Elkins45
Member
Anybody have any firsthand experience with Jerry Wilbanks of thebarrellman.com? I'm building a LH 257 Wby on a Savage action and am thinking about ordering a chambered Shilen barrel from him. Any compliments or complaints?
The Barrel Man?
- Thread starter Elkins45
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That picture of the muzzle end of an X-caliber barrel shows quite a bit of copper wash.
http://www.x-caliber.net/main/XCAL-page.asp?P=30
To me, that's hard evidence that it's too rough a finish and not lapped very good.
Really good barrels show virtually no copper wash at all. Shilens are much better. Kreiger barrels are as good as Shilens and last twice as long plus they have a long, excellent track record.
https://kriegerbarrels.com/
http://www.x-caliber.net/main/XCAL-page.asp?P=30
To me, that's hard evidence that it's too rough a finish and not lapped very good.
Really good barrels show virtually no copper wash at all. Shilens are much better. Kreiger barrels are as good as Shilens and last twice as long plus they have a long, excellent track record.
https://kriegerbarrels.com/
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Elkins45
Member
Thanks for the info, but I don't understand what a picture on the X-caliber website has to do with The Barrel Man.
Over many years of competition talking with people who shot different makes of barrels, Shilen's had about half the barrel lives of Hart, Kreiger, Obermeyer, whatever. David Tubb told me once he liked Shilen barrels because they were made the way he wanted, but didn't care if they lasted half as many shots. Their grooves are too shallow or metal too soft; I've never measured either in them.
I don't think they're all that popular these days. Kreiger, Bartlein, Border, and Lilja barrels, in about that order, seem to take home most all the marbles these days. Hart used to make most all the winners and record setters until Al Houser retired from Hart's barrel shop in the '80's; then. His barrels held most of the benchrest and high power records for years. Then John Kreiger's tubes took over.
I don't think they're all that popular these days. Kreiger, Bartlein, Border, and Lilja barrels, in about that order, seem to take home most all the marbles these days. Hart used to make most all the winners and record setters until Al Houser retired from Hart's barrel shop in the '80's; then. His barrels held most of the benchrest and high power records for years. Then John Kreiger's tubes took over.
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Elkins45
Member
Krueger doesn't make 25 caliber barrels, so it's a moot point.
ApacheCoTodd
member
Do you mean Krieger?
If so, sure they do, look to .257. I've bought one in the past.
They'll chamber in: .25-06, .250 Savage, .257 Roberts, .257 Wby.
Todd.
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Elkins45
Member
Yes, blame it on autocorrect.
25 is only available as custom. I could buy two of the prechambered Shilen for the cost of one custom Krieger, so the shorter life wouldn't be an issue.
jerkface11
Member
Have you looked at McGowen? They sell savage prefit barrels and are hand lapped. Both of mine are mirror smooth and I've never gotten a green patch out of them with sweets. Oh make sure you change recoil lugs while you're swapping barrels. The factory ones are stamped and can be warped. Sharp shooter supply makes a good one.
Clark
Member
Since 1997 I follow Bart all over the internet, hoping he will make me a better shot.
But I am a terrible shot while he is an icon, so I normally see things very differently.
I buy quantities of Shilen select match and custom honed CM barrels for me, and give them away to old guys with lathes that hunt with me.
I have never shot more than 200 rounds through a big game rifle.
Of the guns I built in 2015 I have chosen to hunt with two:
1) Krieger Mosin Nagant with 300WinMag
2) Shilen Select match Dumoulin Mauser 6.5-06.
Krieger from Krieger and Shilen select match from barrel man are the same to ME, one just costs more.
But I am a terrible shot while he is an icon, so I normally see things very differently.
I buy quantities of Shilen select match and custom honed CM barrels for me, and give them away to old guys with lathes that hunt with me.
I have never shot more than 200 rounds through a big game rifle.
Of the guns I built in 2015 I have chosen to hunt with two:
1) Krieger Mosin Nagant with 300WinMag
2) Shilen Select match Dumoulin Mauser 6.5-06.
Krieger from Krieger and Shilen select match from barrel man are the same to ME, one just costs more.
Tophernj
Member
My buddy has used Barrelman. Had some communication issues but it all worked out. Good product.
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