Hi - am planning to rebarrel a Tikka T3 to 7x57. Am considering Pac-Nor or Hart, is one better than the other. Also , is 5 rifling better than 6 or vise-versa? Planning on a 22" fluted barrel (just for looks), 11 degree crown 1 in 9" twist. Anything I need to consider or re-consider? Would like to hear advice from those with re-barreling knowledge/experience and gunsmiths . Please advise

I have had work done by both and find them equally good. If it were me I'd use Pacnor because they seem to have a quicker turnaround.

Lou

Just had one done by Pac-Nor in .338-06AI. They do a great job. Turn around is approx 3-1/2 months. They strive to create a very accurate barrel.

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Pac-Nor or Hart

Flip a coin.....

Actually....you could use Douglas or Shilen as well.....all are fine barrel makers.

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is 5 rifling better than 6 or vise-versa?

If it was, everyone would be doing it.

Same for three or four....Makes no difference.

The nice thing about Pac-Nor is they are willing to do the entire job so I don't have to deal with the additional time of lining up a gunsmith and his timeframe to work on it. I think I'll go with them. Any advise or opinions on what I've chosen (i.e.twist, length, etc.) for the 7x57?

Hart will do the entire job as well.

I've had great luck with PacNor and Hart. Yesterday I ordered a Hart for a 308 and turn around is 3-4 weeks.

Can't go wrong with Pac Nor, Hart, or any other mentioned.

I've had rifles rebarreled by both Pac-Nor and Hart. I've had four from Pac-Nor and one from Hart. They both will do the work of installing the barrel. It's my opinion that Hart took more care with the installation than Pac-Nor. I have also used McGowen and Krieger. I would rank McGowen's service equal with Pac-Nor. Krieger did a great job, but they were inflexible in what they would do. It was kind of like "take it or leave it." Hart did a great job and actually cared what I wanted. I will use Hart for my next project.

That's vaulable info. I was under the impression Hart was slower than Pac-Nor but I really like the sound of a 3-4 week turnaround!

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Originally posted by duckboat:
I've had rifles rebarreled by both Pac-Nor and rt. I've had four from Pac-Nor and one from Hart. They both will do the work of installing the barrel. It's my opinion that Hart took more care with the installation than Pac-Nor. I have also used McGowen and Krieger. I would rank McGowen's service equal with Pac-Nor. Krieger did a great job, but they were inflexible in what they would do. It was kind of like "take it or leave it." Hart did a great job and actually cared what I wanted. I will use Hart for my next project.

WOW just contacted Hart, they said 33-34 weeks turnaround!

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Originally posted by BISCUT:
Hart will do the entire job as well.

I've had great luck with PacNor and Hart. Yesterday I ordered a Hart for a 308 and turn around is 3-4 weeks.

Can't go wrong with Pac Nor, Hart, or any other mentioned.

Call Lawton, see what they say.

I had ER Shaw rebarrel my 7 STW on a Win mod 70 Laredo a few years back. As I remember the turnaround was quick,and the price was right. Accuracy is sub MOA with my hand loads.

I have a 6.5x55AI on a PacNor 26" tube with 4 groove rifling. It is benchrest accurate. MOF, I use it in 600yd matches.

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Originally posted by gunsrgood:
WOW just contacted Hart, they said 33-34 weeks turnaround!

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Originally posted by BISCUT:
Hart will do the entire job as well.

I've had great luck with PacNor and Hart. Yesterday I ordered a Hart for a 308 and turn around is 3-4 weeks.

Can't go wrong with Pac Nor, Hart, or any other mentioned.

Sorry my friend, MY BAD! I was speaking of delivery time for a barrel, not the install.

But almost 3 years? That is crazy!

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Originally posted by BISCUT:

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Originally posted by gunsrgood:
WOW just contacted Hart, they said 33-34 weeks turnaround!

But almost 3 years? That is crazy!

