Highest quality aftermarket Savage replacement barrels

[reddeluxe]

I know of the familiar aftermarket barrel manufacturers that produce better quality replacement prefit replacement barrels for Savage 110 series rifles. Just wondering what the consensus is on who makes the very best quality premium barrels currently? I understand there will be differences of opinion, but is there a barrel maker that clearly stands above the rest? This would be for a dedicated bench gun for myself, (6mm bore) and not having to follow any limitations or restrictions as to sanctioning bodies for competition. Strictly for static target and long range varmint shooting for my individual enjoyment....but with accuracy as the highest priority. Look forward to the discussion.

[GaCop]

You really can't go wrong with Bartlein or Pac-Nor.

[celltech]

It's not benchrest, but the world's best PRS shooters choose Bartlein 2:1 over anything else:

https://precisionrifleblog.com/2019/...ifle-barrel-2/

[Ted_Feasel]

I know of the familiar aftermarket barrel manufacturers that produce better quality replacement prefit replacement barrels for Savage 110 series rifles. Just wondering what the consensus is on who makes the very best quality premium barrels currently? I understand there will be differences of opinion, but is there a barrel maker that clearly stands above the rest? This would be for a dedicated bench gun for myself, (6mm bore) and not having to follow any limitations or restrictions as to sanctioning bodies for competition. Strictly for static target and long range varmint shooting for my individual enjoyment....but with accuracy as the highest priority. Look forward to the discussion.

I'm partial to shilen and criterion

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[Nor Cal Mikie]

Any and all of the above listed. Maybe add Douglas. Never had a bad one. All mine are ordered/cut/chambered to MY specs.
Happened to pick up a pre chambered A&B in .221 Fireball from Midway that was a natural bug hole maker from round one.
Even got a Wilson at auction for a song for a Wildcat project that was KILLER accurate. Was told they were JUNK cause they wern't lapped? Turns out it's one of my BETTER bug hole makers!! Had most all of them listed and NEVER had any issues.

[Fotheringill]

A qualifying factor is how long you are going to have to wait for a particular barrel.

[tobnpr]

Accuracy is the result of a complete system, with the barrel itself being #1 on the list IMO.
Chambering job comes next, receiver work (receiver and boltfaces, lugs) followed by stock/chassis fitment (bedding job), trigger, handload development, etc.

That said, Bartlein doesn't sell off-the-shelf prefits as do some others. If you're capable of shooting the cost difference (and don't mind the price tag), most concur that cut-rifled barrels are the top tier- Krieger, Proof Research.

Just screwing a $600 barrel into a receiver isn't going to guarantee optimal results at the target.

[Nor Cal Mikie]

"Just screwing a $600 barrel into a receiver isn't going to guarantee optimal results at the target"....
but it will put one hell of dent in your wallet.
And a HIGH price doesn't make one barrel better than another.

[tmalcombe]

Definitely happy with my Criterion. I lucked not and they just so happened to have what i was looking for in stock so there was no wait time.

[olddav]

I can’t offer any info on who make the best barrel but I can tell you that getting the most out of a quality barrel is a never ending quest. Every piece of the system and subsystems will need to be tweaked and or replaced.
Enjoy the journey.

[Dave Hoback]

I would say either Brux or Bartlein share the crown. But quite honestly, You won’t see a difference, no matter what premium barrel you choose. The two mentioned, Krieger, Douglas, Proof, Shilen, McGowen, Pac-Nor, and a bunch I didn’t mention....will ALL perform.

Think about this: every US barrel maker is using the SAME steel, bought from the SAME resources.. They don’t make their steel. They are pretty much using the the SAME machines & Tooling, purchased from the SAME resources. Again...they don’t make their own tools & machines! And they all for the most part use the SAME rifling methods, as there are only so many ways to skin a cat.. Soooo, think about it.

[Fuj']

From the original post; If you are strictly talking "pre fit" button barrels,
Criterion or Shilen is a toss up. Some barrel smiths have been doing pre-
fits on the cut rifle blanks for awhile now. Your looking at more money
for these. Just a couple of months back, my smith and myself did a nut
job barrel on a Bartlein blank, for one of my wild cats. I have a Brux blank
in the vault waiting on the same, though I may shoulder this one on the
target action.....Bartlein does have a new flavor of 400 series steel out
there for longer wear attributes. May look that over ,and do a carbon wrap.
My son's inheritance will just be smaller.....

[Dave Hoback]

Be careful of the excitement over this new steel. Only so much can be done with 400 series. Typical 416R is .12-.15% carbon, 12.5% Chromium, and has small amounts of Manganese, Phosphorus, Silicon, Molybdenum & even some Sulfur. To understand differences of steel, 416R while a fantastic barrel steel, would never be used as a knife. The lowest grade of 400 steel to use as blade steel is 420, which has a good deal more Carbon, & alloying elements. Yet it would make horrible barrel steel!

Understand that Bartlein wasn’t mixing & alloying these steels in their basement or something...LOL! They haven't RE-imagined anything new here. My thinking is they are using a slightly modified Mir50 and giving it a different name. But 2 times the wear resistance? LOL...ok.

[Robinhood]

Dave are you saying two times the wear resistance is something to get excited about?

[BMEP]

Hello Dave, good article. Would like to discuss it in detail.
Best,
Levon Pentecost

[Texas10]

I would say either Brux or Bartlein share the crown. But quite honestly, You won’t see a difference, no matter what premium barrel you choose. The two mentioned, Krieger, Douglas, Proof, Shilen, McGowen, Pac-Nor, and a bunch I didn’t mention....will ALL perform.

