Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Shilen Barrels........not much love on the 24 hr fire?

Is it me, or has Shilen fallen out of the good graces of campfire members. It seems like you read about customs that are being built with just about everything but Shilen. I have 4 and have had very good luck with them. My reason for asking is I have another build in mind and was most likely going to use Shilen again . I want to put a .243 AI together at some point .....any thoughts on this?

If they work for you, no reason not to.

I like Shilens too; never had any issues. They all shoot great and foul little.

Trends are fun, but keeping up with the Jones' can get old too.

This is just my way of thinking so take it for what it's worth but...

Shilens, .06's, 180 Noz Pt's and K4's have a lot in common. They all work so well that people get bored with them, take them for granted and move in other directions.

I could (if I had to) hunt with the combo of those 4 around a good bolt gun the rest of my days.

Dober

I've heard Shilen had a time a few years ago when quality slipped and I had one purchased in that time frame that was not a good barrel. I've also heard they've improved quality control and may last couple have been good barrels.

All of my customs except one has a Shilen. Shilen didn't offer the contour that I wanted for one barrel. For my competition barrels I use Bartlien, Kreiger, Rock Creek, and the one that just came in is a Shilen.

Shilen and Krieger are most popular at the matches and gun ranges around here. Dober nailed it with his list.....Except the K4 part, my ole eyes need at least 6x Barrels, belle bottoms, silicone titts, the weather, they all make the cycle around.

Good to hear that most folks like them . I also think that if anyone is around long enough they will make a few bad barrels or whatever else they might be making. I think we all look at what is new, but I also feel why fix it if it ain't broke. Thanks for all of the feedback. I think most modern barrels are pretty darn good. I also feel the barrel must be screwed on and chambered correctly. I build hunting rifles and Shilen has always been just fine ........goodshot

I think Shilen is quietly doing their thing without a lot of fuss.

It seems that Ed worked with Bergara Barrels in Spain to develop their product. I think they're good barrels from what I've heard. I don't have one.

So, he's still in the race.

DF

I like mine...no drama, just small groups...jim

It's ironic you posted this, I was however thinking the Campfire member consensus was ambivalent about Lilja barrels lately.

I think Dan Lilja is another, quietly making a great product.

Lilja is one barrel I don't have, but I sure wouldn't turn one down...

DF

I like my .35cal 1:14 twist #4 SS Shilen.....

have had nothing but good luck with shilen both barrels and trigger.

Ed

I have two Shilen barrels I got used. They shoot great. My only beef is that they are too expensive.

I can get a SS select blank from Douglas for 285 and the same from Shilen for 340.

Hand lapping isn't free.

I like my .35 cal 1:14 #3 SS Shilen.....

I have 7 Shilen stainless barrels:

6BR, 25 WSSM, 257AI, 25-284, 260, 6.5-284, and 7x57, all MOA capable, with the 6BR and 25 WSSM being exceptional accurate and durable. The 25 WSSM barrel has around 1400 rounds down the tube and it is still regularly shooting less than MOA with its pet load and the 75 grain VMax. This is my favorite pdog rifle and it gets shot a lot, but I let the barrel cool between shots. It is too good a barrel to abuse.

I would buy another Shilen barrel without any hesitation. But I have had good luck with most barrels, from the least expensive Stevens 200 take-off or A&B Savage 110 series replacement to barrels costing upward of $400. The only really bad barrels that I've ever had were a Ruger 77 RSI barrel in 243 that just wouldn't group, while its near twin, within 10 SNs away, would shoot 1.5 MOA regularly and an A&B Mauser barrel in 260 that I never could find a load that would regularly shoot less than 3 MOA. A friend of mine who has built hundreds of rifles and installed several hundred barrels says that barrels are like people, every 1 in an individual and that you can't tell what a barrel will do until you shoot it.

Jeff

I ordered a Shilen Savage replacement barrel in .204 Ruger one designed to screw right on to my receiver. When it arrived the threads were cut a little large and it wouldn't screw in. So I called and shipped it back to them along with the receiver. They corrected the threads, engraved the caliber on the barrel (required by federal law) and then discounted another barrel I ordered by the cost of return shipping for the first barrel. The .204 barrel shoots down in the .2's so I'm happy. So when things go wrong they stand by the products, that has to be worth something.

Show me where it is required by Federal law to engrave it on the barrel. I think it is very necessary, but not required.

I am enjoying my Shilen barrels in 22-250 1-8, 260rem 1-8, 30br 1-17 is the latest.
I saved considerably by ordering from Jerry "The Barrel Man" in Houston.