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I'm having my gunsmith build me a 280, However I do not know the "right" barrel to put on it. It would be for killing deer and hogs. I've heard of McGowans. My father had a Krieger barrel put on his 400 H&H he had built. N E suggestions and/or recommendations? Not even sure where to begin looking. Help is much appreciated!! thanks!
 
Posts: 668 | Location: Texas, USA | Registered: 10 March 2017Reply With Quote
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Mcgowan and Krieger are good, as are: Benchmark, Shilen, Hart, Pac-Nor, Douglas, Rock, Lothar Walther, Bartelin......

It can take a while to get some of these barrels but more and more certain barrels are in stock at distributors like Midway, Brownells, 3rd Generation Shooting supply, etc.

From a lot of personal experience, I would ask your gunsmith what barrel he likes to use and go with that. You will have to decide on contour and length, and there are a million ideas on that.
 
Posts: 3701 | Location: Oregon | Registered: 27 May 2004Reply With Quote
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Thank you, INTJ. It is much appreciated. I'm still fairly new when it comes to being educated on the "specifics" when it comes to customizing a rifle. My father loved Krieger barrels. As I, never really knew the difference.

My gunsmith built a 30-06 that looks like a John Rigby stalking rifle (which I purchased from him). Who knows that kind of barrel he put on it. Do you know of any websites or research articles where I could look up more info? thnx!!
 
Posts: 668 | Location: Texas, USA | Registered: 10 March 2017Reply With Quote
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I used a #2 Lilja 3 grove 9 twist stainless on my 280 AI. It's a real shooter and I can say the choice was a great one but it's not the only one.
Krieger, Bartlein also make ultra-fine barrels.
These are the three with which I'm most familiar and they reside on several of my rifles.

Zeke
 
Posts: 2270 | Registered: 27 October 2011Reply With Quote
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For a hunting rifle I don't think you can go wrong with any of the major barrel makers. Unless you are after an unusual twist rate or bore/groove configuration I'd say let your gunsmith choose what he normally uses as long as it fits your pricing requirements.

The last three rifles I have had re-barreled were done so with McGowen barrels. One of those was installed by McGowen. But all three barrels were 40 calibers and McGowen had what I was looking for in that particular caliber. Otherwise, I would have been happy with just about any of the brands that have been mentioned.




.
 
Posts: 10900 | Location: North of the Columbia | Registered: 28 April 2008Reply With Quote
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ZekeShikar and Grenadier, thank u both for the info! it wouldn't need to be anything special per say, just something that would get the job done, that almost performs as well as my '06.

I'm new to accurate reloading. I used to always work with Doubless on these types of things- was my father. But he lost a long, hard fought battle with cancer a month ago. I'm having to make my own tracks now. thanks again for the input. Here's to making to new friends! Smiler
 
Posts: 668 | Location: Texas, USA | Registered: 10 March 2017Reply With Quote
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Sorry for your loss and welcome to the forum. Depending on what action you are working with some barrel makers have pre-made and contoured barrels which would save you some money as the fitting is minimal.
For a hunting rifle a bench rest quality barrel may give you some extra confidence but won't gain you much in the field so don't let somebody talk you into a super expensive barrel just because it is what won a national match.


Have gun- Will travel
The value of a trophy is computed directly in terms of personal investment in its acquisition. Robert Ruark
 
Posts: 3831 | Location: Cave Creek, AZ | Registered: 09 August 2001Reply With Quote
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Douglas; and they keep them in stock so making one to your contour is very fast. No drama involved with them as there is with many others.
 
Posts: 17495 | Location: USA | Registered: 02 August 2009Reply With Quote
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For hunting rifles I use Douglas barrels. My 280 wears one and it is an excellent shooter.
 
Posts: 156 | Registered: 06 November 2012Reply With Quote
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quote:
For hunting rifles I use Douglas barrels.

+1 tu2


As usual just my $.02
Paul K
 
Posts: 12881 | Location: Mexico, MO | Registered: 02 April 2001Reply With Quote
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If it's a hunting rifle then ask your gunsmith what brand that he prefers. Some gunsmiths like to work with specific brands and they sometimes get a discount for buying in bulk.


Frank



"I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money."
- Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953

NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite

 
Posts: 12857 | Location: Kentucky, USA | Registered: 30 December 2002Reply With Quote
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My 721 in 7mm-06 wears a Douglas barrel and it's a straight shooter. I don't know how long Douglas has been in business, but that barrel was supposedly installed not long before the 280 Rem cam out, which was about 1957. Having been in business that long and still having a fine reputation says something. The serious target shooting folks like more expensive boutique barrels, but why bother with a hunting rifle in a hunting chambering. I just looked at their website for the first time in several years. I believe they have added several new caliber and twist options since last I looked. Cool.


