Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Advice on buying new ruger barrel please.

Thinking about buying a new barrel for my ruger MK II target model who would you recommend and do you know about how much they cost? Also should this be done by a local gunsmith or would you send it to the barrel maker?

Thanks.

dgc, welcome to the campfire. I have seen great deals on barrels at www.midwayusa.com check out their clearance section and just keep watching it. They have Hart, Shilen, Lilja, Douglas, Krieger, etc. It changes monthly. The clearance prices are as good as you will find anywhere. Next I would find a good gunsmith in your local area and have them install it. Good luck.

DGC,

Certain barrel makers orient their products to specific purposes. What do you want to do with this barrel?

Also what cartridge will it be chambered for?

thanks...jim

It's 25-06. I just like a good shooter will be varment hunting and Deer. I also like shooting Paper alot.

DGC,

I have a 6.5-'06 with a Shilen barrel that is very accurate, and I expect would do well for you. I had mine fitted by a local gunsmith who was excellent, but has gone on to the happy hunting grounds.

Check their website for prices, and you can also buy from folks like Brownells...jim

In my experience Pacnor barreling has been great. For a little over $400 you can get a stainless supermatch that will do anything you could possibly want to do with a 25-06. Others on the board have expressed little faith in their gunsmithing services but I like the idea of the barrel maker doing the install. If something is wrong you will never have the issue of the gunsmith pointing the finger at the barrel manufacture and vis a versa.

I like Pac-Nor, too.

We're fortunate to have a good local 'smith, who undercharges. I went the route of getting a pre-fit barrel, which was a trifle over $300 in stainless, and letting the local smith true the action and mount the barrel.

I has been my happy experience that if its a Pac-Nor and it
don't shoot they will do all they can to make it right.

Pac-Nor is very accommodating. If you're not sure exactly what contour, twist, groove count, etc., that you're after, pick up the phone and talk to Chris. He certainly did right by me.

Thanks everyone !

If you'd be happy with another .25-06, Ruger can rebarrel it for a VERY reasonable price. Their present barrels are also very good. Last time I talked to them about this the price was $75, but that was a 3-4 years ago. They will only rebarrel in the original caliber, however.

MD

MD's suggestion is a very good one. I sent a second hand No.1A to them to rebarrel, and was very clear that I intended to pay for it. They rebarreled and reblued it.........for free! Shoots great! They made a customer for life with that move. As soon as I get a line on a new No.1H in 9.3X74R, I'm buying it, just to show my gratitude! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Jeff

I was going to suggest a Ruger barrel as well but I don't know why a new barrel is wanted?

Ruger rebarreled a #1 for me and the cost was about $135 maybe five years ago. For some reason they also reblued the rifle even though it did not need it?

The new barrel is a good one and much better than the old one. I went from a 7mm RM to a 30-06 only because they no longer made the 7mm RM in the 1A. That took an act of Congress to change the caliber. They did not like that.

Then they shipped my precious low number #1 to me in a weak carton and the rifle got damaged. On top of that I had packed it in a wood case that I wanted back and of course they kept that. All in all I lost some interest in Ruger along the way. It's funny how things turn ones feelings.

I am still glad that I have a Ruger barrel on the #1. On a 77 I would go for a Douglas or better.

Ruger did a 220 Swift for me three years ago. It was only $171.50 but shoots awesome. Plus, they re-blued the whole works, refinished the floor plate and trigger guard, and replaced the trigger which breaks at 3.5 pounds. (I did not request any of the additional work, only the new barrel, installation, and re-blue) I was very pleased to say the least.
I did not expect them to do it for free as the throat was burned out by the previous owner and told them as much.

I dont mind a ruger barrel! I just want my gun to shoot again!
As in my other post two days ago it shoots the first cold barrel round way high and way left. and then goes back to hitting right on target. makes hunting real hard! I mean its like four inches high and about the same right. Thats Bad also if I bought a new gun it would be in 25-06 I love this caliber!

Don

Thanks Mule Deer for the suggestion to send it back to Ruger. Had no idea they would do all that work for so little.

DGC, There is another alternative that is also low priced. New take off Remington barrels are plentiful. Find a local gunsmith that either has some or buy one on your own and get it installed locally. The CM barrels usually go for around $40 and the SS a bit more. The Rem and Ruger threads are the same except the OD on a Rem is a bit larger. All a gunsmith has to do is turn down the OD of the threads, cut them a bit deeper and then install/ ream to fit. I have had this done numerous times by Lawson's here in Tucson. Total cost including the barrel runs right at $125.

With inexpensive prices of Ruger or the method I mentioned you can afford to shoot the heck out of them. So what if in 5 yrs you have to rebarrel again? I have one 284 that is on it's 4th barrel.

----Ross