which barrel maker

[jla4570]

As I start looking toward a semi custom rifle based on a lee enfield action I am looking for informaion about the barrel makers. Does Adams & Bennet make a good barrel or do I get what I pay for and should I go with a Shilen or a different maker? I am at the dream phase and trying to put a list of what is needed to start saving the money. Thank you for any help.

Jeremy

[bruce drake]

PAC-NOR Barrels will thread a barrel for an enfield. I believe they quoted me $230 last year for a project I'm working on. You might contact them to find their current price.

Bruce

[358wcf]

I've only had experience with two different barrel makers, Shilen and PacNor. The Shilen was done up in 7x57Mauser back in the 1970's as a classic deer rifle. It was and is all that I could ask for-- accurate and consistent, far more consistent that I.
A great barrel- you cannot go wrong with a Shilen. They make a fabulous trigger as well!
In 2002 I had a Rem700 short action barreled in 358Win using a 20" PacNor chromemoly barrel. I had to have a full-stocked Mannlicher look, so this is my only synthetic stock, done up in Kevlar by MPI in Oregon. All I can say is WOW about the accuracy of the PacNor. Bear in mind that this is a real hunting rifle, intended for our wild pigs and deer on the west coast, and varmints as they come. It has done the deed on Red Stag in New Zealand as well!
If I ever feel the need to do the custom barrel thing again, I will not hesitate to use PacNor again and again. They do a great job that you can and will be proud to own.
By the way, I've got a Shilen trigger on the 358!

358wcf

[largom]

If you are building a hunting rifle the Adams & Bennit barrels are pretty good. Two years ago I built 10 hunting rifles with Adams & Bennit barrels on 98 Mauser actions. Each one of those rifles shot a group of 1 1/4 in or less at 100 yds. Shots were with jacketed bullets using my standard load for the caliber.
Larry

[Jumptrap]

As I start looking toward a semi custom rifle based on a lee enfield action I am looking for informaion about the barrel makers. Does Adams & Bennet make a good barrel or do I get what I pay for and should I go with a Shilen or a different maker? I am at the dream phase and trying to put a list of what is needed to start saving the money. Thank you for any help.

Jeremy

I think you'd be well served with an A&B barrel. There are few poor barrels being manufactured today, especially in the US and civilized Europe.

98% of the advertising hype put out by the custom makers is just that.....Hype. They want you to buy their wares and so, they'll do their level best to woo you to their table.

I have had many new barrels installed of different makes and from where I am standing......I couldn't tell much difference in any of them. They include Douglas, Shilen, Lilja, Adams&Bennet and a few others.

If I was forced into a corner and had to choose.....I'd say I like Dan Lilja's best. Why? I dunno.....the interior finish is smooth as a baby's butt, very easy to clean.

However......you're splitting hairs because all of the others........INCLUDING the A&B barrels, are quite nice and not prone to fouling.

I doubt you are building a rifle to take to some National competition anyway.....because if you were, you'd already know what you would want!

Except for the highly disciplined/skilled.......the investment in top drawer barrels, nowadays, is rarely warranted.

I've been there....spent my money and got the T shirt to go with it. Other than braggin' rights as to how much money you blew building the ultimate lead slinger or groundhog blaster, you're better off to spend your money on quality optics.

[largom]

Second what Jumptrap said. Use the money saved for a better trigger and sights.
Larry

[StarMetal]

This is why all the top professional match shooters use E. R. Shaw and Adams & Bennett barrels right????????

Jump hate to say it, but you're wrong on barrel quality...there is a difference between low end and top notch barrels. I believe the match shooters bare this out.

Now if you were to say the lower end barrels shoot pretty decent, especially if you get a good one, then I would agree with you. Notice where I said "if you get a good one". That's ONE difference between the top grade barrels and the low end ones.

Yet you named a preference ...Lija .

Joe

[Hickory]

There are so many good barrel maker out there all you have to do is pick one.
And be assured any custom barrel will shoot better than a factory barrel.
my 2 cents.

[Jumptrap]

This is why all the top professional match shooters use E. R. Shaw and Adams & Bennett barrels right????????

Jump hate to say it, but you're wrong on barrel quality...there is a difference between low end and top notch barrels. I believe the match shooters bare this out.

Now if you were to say the lower end barrels shoot pretty decent, especially if you get a good one, then I would agree with you. Notice where I said "if you get a good one". That's ONE difference between the top grade barrels and the low end ones.

