Barrel turning services in 2024?

[Tiekmir]

Yes, I looked this up in seach. Most posts I could see were 10 years, or more, old. A lot can change in 10 years.

I am going to get a RX3010 27" 308 Cal 1.20" OD 1:10 Turned BBL Blank from Green Mountain Rifle Barrels. I looked up peoples reviews here and for the money everyone had good things to say provided it is turned by a good gunsmith.

As for the gunsmiths who will finish barrel blanks in 2024. This includes threading and fluting. Who is in business in 2024 and who is recommended? Sharp Shooter Supplies looks like an option but posts in recent past have said their service is not as great as it used to be. Can anyone confirm this or disprove it?

Are there any other servicers for barrel work that do good work but won't cost me an arm and a leg or me selling a kidney?

Yes, I wish I could afford a top tier barrel like a Krieger, but I cannot. Maybe someday. For now it's Green Mountain and a good gunsmith for the money.

[Tiekmir]

How about Crown Ridge Barrel Works? Testomonials?

https://www.crownridgebarrelworks.com/catalog/services

[charlie b]

Hate to say it but many of us have Savages so we can use the pre-fits.

I'd probably go with a Shilen or Criterion if money is an issue.

PS welcome to the 'nut' house.

[Tiekmir]

Yeah, I explored those options. The price of just a barrel is reasonable. Add in threading plus fluting and suddenly it's a $600 barrel.

No can do. Sadly.

I'll figure it out and get all of it for less than $450.00.

[Tiekmir]

How about Crown Ridge Barrel Works? Testomonials?

https://www.crownridgebarrelworks.com/catalog/services

Again, if anyone has done business with Crown Ridge please let me know.

[charlie b]

Yeah, I explored those options. The price of just a barrel is reasonable. Add in threading plus fluting and suddenly it's a $600 barrel.

No can do. Sadly.

I'll figure it out and get all of it for less than $450.00.

I don't understand your statement. A Shilen or Criterion pre-fit from Northland is $330, total. Threaded, chambered and ready to screw onto your receiver. Fluting for a Criterion barrel is $150.

I guess I can see why you'd want a Green Mountain blank given how inexpensive they are.

The only two gunsmiths I ever trusted with my stuff sadly have passed away. Hope you find a good one.

[Dave Hoback]

Think he meant the muzzle threading also which is another $75. So looking at around $550 for everything. Going the Green Mountain & the barrel machining shop route, puts you at around $385. But then you’re gonna double shipping & handling. So that extra shipping puts the completed barrel over $400. You’re $150 difference roughly. I would be one thing if it was gonna be like half the price, but not $150. That shouldn’t really make or break the bank. You’ll spend $150 in ammunition in a fairly short amount of time. Personally, I’d wait & save that extra. Going Shilen or Criterion is a proven path. But your call of course.

[charlie b]

Ok, I thought threading meant threading the shank, not muzzle. I'd still rather have a Shilen than a Green Mountain, but, if it's just a hunting gun it would do.

[Dave Hoback]

He may have. I don’t know for sure. Was just speculation based on how I perceived it. Either way, we are in agreement I think, that it’s really not worth it given the savings. Even with muzzle threading taken away it’s not a crazy cost savings.

[prdatr]

How about Crown Ridge Barrel Works? Testomonials?

https://www.crownridgebarrelworks.com/catalog/services

Prices seem fair enough.

https://www.longriflesinc.com/collections/gunsmithing-services

[Tiekmir]

Think he meant the muzzle threading also which is another $75. So looking at around $550 for everything. Going the Green Mountain & the barrel machining shop route, puts you at around $385. But then you’re gonna double shipping & handling. So that extra shipping puts the completed barrel over $400. You’re $150 difference roughly. I would be one thing if it was gonna be like half the price, but not $150. That shouldn’t really make or break the bank. You’ll spend $150 in ammunition in a fairly short amount of time. Personally, I’d wait & save that extra. Going Shilen or Criterion is a proven path. But your call of course.

