Stevem70,

I agree with you there, I think a lot of factory rifles would shoot a lot better if they are taken apart, true the action, and cut off 1" then rethread and chamber. Even setting back one thread is good.

It trues up all the wrongs in a production rifle. The downside is it's almost as expensive as starting with a new barrel.

For anyone who has the Ken Waters books, there is an article on a 6mm PPC in a Remington Model 40 he did just the above on ( I think some bedding was also done ) it went from shooting just a little larger than 1 MOA, to around .2 MOA. He would not let the smith change out the barrel on this rifle. It is worth reading, I think that some of the factory barrels are better quality than we tend to give them credit for. I think a lot of the issues is the assembly in a production environment.

GLC,

Here's a bit more for you to chew on:

I have a 1:11" twist 30 cal Kostyshyn barrel shooting 165 grain bullets in .308. Rem BDL 700, all accurized.

From the very first shot through this gun at the range, during break in, etc., I NEVER had greater than a 1" spread from all the strings of bullets. NOW, when I break in a new barrel, I take a bunch of random minimal charged rounds, including Sierra's, Hornady's, Speer, N btips, etc., as well as random powders, Hodgdon, VV, IMR, etc.

I found it very interesting that with the first 25 rounds I put through it and all the random ammo, it never printed greater than an inch. THEN, I worked up a load with 165 partitions, well, so you'd think. The very first load development was using Re15. When I got to 1 grain under max., I pretty much put 4 shots in one hole, dime sized. I cannot do that very often as my heart beat and breathing seem to affect my shooting.

I also have Kriegers and Lilja's. ALL SHOOT GREAT. I guarantee you'd never ever know the difference. Same with my PacNor. Jim Borden from Borden's custom rifles stated that he's never had a bad custom barrel. It's the riflesmithing, action trueing, the whole package.

Lex, Webernick, from Rifles, Inc. in Texas stopped using Shilen barrels and went to Lilja for his custom rifles. He found that the Lilja's were most concentric.

Conclusion: tell your gunsmith to surprise you. Douglas has been around a lot of years but I just never used one. It would not be my first choice.

The douglas I have is s/s. And as i said...it shoots nice tiny lil clusters. And thats with a Barnes bullet. Something most claim to be inaccurate. With the plastic tipped stuff...it shoots tight enuf to make most of the boys at the range look at their high dollar bench rest rigs with their SMK bullets and wonder what the hell just happened. Maybe i got lucky...who knows. But to say I am well pleased is an understatement. The 280AI I have is a Borden. It was purchased used. Rifle resided in a mickey mtn. rifle stock. I sold the mickey and replaced it with a pillar bedded Rem. LSS laminated stock. I saw several targets the rifle printed while in the mickey. So far it looks like its gonna shoot just as well in the laminated stock. Maybe even a touch better. But everything plays a part in accuracy. Not just the brand of the barrel. So make sure you are getting the total package. Cause if ya JUST screw on a new tube...chances are you r gonna be disappointed.

Kreiger, Lilja, Hart, Lothar Walther, Pac Nor, Mike Rock, and the list goes on. I have a 280AI with a Hart tube on it. Shoots lights out with 140nbt. I got a 7-08AI with a 26" Douglass tube that shoots just a s good. And it does its work with a 140 Barnes XLC. Heck I have heard of ER Shaw barrels that shoot bug hole groups. Its just what barrel you have the most confidence in using. And how much confidence you have in the smith doing the install. I will tell you this...IMHO...if you dont have everything trued up..and that means a full blown accurizing and blueprinting job on the action...making sure EVERYTHING(including barrel threads and where the rear of the barrel contacts the action) is trued up...you just pissin in the wind with a custom barrel. Cause even a $4000 out of round wheel still gonna wobble .

Waiting 12 weeks. That's about the only downside.
JCN

ForestB ,you said you had 1 dud Kreiger. What was dud about it? I know they have a good reputation which is why I ordered one ,but was wondering what things occaisionaly go wrong on top quality barrels? What to look out for. While we are on the subject ,what other problems have people had with other top quality barrels?