Think about this: every US barrel maker is using the SAME steel, bought from the SAME resources.. They don’t make their steel. They are pretty much using the the SAME machines & Tooling, purchased from the SAME resources. Again...they don’t make their own tools & machines! And they all for the most part use the SAME rifling methods, as there are only so many ways to skin a cat.. Soooo, think about it.

That's pretty much the case, there's no new materials in the US, however Lothar Walther patented it's special steel decades ago and AFAIK are still producing barrels made from their steel which is produced in only two mills in the world and not available to other barrel makers.

Their website used to detail the history of this special steel, but I can't seem to find it anywhere recently. From what I've read, most gunsmiths were hesitant to turn a L.W. special steel barrel because of the difficulty in working with it. Special cutters, lubricants and machining talents were needed to get an acceptable finish, and it was just too much trouble to be able to make a profit with LW steel.

I do see Savage prefits in their catalog. https://www.lothar-walther.com/drop-...rifle-barrels/

Some History of LW.https://www.lothar-walther.de/media/...ktEnglisch.pdf

[Fuj']

That's pretty much the case, there's no new materials in the US.

It may be in the wording but Bartlein is using a differing alloy for the new
barrels that are offering near twice the wear ability. I see Frank gets on
here every once in a while. Maybe get some direct info.

[Shooter0302]

That's pretty much the case, there's no new materials in the US, however Lothar Walther patented it's special steel decades ago and AFAIK are still producing barrels made from their steel which is produced in only two mills in the world and not available to other barrel makers.

Their website used to detail the history of this special steel, but I can't seem to find it anywhere recently. From what I've read, most gunsmiths were hesitant to turn a L.W. special steel barrel because of the difficulty in working with it. Special cutters, lubricants and machining talents were needed to get an acceptable finish, and it was just too much trouble to be able to make a profit with LW steel.

I do see Savage prefits in their catalog. https://www.lothar-walther.com/drop-...rifle-barrels/

Some History of LW.https://www.lothar-walther.de/media/...ktEnglisch.pdf

Just an FYI, they are in the process of upgrading their "prefit" Bbl's page, more info when it comes in

[Ted_Feasel]

Just an FYI, they are in the process of upgrading their "prefit" Bbl's page, more info when it comes in

I believe shilen sources exclusively from one of those

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[Ted_Feasel]

I know without hesitation I go with shilen or criterion every time. Never had anything less than flawless products from either.. only caveat I'd give about shilen is make sure you look at the grade you are getting, they have match and select match, select is the top notch of their line ,.lapped till they gleam, no tooling marks,

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[Robinhood]

I think Mike is taking the highest quality discussion to a higher level. The Bench Rest and the F/Class(Belly Benchrest) community have very high expectations from their barrels. Nothing like the vast majority of us. In that competitive realm there are a few barrel makers and a small group of gunsmiths that continuously produce winners in high level competition.

If you look at some forums you will see sellers with a good supply of barrel blanks. Those are often culls from a larger order to find the ones with the least flaws. It does not mean those barrels are bad it simply means that statistically those flaws could be a contributing factor to the loss of accuracy and precision. It might even come down to the mill certs(traceable quality) on a run of blanks being the best.

[mikeinco]

i do not know....
define replacement bbl
i thread and chamber bbls...that is a replacement bbl to me.
it you mean prefit....that is a whole 'nother can of worms.
i am thinking about a drop in on a 308 single shot, but most likely will buy a blank and thread and chamber it.
o am not applying pure benchrest standards, but industry standards for top ot the line precision bbls.
the SEAL MK 13 uses a lija custom profile bbl but not be standards as these guns are shot in the mud and dirt.
function and quality are required. if i remember correctly these are required to be just under moa at 600 yards.

but the question was still...the best, not almost or what can i afford.

I think Mike is taking the highest quality discussion to a higher level. The Bench Rest and the F/Class(Belly Benchrest) community have very high expectations from their barrels. Nothing like the vast majority of us. In that competitive realm there are a few barrel makers and a small group of gunsmiths that continuously produce winners in high level competition.

If you look at some forums you will see sellers with a good supply of barrel blanks. Those are often culls from a larger order to find the ones with the least flaws. It does not mean those barrels are bad it simply means that statistically those flaws could be a contributing factor to the loss of accuracy and precision. It might even come down to the mill certs(traceable quality) on a run of blanks being the best.

[sharpshooter]

"Barrels don't set records.....shooters set records." -George Kelbly

[mikeinco]

kelbly makes actions and rifles...HE BUYS BBLS...
THE QUOTE IS NOT A BIG DEAL.
someone must pull the trigger.
chose your shooting game, then pick your equipment.

"Barrels don't set records.....shooters set records." -George Kelbly

[Dave Hoback]

I still say it’s not a question of “The Top shooters use such & such a barrel because it’s the best”, but rather “Such & such a barrel is at the top BECAUSE the best shooters are using it!”


Several manufacturers have had their name at the top...Shilen, Krieger, Bartlein... In the end people are quite brand loyal. And those of us in rank & file love to mimic our professional heros, LOL.


I stated a bit, but I’ll go further. As I have a considerable knowledge of steels/alloys and such, and over the last many years have taken research & study with manufacturers techniques. Beyond the brochure/commercial “Gotchya” statements like 400ModBB Material, or Ratchet Rifling.... Our US barrel manufacturers do NOT make their own steel (or cone up with new kinds!). They buy it from the huge steel processors...Nucor, Carpenter, Hesteel, etc. And once again, barrel manufacturers use the SAME machines, which they also buy. And anymore, you can’t even give the nod to the machinist...as barrels are ALL made via CNC machines. When we come down to it, the top quality single point cut barrels are virtually the same.


The Gunsmith doing the chambering is of much higher importance I would think.