Yes, I meant muzzle threading.

Also, I live about an hour and a half from Crown Ridge Barrels. So no worries for me personally.

[Tiekmir]

Ok, I thought threading meant threading the shank, not muzzle. I'd still rather have a Shilen than a Green Mountain, but, if it's just a hunting gun it would do.

Yeah, it's just an Axis II deer gun hunting mule deer. Maybe elk.

[lonestardiver]

Think he meant the muzzle threading also which is another $75. So looking at around $550 for everything. Going the Green Mountain & the barrel machining shop route, puts you at around $385. But then you’re gonna double shipping & handling. So that extra shipping puts the completed barrel over $400. You’re $150 difference roughly. I would be one thing if it was gonna be like half the price, but not $150. That shouldn’t really make or break the bank. You’ll spend $150 in ammunition in a fairly short amount of time. Personally, I’d wait & save that extra. Going Shilen or Criterion is a proven path. But your call of course.

Double shipping times and then the wait in the queue to have it machined depending on their orders already in line.

[Tiekmir]

Double shipping times and then the wait in the queue to have it machined depending on their orders already in line.

I live an hour an a half away from Crown Ridge.

I was just wondering if anyone here had gotten work done by them.

As for Green Mountain many posts here on these forums have said they are good shooters if properly machined.

[Tiekmir]

Another reason I want to save money on a barrel is I am also saving cash to have my action blueprinted.

I am also going to hand lapp the barrel myself.

[charlie b]

It's a Savage with a floating bolt head. Don't worry about blueprinting as you'll not see a difference, especially if cost is an issue. Barrel work is the most important part. If you want to spend more then upgrade the trigger, or ask Dave if he will do it :)

I like to shoot barrels first before doing anything like lapping. Might shoot really well without that effort. Savage stock barrels are known to look like rough machine work and still shoot to 0.5MOA.

[Dave Hoback]

I agree. Leave the barrel lapping to the professionals. That is the Barrel makers themselves. And each barrel to their own company. I wouldn’t want a Shilen barrel lapped by McGowen, Criterion, etc., or vice versa.

[tomme boy]

If it was a different blank I would have someone fit it. But a Green Mountain, NO WAY. My last barrel I had fitted cost about $900 after all was said and done But it shot very well and it was a contour I had made and t was a very hard to find blank.

[gbflyer]

Yes, I looked this up in seach. Most posts I could see were 10 years, or more, old. A lot can change in 10 years.

I am going to get a RX3010 27" 308 Cal 1.20" OD 1:10 Turned BBL Blank from Green Mountain Rifle Barrels. I looked up peoples reviews here and for the money everyone had good things to say provided it is turned by a good gunsmith.

As for the gunsmiths who will finish barrel blanks in 2024. This includes threading and fluting. Who is in business in 2024 and who is recommended? Sharp Shooter Supplies looks like an option but posts in recent past have said their service is not as great as it used to be. Can anyone confirm this or disprove it?

Are there any other servicers for barrel work that do good work but won't cost me an arm and a leg or me selling a kidney?

Yes, I wish I could afford a top tier barrel like a Krieger, but I cannot. Maybe someday. For now it's Green Mountain and a good gunsmith for the money.

Any gunsmith worth a hoot is going to tell you to buy a contoured blank that is fluted at the manufacturer. They can then chamber it for your rifle and thread both ends if you want. A gunsmith contouring and fluting a one off barrel blank is folly. Get a contoured, fluted blank from whom ever manufacturer you desire, X-Cal, McGowen, Criterion, etc are budget barrels and are good quality. In fact they will prefit a chamber for a Savage as well.

You will save nothing and have an inferior product when you buy a blank.

[prdatr]

Yeah, it's just an Axis II deer gun hunting mule deer. Maybe elk.

You're going down a rabbit hole if it's just going to be a hunting rifle in 308 Win.