I am building a rifle on an older Sako action(L691).Which barrel would you recommend.The rifle will be in either 7 mag or 7mm STW for hunting.The gunsmith I am using recommended a Douglas.What are your thoughts? probably going with a medium weight # 3 or 4 contour.Also is there any difference between a cut rifled barrel and a button rifled?

Thanks,
Bill

i have used douglas barrels for both black-powder and centerfire rifles. i have never had a lemon. i currently have a XX air-guaged 24" #8 taper on a ruger #3 in 250/3000 ackley that consistantly shoots half-minute at 200yds(if i do my part). IMHO your gunsmith is right on target!

Douglas bbls are top quality and are seen on many match guns. Krieger is my choice.

Everyone has their favorites. I am happy w/ the last (4) PacNor bbls. I have had.

There are many good match barrels. Douglas, Krieger, Wilson, Pac Nor, I have three out of these four. Do pick a barrel twist that reflects the bullet weights you want to use.

On paper, it is hard to see much of a difference between cut rifling versus button. If the intended use is a hunting rifle, don't pay extra for cut rifling.

Don't forget to bed your action. It takes good bedding, good barrels, and good bullets for best accuracy.

What is more important than the specific brand is the choice of reamer and choice of gunsmith. Talk to your gunsmith about what you want, and that will drive the reamer choice. I would recommend talking about throat, bullet jump in the throat, headspace on the shoulder instead of a belt, and chamber concentricity.

I made a .416 with a sako action and Lothar-Walther barrel -no complaints here.

Thanx for the replies.Is it wort it to get an air gauged barrel?


Bill

My smith likes douglas too, and I have been happy with the ones he installed for me.
the air gage thing is not likly to matter , but if you are one hell of a shot it might be worth it. If your action will feed the stw, its a great round. My stock model 70 squirts 160 grain nosler and barnes bullets into tiny little clusters at over 3200 FPS. If it does not feed the round so well the 7 mag is no slouch either...tj3006

All the mentioned barrels are good barrels. Look into the Lilja barrels. They are hard to beat. I have Douglas air gauge barrel and it's very nice, but I believe that Lilja is of a much higher quality. I believe that Lilja's are head and shoulder above the rest. Everyone's got their favorite, this is mine.

Check them out.

Cag

Hello,
Been shooting XC, Long Range matches for some 45 years, used a lot of Douglas in both service type rifles, M1Garand, M14/M1A, AR15/16, bolt guns, and done well with them. Long range shooters as in Palma, Leech, etc. often use Kriegers and yes, Douglas as well. I am not referring to bench type shooting, but rather prone/sling shooting. I have a Palma Rifle on 40X action w/308 Krieger 1/13 twist, SS, 30" long and something over 3000 rounds through it and still will hold the X ring if I do my part at the 1000 yard mark. Krieger's tough to beat all around. Would not wait long to order, once the match season starts up, lead time gets long for the match shooters do use a lot of Kriegers.

I have a Douglas premium on a Remington 700 in 25-06. No problems with it whatsoever and accuracy is darn good. Douglas makes good economical aftermarket barrels.

However, I also have two Kriegers, one in 280 Rem and one in 308 Win that are just AWESOME. Super accurate and a delight to clean since they are so smooth and finely finished. Both are on Remington 700's. I'd spend the money and go with Krieger.

Lewis, are you still there? I don't own a 7mm mag. or the STW but I am aware of the fact that it is a high pressure round. Many barrel manufacturers produce fine shooting barrels. As one mentioned he has gone thru 3 thousand rounds or so thru his barrel-believe it was a Kreiger and it is still in the "X". You may consider this brand or the likes of Dan Pedersons barrels. I have one of his being made for my newly built to be soon 64 Brenneke- no way near the pressures you are shooting but you get the drift- you get what you pay for. Might want to look into what Mike Rock can do for you as well or Boots Obemeyer has -just food for thought. Have a PacNor match on one of my .338-06 rifles and it is a shooter.