Yet you named a preference ...Lija .

Joe

Joe,

Dangit.....the man never said one thing about being a professional match shooter. I also made mention that IF he was, he wouldn't be asking the question!

For the AVERAGE shooter....whatever, the nut behind the butt never realizes the little advantage from springing for a $300+ barrel. After doing so, he generally winds up with an expensive safe queen, just as soon as he tires of shooting it.....ask me how I know. Most of us will never shoot a barrel out, especially lobbing cast bullets and those who do wear out barrels over a season....competitive shooters, rarely are they paying for them. They get their barrels for gratis from the custom makers as a form of advertisement.

Brother Hickory,

I also have a 700 Remington varmint that was rechambered to 22 PPC with a .245 neck, the action blueprinted, SAKO extractor installed, single shot loading tray installed and the whole works pillar bedded with Devcon, a 2 ounce Shilen trigger installed and that factory barrel will shoot better than you can aim it.

Paying top dollar for barrels in anything less than a full blown COMPETITIVE class rifle is a waste of money. I have wasted my money on this folly in the past.

I have had a few factory barrels that didn't impress me, but most have been excellent.

Just because you drop a NASCAR engine in your grocery getter, doesn't make it race ready. Even if it did, the average man hasn't got the skills to drive it to the winner's circle.

I'd be more than willing to wager that if one of the top rifle competitors were to hand us his equipment, we couldn't shoot the scores he does.

[deltaenterprizes]

I had read A&B barrels are made by Shaw. I have one in 243 Win on a 98 Mauser and would not hesitate to use one again.

[StarMetal]

I had read A&B barrels are made by Shaw. I have one in 243 Win on a 98 Mauser and would not hesitate to use one again.

I have a Shaw on a Jap Type 38 in 260 Rem. I bedded the action and free floated the barrel. It's not a real whippy thing barrel either. Anyways each shot after the first shot moves exactly 1/2 inch to the right but not a bit in elevation. In a five shot group your are quite some ways to the right of the bullsyes on that last shot. I pillar bedded the barrel inch or two back from the forearm tip and not she holds a group. Nice round groups. Not too bad. In cleaning I can feel some easy spots in the barrel when running a tight patch through. Those two things are just some of the things that separate the cheap barrels from the good ones.

Jumptrap,

I've seen some Remington barrels really shoot good. Savage too. You are correct for the run of the mill sporting or hunting rifle you don't need that high dollar barrel...maybe for long range varmint hunting.

To the fellow that originally posted you can send your action into Shaw and they will rebarrel it to whatever you want for a real reasonable price instead of fooling with it yourself.

Joe

[Marine Sgt 2111]

I have a .17 ackley hornet with a Pac-nor barrel that shoots 1/2" groups day in and day out. I have an E.R. Shaw on my .375 H&H and it too shoots better than I do. All I can say is an accurate rifle with a good barrel does wonders to coax one to do his best.

[hornsurgeon]

an old gunsmith friend of mine spent several decades in the ruger custom shop before opening his own custom rifle shop. he taught me one thing about building accurate rifles: it all about how the barrel is put on, not so much what the barrel is. if you take an untrued action and put the best high $$$ barrel on it, it will shoot just OK. but if you true the action (face, bolt face, lap lugs, etc) and bed the action to the stock well, you will be amazed at just how well an inexpensive or factory barrel will shoot. i am not a professional gunsmith and my only lathe is a chineese 14" minilathe. that being said, i have built rifles using shilen barrels that easilly shot into the .4's for 10 shots. most of what i have built though have been mausers using either the a&b or brownells brand prethreaded barrels. (both made by shaw) i have never had an a&b or brownells barrel that shot over 1 1/8" for 5 shots. most have been around 3/4" for 20 shots. they do have s slightly rougher bore that needs to be broken in, but after 100 rounds, they are just fine. i have built at least 40 different rifles for people using the a&b and brownells barrels, all have been very happy with them. and they have been glad they saved $200+ doing it. i would think about stepping up if looking to make a varmint rifle for past 300 yards or for competition shooting, but most people can't shoot well enough to see the difference, especially for a hunting rifle.

