Replacement barrels?

[Coyote_Hunter]

Looking for info on replacement barrels. Have been looking at the usual suspects including Criterion, Shilen, McGowen, E.R. Shaw, X-Caliber.

EABO (E. Authur Brown) also has barrels. I think their "Accuracy' barrels are E.R. Shaw. Curious about their standard barrels as well.

Your experience with these or others?

[Robinhood]

Depends on your expectations and intended use. If you plan on shooting a lot, for the money, Shilen or Excaliber. Nothing wrong with a Criterion or McGowan either. Bartlien, Kreiger, Brux and several more can be had also if you are planning on competing at a higher level. Bugholes.com

Shaw's can be accurate but the quality of the bores are in a different League than the others mentioned. Cleaning is required more often. I think I would buy a Wilson before a Shaw. This is my opinion based on experience.

[jim_k]

My only experience is with the factory Savage takeoff barrels, and they have shot under 0.37" for 5 shots, or better. My best 5 shot group ever was with one, in 6.5 Creedmoor, and it measured 0.165". The first four shots in that group were 0.020". I've shot two in 6.5 CM, and 3 in .308 Win. One of those is a 22" blued chrome moly with a muzzle diameter of 0.57".

[darkker]

I'm with Robinhood. Sticking with major brands, the "cheap" tend to be perfectly accurate for most shooters; but are rough. So will take a bunch of shooting before they smooth out and calm down; relative to a big name super-ultra-match-xtreme.

So, if just looking for hunting, plinking, varminting; any will do; just how often are you willing to clean for a while?

[Coyote_Hunter]

Primary end purpose will be same as for my other hunting rifles - hunting. Antelope, deer and elk.

To that end, most shooting will be at the range. Favorite targets are lay pigeons on the 500 and 600 yard berms. No formal competition, but I'm not satisfied unless a rifle will consistently print MOA or better at 100 on clam days. Smaller makes me happier.

Still have not decided on cartridge. Leading candidates are 6.5PRC (even though this is a long action rifle), 6.5-06AI, 26 Nosler, .270 Win and .28 Nosler.

Already have a variety of suitable rifles in .257 Roberts, 6.5-06AI (heavy barrel), .280 Rem, 7mm RM, .308, .30-06, .300WM, .338WM. Looking for low recoil, relatively lightweight build.

[jims]

I was going to say 25-06AI but that might be a bit on the light side for elk.

[SageRat Shooter]

Primary end purpose will be same as for my other hunting rifles - hunting. Antelope, deer and elk.

To that end, most shooting will be at the range. Favorite targets are lay pigeons on the 500 and 600 yard berms. No formal competition, but I'm not satisfied unless a rifle will consistently print MOA or better at 100 on clam days. Smaller makes me happier.

Still have not decided on cartridge. Leading candidates are 6.5PRC (even though this is a long action rifle), 6.5-06AI, 26 Nosler, .270 Win and .28 Nosler.

Already have a variety of suitable rifles in .257 Roberts, 6.5-06AI (heavy barrel), .280 Rem, 7mm RM, .308, .30-06, .300WM, .338WM. Looking for low recoil, relatively lightweight build.

So, the 6.5 PRC isn't going to do anything your 6.5-06AI or the 26 Nosler won't... the 270 is too close in performance to the 6.5-06AI and the 280 Rem. The 28 Nosler isn't going to be much different than your 7MM. Through in that you want it to be a light/low recoil and lightweight build, you won't find something that's going to be good for Elk (other than the ones you already have like 308, 30-06, 280 Rem, 300 WM, 338WM)

So that leaves me with only the .243AI, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor or 260 Remington. I've only had experience with Criterion as an aftermarket barrel maker (I have 3) but I can tell you, they are all .5MOA shooters (with me as the nut pulling the trigger) and I won't need to look anywhere else for my barrels... So, there's my .02 and If you want to hunt Elk, then grab one of your bigger calibers.

[Coyote_Hunter]

SageRat Shooter -

My current 6.5-06AI beats the 6.5PRC in velocity and uses fire-formed .25-06 brass. Accuracy is excellent with about 40-45% hit rate on clay pigeons at 600 yards last time I tried. The problem is it is a heavy-barrel with a laminate stock - not something I want to carry around, although I've taken antelope with it. Another 6.5 Something would be lighter weight for carry purposes. Because my rifle is a long action, though, I would prefer a long cartridge for (stupid) aesthetic reasons.

Agreed the .270 is close to the 6.5-06AI, .280 and 7mm RM. But I don't have one. I DO have a couple of very good .270 Win loads I developed for Daughter #1, though. A good 500-yard elk load with under 18 ft-lbs recoil. :)

Forgot to mention I have a Savage FXP3 in .243 Win. Shoots bug holes.

Short-action cartridges other than the 6.5PRC are probably a no-go.

Not worried about elk with anything 6.5 or above and the 142g AccuBond (.625 B.C.). H hunted them with my .257 Roberts, .30-30, .375 Win, .45-70. Some rifles let me take longer range shots, is all, but I've taken them from 25 yards to 487.

The 26 Nosler is looking better and better as I can download it or load it to the gills. And barrels are plentiful, unlike 6.5-06AI. Just wish brass was more available/cheaper.

The .270 has been ticking up in the list - plentiful barrels, cheap brass, 150g AccuBond (.591 B.C.) and I already have the dies.

Half the fun is deciding. Kind of like hunting elk - the fun stops when you pull the trigger. :)


Edited to add: I prefer a 22-24" barrel.