Matt
FISH!!

Heed the words of Winston Smith in Orwell's 1984:

"Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right."
 
Posts: 3307 | Location: Northern Colorado | Registered: 22 November 2005Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by dpcd:
Douglas; and they keep them in stock so making one to your contour is very fast. No drama involved with them as there is with many others.


+1

Actually I have little input since I've used only Douglas barrels. If I ever get a bad one, I'll try somebody else. Smiler


Aim for the exit hole
 
Posts: 4348 | Location: middle tenn | Registered: 09 December 2009Reply With Quote
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Prior to his passing my favorite was CP Donnelly dba Siskiyou Gunworks. But Al Biesen used Douglas barrels, which says a lot for them.
 
Posts: 1421 | Location: WA St, USA | Registered: 28 August 2016Reply With Quote
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These days there are so many great barrels to choose from you can hardly make a bad choice.
I personally have in recent years had barrels from Pac Nor (2), Shilen, Douglas, Bartlein, Lilja and McGowen's (2).
All of them are great.
You must decide on a contour and you can do that by taking measurements from a barrel you like, I like featherweight barrels but some like #3 sporter, you be the judge.
Then you must pick the twist rate, if you are doing nothing out of the ordinary with bullet weights ask your barrel maker what is standard twist for your choice of cartridge,
Then order it up!
 
Posts: 5604 | Location: Eastern plains of Colorado | Registered: 31 October 2005Reply With Quote
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I have barrels from Douglas, Lilja, Brux and Shilen. I would highly recommend the Douglas Air Gauged barrels. They shoot very well when properly installed. In fact, I have them listed in my order of preference.

You can buy new Bartlein 5R barrels from Grizzly on Ebay with no wait. I will be trying that next.


Larry

"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history, when everybody stands around reloading" -- Thomas Jefferson
 
Posts: 3942 | Location: Kansas USA | Registered: 04 February 2002Reply With Quote
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I like and used Douglas barrels for years, still like them but the Lothar Walthar with their patented polishing process has me sold, and most anyone that have used a Lothar Walthar quit using other barrels, at least locally and those folks I know personally. but you have to pay for that..On a hunting rifle I don't think you can go wrong with a Douglas, Ive had a couple of bad Shilens and one bad Hart, and I know two guys that claimed a bad Douglas, by that I mean they wouldn't shoot and inch for 3 shots, but this has been over a 60 year period..I like Kriegers, Pac Nors, and lijas, but push comes to shove I always pick a Lothar Walthar.


Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120

rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
 
Posts: 42371 | Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | Registered: 04 June 2000Reply With Quote
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waveI've only had one Mc Gowan hunting barrel and it was fantastic. For almost all my older hunting and wild cat rifles I've used Douglas. Never a bad one. some a little better than others.For the last 15 years or so I've mostly used Savage They're good and exchange easily.Of course you need a Savage or Stevens action. Have fun! beer roger


Old age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone..
 
Posts: 10226 | Location: Temple City CA | Registered: 29 April 2003Reply With Quote
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When comparing barrels I would question the method used in determining which barrel is better.To get an accurate opinion barrels must be used under the same conditions and be very similar-chambering,same smith,contour,rate of fire, etc.I have two nearly identical target rifles,rebarrel them and shoot them under the same conditions.I have now on a Walther Lothar and will compare that to the others I have used to get an accurate idea.
 
Posts: 11651 | Location: Montreal | Registered: 07 November 2002Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by bartsche:
waveI've only had one Mc Gowan hunting barrel and it was fantastic. Have fun! roger


I have use MANY of Harry McGowan's in years past, but not any of the new guys up in Kalispell "yet".

I have one on order and should be here any day.

Can't believe it take 10 weeks +/- to get one.


Remember, forgivness is easier to get than permission.
 
Posts: 3998 | Location: Hudsonville MI USA | Registered: 08 June 2000Reply With Quote
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I've had great luck with Hart, Brux, and Lilja. I do agree though that it's hard to go wrong with most of the well established brands.
 
Posts: 2276 | Location: West Texas | Registered: 07 December 2011Reply With Quote
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Unless you'll be shooting at extreme distances, or using the rifle for competition, I don't see the value in spending the extra bucks for a super premium name barrel like a Shilen, or Krieger. Douglas, or even a Shaw barrel should be fine for a hunting rifle.


NRA Benefactor.

Life is tough... It's even tougher when you're stupid... John Wayne
 
Posts: 1985 | Location: The Three Lower Counties (Delaware USA) | Registered: 13 September 2001Reply With Quote
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This is like a Chebby, Ferdge, or Durge topic. I've had good luck with all the different barrels that I have used on a hunting rifle. Shilen, old Broughton, Rock, Douglas, Lilja, Turbo, H&S, Kreiger, Bartlein, and others. On my comp rifles I like Kreiger, Shilen, and Bartlein.
I wouldn't have a LW because of Woody. Understand that he is gone. That should help their sales.
 
