Just bought a Sako LH Magnum action, and now need to select a barrel. I think 26" with an 8" twist in a light weight would fill the bill. But what brand? I have looked at all the barrel makers websites , Shilen,Hart,Pac-Nor,Lilja,Douglas, and a couple more. I used a Adams Bennet on a Whelen once, and it was adequate, but not outstanding.And always thought Douglas was tops, but from what I read here, am not sure anymore.Comments appreciated.

My gunsmith always asks me the same question, "Who's barrels win the supershoot?" He likes Shilens and doesn't like Pac-Nor. I'm looking hard at Lothar-Walther and Krieger's have an outstanding reputation along with Lilja and Hart

Go for a Krieger or a Border (or Shilen / Hart / Lilja) . They will all probably shoot better than you..

I am pondering the same question. I want to rebarrel my 264 WM. I have narrowed it to Krieger or Lothar-Walther. I want a light contour but I am not sure how light I should go. Any reason you decided on the 8" twist?

All the barrel makers mentioned are ok in my book. I'm buying my barrels from Douglas but accuracy has far more components than barrel.

I think the quality of the chambering, fitting the barrel to the action, the type of action, stock, and fitting the barreled action to the stock are equally important as mfr. of the barrel.

If a chromoly barrel, any of the well regarded makers will be fine (Shilen, Douglas, Pac-nor, Krieger, Badger, LW, and a host of others. If stainless I think I would be inclined to go with the Lothar Walther. The added life claimed for their stainless would be of some benefit in a 264. Regards, Bill.

You have seen all the choices and there are a number of top notch barrel makers. The best barrel won't shoot any better than a rusty sewer pipe with a bad installation and/or crooked chamber. I would send my action to Hart and have them install one of their barrels and then I could sleep well nights. I shure would not trust the reformed key cutter down the road who says he is a gunsmith to install a good barrel.

I've had Shilen, Douglas, Montana Rifleman and Lilja. I think the Lilja is probably the best just due to smoothness with the Douglas and Montana very closely behind. I will never have another Shilen. Probably a once in a lifetime bad experience, but bad none the less. My 264 wears a 26" CM 1:9 Lilja and as others have said, that is only half. The folks that installed it were great.

Lots of good advice here, and I appreciate it. I am going with the 8" twist because I don't anticipate loading heavier than 130 grain. MOA and sub MOA don't mean a whole lot to me. Two rounds in the 10 ring at a hundred and the third just out because of barrel heat from the first two does.And if the first two touch, that is certainly alright. That is just about all I am capable of. And I am certainly aware of prices, but don't lose any sleep over another two or three hundred, especially on this once in a lifetime deal. And barrel life isn't a factor.It won't be shot enough to wear it out. I am glad to see some good input on the Douglas. That is the name I am most familiar with for several decades.