Biscuit, you are getting your numbers mixed up a bit... 52 weeks in a year... About 6-7 months delivery time sounds fairly normal to me - at least that is how long it typically takes to get a Krieger blank, on top of that comes installation...

Hart makes great barrels, but I believe they only produce SS barrels. So if a CM is what you are looking for...

My best shooting barrel happens to be a Hart. It was not installed by Hart, so I can't tell how the blank was delivered to the smith, or what he did to it during the installation. What I do know, is that the contour is not as "sharp" as my other custom barrels (Krieger, Shilen, Douglas etc). So from an aesthetics point of view, I would not choose another Hart, functionally, I can't complain, though.

The finished result is as much a question of the care taken in chambering and installing the barrel, as it is in the barrel blank itself (bore, dimensional consistency etc).

In THEORY, a barrel with fewer lands and grooves might last a bit longer than one with more lands/grooves. Practically speaking (and in particular for a hunting cartridge like the 7x57), there is probably little difference. This is a bit like the discussion whether a CM barrel might last longer than a SS, really impossible to verify. Too many variables involved.

- mike

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Originally posted by BISCUT:

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Originally posted by gunsrgood:
WOW just contacted Hart, they said 33-34 weeks turnaround!

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Originally posted by BISCUT:
Hart will do the entire job as well.

I've had great luck with PacNor and Hart. Yesterday I ordered a Hart for a 308 and turn around is 3-4 weeks.

Can't go wrong with Pac Nor, Hart, or any other mentioned.

Sorry my friend, MY BAD! I was speaking of delivery time for a barrel, not the install.

But almost 3 years? That is crazy!

33 to 34 weeks is nearly 3 years? What kind of math are you using? I'd hate to see how your checkbook was balanced.

Many barrel makers do a fine job of installing their wares, and i have a Hart installed barrel now that looks very good. That said, a good gunsmith, including many that post on this site could do every bit as good a job, if not better, and they will stand behind their work and be good guys to work with.

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a good gunsmith, including many that post on this site could do every bit as good a job, if not better, and they will stand behind their work and be good guys to work with.

Darn tootin....want references....PM me....

I can aquire and install a Douglas or Shilen barrel in less than a week.....but I don't do it for others....just myself and a few local guys....and I'd challenge anyone to prove that there's a better hunting barrel than a Douglas or Shilen!....cheaper maybe....

I'm having a match rifle rebarrelled with a Douglas. It's been a month and the smith is about thru with it. When he started, we had the understanding that hunting season was at hand and he would be doing quite a bit of work for the hunters which would slow him down on my job.
I don't have any basis for comparison because I've used only Douglas (on reccomendation of a smith in OK) but I have several rifles that have been rebarrelled with Douglas barrels and I am pleased with them all.
FWIW, if the Pope was putting on my new barrel, I wouldn't wait any 33 months for it. A fellow could go to gunsmithing school and do it himself in that amount of time.

Read the post a bit quick....I thought it was 33 months not weeks. But thanks for your concern about my checkbook.... You must be THAT GUY who still uses checks in the check out line

I thought months also. Anyway, 33 weeks is a long time also.

Thanks guys for all the input. I've decided to send it to Pac-Nor who will be doing the whole rebarrel job. I'm already eager to get it back to start developing loads.

One other question while I'm at it... How (or do they) match the color of their stainless barrel with the stainless receiver as it seems there are some difference in stainless color for lack of a better word? If they don't match, would bead blasting the barreled action make the stainless tones match up more? I hope my question makes sense?

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How (or do they) match the color of their stainless barrel with the stainless receiver as it seems there are some difference in stainless color for lack of a better word? If they don't match, would bead blasting the barreled action make the stainless tones match up more? I hope my question makes sense?

IMO the best option is to make them contrast.....not try to make them match!!!!

Bead blast one fine and the other less fine.

gunsrgood; Back to your original post, call Pac-Nor and ask their recomendaton between a 5 or 6 grove barrel. They will have more insight on the subject than all the toolshed gunsmiths on the whole AR forum put togeather.