

Ouch. I've run P-N, Shilen, Hart, Bartlein.

I feel best with brands with a long track record.

Good luck. Btw, when $$ are tight, if there is a Chambering that works for what I am trying to do, and In a config ie contour that is what's needed, I consider factory rifles ie S2, and T3. There are others. I have complete confidence and had good experience also in the new Rugers with in-house mfg barrels. A 1-A for instance in 243 - 3/8" for three at 100 using 85GKHP hand loads right out the box. It's bbl pulled to do a heavy 6BR. PAC-Nor did it - shot under 1/2" for 3 - @330yds....

Good luck.

Douglas in Charleston, WV has been good for many decades.

Rock Creek, I know the head feller (russ) over there, he is an absolute accuracy NUT. I just bought a 6.5x47 barreled action from him on the recommendation of my buddy who works for him. this thing shoots better than it has ANY right too, for what i paid for it. 5 shot groups in the low .3s all barrels are hand lapped at the factory there.

When did he go to work for them? I know a lot of barrel makers and they are all accuracy nuts. I do have an excellent Rock Creek, but I bought it when they were on top of their game about 10 years ago. Don't know many folks using them in competition and winning now. Hope they have it sorted out.

he's been there for a few years. Rock creek barrels are EXTREMELY popular in the PRS world right now. due to the turn around time, and accurate tubes they;re putting out. From what I understand Mike rock isn't involved anymore.

I know Mike hasn't been around in a while. James Lederer was running the Rock Creek shop for many years. He left in 2012 and is setting his own barrel shop up and just started with the 3o cal. He is a wizard. I would like to know the winning shooters that use Rock Creek that have won PRS matches. Maybe you can provide the equipment list for us. It would be nice to view the winner's equip.

I emailed some PRS folks that I know. This is what they say.

Bartlein #1 about 50%.
Hawk Hill #2 about 25 %.
Benchmark #3 about 7%.

Then a mix of the rest.

Bartlein is number one hands down.

From the PRS blog last Nov.

Thanks,
I guess my Buds were close.

Yep - hard to ignore that Bartlein number though.

Not sure what your ax to grind is butch, but they are extensively used in the WPRC league, and a few of the members on that league, are also sponsored shooters that go to actual "prs" matches, such as the heat stroke and the gap grind. If ya don't like them, don't shoot them, but they are turning out really good barrels for a great price, quickly. No where did I say people were winning major PRS matches with them. They are perfectly capable of winning matches as barrels go, but the major shooters are sponsored by larger companies. In the smaller midwest "prs" style shoots they are very popular.

Mr acooper,
No Axe to grind. I'm just clarifying a few things. I still have a couple of the older Rock Creek barrels and the one I have chambered is great. I have not chambered the other. You may find that if you check with the competitors, they are not sponsored with barrels. Barrel companies normally give a barrel to a winner if he is using one of theirs and win a match. Now if you buy a large lot of barrels you will receive a discount. I know guys will get together and buy a quantity of barrels at a reduced price. I'm sure Russ would go for that.
A lot of times at club matches the guys use the barrels produced in their region of the country. Don't put into this what you think I am saying. I have nothing against RC or I wouldn't have a couple.

Thanks for the clarification. one of the gentlemen that works for RC and who is a good friend of mine who introduced me to russ to buy a barreled from him, is a great up and coming shooter, he's been in the PRS game for probably 18mos and has secured sponsorships from Rock creek (of course) Sierra, federal, manners. He;s is good friends with Jim See as well. The Prs Style of shooting is taking off like wild fire in the illinois iowa wisconsin area. there are shoots at least every two weekends drawing it seems like a minimum of 40 shooters. I believe in the next year there will be a highly organized "league" in those 3 states, and probable minnesota as well.

Butch,
What happened to Barrelman?
I want those discounts.

Clarkm, I sold that company to Jerry Stiller several years ago. I guess Jerry's girlfriend decided it wasn't what she wanted to do. It was sold to a third party and the guy is in a legal mess. You may not want to buy a barrel from him.

Jim See is a good Man. PRS is an up and coming shooting sport.

What he said.

by all accounts he's a helluva guy, i recently became friends on FB with him, I'm looking forward to taking on of his PRS classes. Ive watch footage of him from the heatstroke and he is something else.

I bought a Brux #3 stainless in 6.5mm for $300 + $110 for the fluting. Seemed reasonable; cheaper than the others I called. Didn't need the fluting, just liked the way it looked. So I could have gotten it for just the $300. Can't tell you how it shoots yet. It's at the smith, getting mated to a Defiance action.