anyone have any experience with them? I have heard mixed reports, from garbage to great. The only consistent message I'm getting is to fire-lap the barrel. Thanks in advance for the help..
------------------ Don't tread on me! Pennsylvania Frank
Posts: 1985 | Location: The Three Lower Counties (Delaware USA) | Registered: 13 September 2001
Like everything else, you get what you pay for....
If your going to the expense of re-barreling you may as well spend an extra hundred and get the best such as a Lothar-Walther, Krieger or Lilja or an extra $50 and get a Douglas. You'll save in the long run.
I have one on my 35 whelen ackley. It is accurate, but it is also rough, and fouls quite a bit. I also have to load hot to get it to group, and groups open dramatically for anything other then its preferred load.
I would spend the extra $ for a pac nor in the future, when you go to the trouble and expense of re-barreling, get a good barrel, they aren't that much more exspensive, and they are well worth the cost.
Posts: 7213 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 27 February 2001
I know that Midway makes some attractive package deals on the A & B barrels, but I think Ray's advice here is good. For a little more money, you can step up a good bit in quality.
quote:Originally posted by Atkinson: Like everything else, you get what you pay for....
If your going to the expense of re-barreling you may as well spend an extra hundred and get the best such as a Lothar-Walther, Krieger or Lilja or an extra $50 and get a Douglas. You'll save in the long run.
I have used a number of their bbls, and I think the real answer is what kind of rifle you're building. They are perfectly adequate for large game, in my experience, but I would not choose one for a varmint/paper punch rig.
What I am considering is the Stainless fluted .308 barrel. The action I have is a 1917 Danzig, but it was overpolished, rounding off most corners, and isn't really as tight as I would like, so in my opinion isn't "worthy" of a better barrel. It's a "play around" project. The rebarreling will be done by a gunsmith friend of mine, and the action was given to me, so the cost is minmal.
------------------ Don't tread on me! Pennsylvania Frank
Posts: 1985 | Location: The Three Lower Counties (Delaware USA) | Registered: 13 September 2001
I have two rifles with A&B barrels and both are more accurate than I am. Maybe if I had a Shilen or Douglas or Lothar I would automatically be a better shot. Need to try that someday.
Posts: 200 | Location: Tin Top .Texas | Registered: 21 August 2001
I have purchased several of these in different calibers and all have shot extremely well. Each barrel is a law unto itself--I have had some high dollar barrels not shoot any better than A&B or Remington factory takeoffs(before their q.c.went to hell). Sambubba
Posts: 314 | Location: Abilene,Tx. USA | Registered: 21 October 2000
More accuracy is gained and lost by the care the gunsmith uses in fitting and chambering the barrel, then in the barrel itself. Properly fit, the A&B should provide satisfactory accuracy.
That said, there are good reasons to consider more exspensive tubes, though in this application, I think you'll be pleased with the A&B. When they sold for $70, they were deffinately the ticket, and with the barrel/stock specials are worth it. I wouldn't pay $100 for one of the barrels.
Posts: 7213 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 27 February 2001
I've built three mausers in .308 using A&B barrels. The first one is my sons deer rifle and the other two I built for nephews. All three shoot sub MOA with good ammo. Yhey do fould quicker than other barrels so fire lapping is probably a good idea but I haven't tried it yet.
