what do the numbers on a Shilen barrel mean.
xx? 20 S? Does the S mean stainless?
I know the 20 means 20 cal.
Thanks for any help.

Glenn

Where are they on the barrel? Is it a new barrel?

Yes it is a new barrel.
The numbers are on the end of the barrel.

I believe that XX means "Select match" and X is for "match"

What does the S stand for? Does it mean stainless?

Maybe, the barrels I use in stainless are stamped "STAINLESS", but I always double check using cold blue solution. It's a lot of work and expense to finish a job and find out the part is not what you thought it was.

In the past Shilen stamped SS for stainless steel and CM for chrome moly and SM for select match. They may have changed now since they are under new management. The caliber was at the top under the Shilen name, the twist and contour were stamped on the lower side.

This is working off of memory, which is not getting better with age.

Hogfarmer,
That ain't changed.

It was bugging me so I went to my workroom and dug out some barrels. I guess they are using just the S for stainless steel now. I checked with Shilen and they say the XX means match, SM is select match.

Thanks for the reply's.
A friend and I were discussing this and didn't agree, now I know.

Glenn