[waksupi]

Amen! If the barrel isn't fitted properly, and other action work done, it doesn't batter what barrel you put on. Some jack leg gunsmith most likely can't do the job. If you want a REAL accurate rifle, you will pay the price to a true professional to do the fit job for you. And then, it is doubtful that the run of the mill rifleman can get the best out of the set up. I know I generally can't.

an old gunsmith friend of mine spent several decades in the ruger custom shop before opening his own custom rifle shop. he taught me one thing about building accurate rifles: it all about how the barrel is put on, not so much what the barrel is. if you take an untrued action and put the best high $$$ barrel on it, it will shoot just OK. but if you true the action (face, bolt face, lap lugs, etc) and bed the action to the stock well, you will be amazed at just how well an inexpensive or factory barrel will shoot. i am not a professional gunsmith and my only lathe is a chineese 14" minilathe. that being said, i have built rifles using shilen barrels that easilly shot into the .4's for 10 shots. most of what i have built though have been mausers using either the a&b or brownells brand prethreaded barrels. (both made by shaw) i have never had an a&b or brownells barrel that shot over 1 1/8" for 5 shots. most have been around 3/4" for 20 shots. they do have s slightly rougher bore that needs to be broken in, but after 100 rounds, they are just fine. i have built at least 40 different rifles for people using the a&b and brownells barrels, all have been very happy with them. and they have been glad they saved $200+ doing it. i would think about stepping up if looking to make a varmint rifle for past 300 yards or for competition shooting, but most people can't shoot well enough to see the difference, especially for a hunting rifle.

[oldhickory]

With an A&B, or Shaw barrel you get a "decent" barrel for what you pay for, I have an A&B on a custom Mauser 30/06, (got it on sale from MidwayUSA, about $69.95 at the time) and it shoots around 1.5" groups at 100yds with my best jacketed load. Another Mauser I built with a Shilen barrel about the same time, (also 30/06) that will shoot 1/2" groups all day long with it's best jacketed load, and right around 1.5" groups with cast.

It all depends on how much money you want to spend and what you expect from the finished rifle. I don't regret the A&B barrel, it's a light sporter and I'm satisfied with 1.5" @100yds. The one with the Shilen is heavier and fills in as a long range varmint rifle, (nothing you would relish carrying in the woods or up a mountain).

If you're going to invest your time and materials to make a nice rifle, don't cheap out on the barrel. If you're making a "rough" back-up gun on a budget, an A&B or Shaw will probably fill the bill.

[Char-Gar]

I am building a rifle for my Son on a good double heat treated 03 action. It is at Shaw now being fitted with a new barrel. The front of the receiver will also be trued as well as the bolt face. The bolt lugs will be lapped as well. Shaw is going all of this work for a reasonable price. It will be a 24" 1-12 twist 30-06.

So, by and by I will be able to tell you just how good (or bad) a Shaw barrel is.

[Heavy lead]

I've got a Shaw .338-06 barrel on what was previously a *** Winchester push feed featherweight 7x57. A stainless 1/10 twish 20" 2.5 countour that shot the very first load I fired out of it into one hole, and has been doing it for 5 years the same now. Nosler BT 200 grain with RP 9.5 with I don't remember how much AA4064, only chrono's 2600 fps, but who cares. It's deadly accurate.

[oldhickory]

I am building a rifle for my Son on a good double heat treated 03 action. It is at Shaw now being fitted with a new barrel. The front of the receiver will also be trued as well as the bolt face. The bolt lugs will be lapped as well. Shaw is going all of this work for a reasonable price. It will be a 24" 1-12 twist 30-06.

So, by and by I will be able to tell you just how good (or bad) a Shaw barrel is.

Why a 1:12 twist?

[GabbyM]

I have a Shaw barrel sitting here waitng to go on my ruger M-77-VT. I figured it was good enough for a Ruger action. Need to get that screwed on and find out what I have. It's 243 AI so won't last long anyway.

[StarMetal]

I've got a Shaw .338-06 barrel on what was previously a *** Winchester push feed featherweight 7x57. A stainless 1/10 twish 20" 2.5 countour that shot the very first load I fired out of it into one hole, and has been doing it for 5 years the same now. Nosler BT 200 grain with RP 9.5 with I don't remember how much AA4064, only chrono's 2600 fps, but who cares. It's deadly accurate.

Are you pulling our legs? Looking at the online Hodgdon reloading data they got a 175 grain bullet up to 2301. Yeah I know their loads for the 7x57 are conservative, but come on...15 more grains of bullet and 300 fps more?

By the way I had a 7x57 Win Featherlite and it was one hell of a damn accurate rifle. It also shot cast at high velocity into 3/4 inch or smaller. Like a fool I sold it.

Joe