Posts: 8964 | Location: Poetry, Texas | Registered: 28 November 2004Reply With Quote
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I don't care for low dollar barrels, I believe the barrel is the best investment on a rifle and they are more accurate...My all time favorite is Lothar Walthar..

The only problem Ive ever seen with Woody is he will talk your right arm off, but he is a wealth of knowledge, and that's no great problem, so I don't know what the flack is all about??, as I always got excellent service from him.

At any rate I guess he is no longer with Walthar Lothar, problem solved and had nothing to do with barrel quality or accuracy.


Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120

rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
 
Posts: 42371 | Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | Registered: 04 June 2000Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Terry Blauwkamp:
quote:
Originally posted by bartsche:
waveI've only had one Mc Gowan hunting barrel and it was fantastic. Have fun! roger


I have use MANY of Harry McGowan's in years past, but not any of the new guys up in Kalispell "yet".

I have one on order and should be here any day.

Can't believe it take 10 weeks +/- to get one.





They must be busy!

http://mcgowenbarrel.com/bore-groove/


OK, I cannot stand it any longer. Wink

M-C-G-O-W-E-N: No A's in the spelling.

You guys gotta learn how to spell the McGowen name.
Show some respect!
If they have the bore, groove, and twist I want, they are my go-to barrel maker.

Once I even paid to have Harry McGowen get tooling for my then imaginary .395-groove/.388-bore, 1:12" twist barrels.



The good folks in Montana still list it at their site, and I have bought .395 barrels from ol' Harry in Ste. Anne, MI,
as well as from the new guys in Kalispell, MT.
John Buhmiller-barrel-making country!
All six of them that I bought being probably more than one-half of total worldwide production of .395-caliber barrels for all time! animal
Flathead Geniuses, all of them in Kalispell! Big Grin

Same good recommendation from me for Douglas, Lilja, Pac-Nor, Shilen, Krieger, and Lothar Walther,
in that order of my frequency of barrel buying after McGowen first choice.
Depends on which barrel specs they offer, the more the merrier.
I started with Douglas about 30 years ago.
Last month Douglas delivered a barrel to me 5 days after I ordered it by telephone.
I think they must have had it in stock already precisely to my specifications. Cool

The Spelling Police are watching.

http://www.lothar-walther.com/359.php

Ray: "Lothar Walther" not ""Walthar."

This is another case of the terminal syllable's short vowel sound "E" haphazardly replaced with an "A." Wink

There is more than one way to skin a wildcat.
patriot Riflecrank Incurable Permanente salute
 
Posts: 28032 | Location: KY | Registered: 09 December 2001Reply With Quote
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For a long time, I would just order a Krieger in the spring, get it in the fall, and have it installed over the winter. It was a simple system. I really started to branch out ten years ago; Rock Creek, Bartlein, Lothar Walther, Lilja (an incredible .308 "stealth" sniper rifle), and continued use of Kriegers. I like them, they shoot great. and the extra cost is not much compared to the total cost of a job. I have learned that having a receiver "blueprinted" has a major effect on how well the barrel "shoots." So that is another cost in a rebarreling job. It is really rewarding when any rifle shoots well. It isn't usually inexpensive, though.


 
Posts: 7158 | Location: Snake River | Registered: 02 February 2004Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by lawndart:
For a long time, I would just order a Krieger in the spring, get it in the fall, and have it installed over the winter. It was a simple system. I really started to branch out ten years ago; Rock Creek, Bartlein, Lothar Walther, Lilja (an incredible .308 "stealth" sniper rifle), and continued use of Kriegers. I like them, they shoot great. and the extra cost is not much compared to the total cost of a job. I have learned that having a receiver "blueprinted" has a major effect on how well the barrel "shoots." So that is another cost in a rebarreling job. It is really rewarding when any rifle shoots well. It isn't usually inexpensive, though.


My experience with "blueprinting" has not shown much if any improvement. If done the proper way, it rivals the price of a custom.
 
Posts: 8964 | Location: Poetry, Texas | Registered: 28 November 2004Reply With Quote
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what type of rifle are you building?
stainless and plastic, glass only.
walnut and rust blue, irons or peeps only?

something in between?

I have yet, an i am on about 9 of them, had a bad one from mcgowen, at least 1 dozen from pacnor and douglas, 1/2 a doz or so from shilen, and i have lost count on how many "adam and bennet" -- I think i even have an actually branded ER Shaw 257 that wasn't the best ..

i am preferring mcgowen these days - but i am building mostly stainless, at least barreled, guns these days --


opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club

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