Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Thinking about re-barreling my M7

I'm getting 1.25" - 1.5" groups out of my Remmy model 7 308 with reloads. Its got to do better some how. Stock it not the issue and neither is the bedding. So I'm thinking about re-barreling it. Here is one problem, money! my price range allows ER Shaw, Lilja or max would be Hart. Another problem is I want the barrel contour and length the same as my factory one.

Since I've never had to replace a barrel before I'd figure someone here can shed some light on this for me and point me in the general right direction. Are these three barrel manufactures any good or not and is one better than the other?

My dad's 280 has a hart barrel and it is a very accurate rifle, I would go with a hart barrel with no hesitation. I had a smith take the factory barrel off my model 7 in 243 and put on a factory 243 barrel off an SPS. Added a few inches which is what I was looking for. Another option is looking for a new takeoff barrel and trying that. The cost all told for that project was well under $200.

ER Shaw isn't even in the same category as Hart or Lilja, I'd save a little extra cash and go for a higher end barrel. In the long run you'll be happier. There are a lot of good options including Hart, Lilja, Brux, Broughton, Bartlien, Rock Creek, Krieger, Pac-Nor, Shilen, And more. Pick one and enjoy.

Lilja and Hart are as expensive as anything else out there. If your budget allows for them then it allows for anything else.

What is your accuracy goal? The Mod.7 is not the platform that the 700 is.....featherweight bbls, small rear action screw, 1/2" shorter bedding surface. The kids and I have 4 Mod.7's between us(all 7/08's)and they all do job #1, that is: put the first shot at POA (at 150 yds) from a cold bore with 2 follow-up shots in a 1-1/2" group (after bedding and tweaking fore-end pressure). There is a good reason you never see a Mod. 7 on the Benchrest circuit.
Green Mountain barrels is the company I would be looking at, but don't expect this finished platform to shoot sub 1" (group size averaged over many sessions).

The cheapest and the best barrel is a Shilen. Lilja , Hart, ect. has nothing on a Match Grade Shilen except a higher price.