Which Barrel Maker for .308 Bolt Gun?

[NV Ranger]

I'm going to be building a new .308 bolt gun on a hardly used 1970's Remmy 700 action. Barrel is going to be 23" (couldn't decide between 22" and 24" so I split the difference) and threaded 5/8-24. I just can't decide on whose barrel to use. My thoughts currently:

Pac-Nor Heavy Palma countour Super-Match Stainless (They make Noveske's barrels so I've heard): 1:10 Polygonal or 1:11 5 groove
Rock Creek M24/M40 countour: 1:11 5R

I'm kinda leaning towards the Pac-Nor 1:10 but I'm thinking the twist is a little fast. Going to be only shooting 168's & 190's a little and 175's a lot.

[orkan]

Benchmark.

... and 1:10 is a great twist for 308.

[kevN]

I voted with my money for a 20in Bartlein 1:11.25 in #7 contour on my .308 bolt gun and have been very pleased.

[Guns-up.50]

I voted with my money for a 20in Bartlein 1:11.25 in #7 contour on my .308 bolt gun and have been very pleased.

This is what i am looking at only in 24, but rock barrels are sick too

[Keith E.]

One vote here for Schneider. It was recommended by the man that built my M40A3 clone. Builder recommended 1:12 and there have been no problems with 175 Matchkings out to 1k. I haven't tried anything heavier, either supersonice or subsonic so I can't speak to that.

Keith

[USMC_Anglico]

Like everything, barrels are an individual choice. If you go with a top notch maker than you'll more than likely be fine.

I use Krieger, have had great success. They also do 5R rifling under license now too. Mine is a standard Krieger, went with 1:11. Had them chamber to my supplied bolt. It's a tack driver, I've gotten it under .5", which is amazing with my average shooting. I'm waiting on my President's 100 buddy to really wring it out.

[kevN]

One vote here for Schneider. It was recommended by the man that built my M40A3 clone. Builder recommended 1:12 and there have been no problems with 175 Matchkings out to 1k. I haven't tried anything heavier, either supersonice or subsonic so I can't speak to that.

Keith

If buying a new barrel and intending to shoot primarily 175g SMK, I would not get a 1:12 barrel. It may get it done to 1000, but it may also not have the same spin stability past that where it still would have the energy and velocity to keep going. Some people say 1:11.25 (like my gunsmith Moon Roberts told me) is the sweet spot for 175SMK, certainly there is no issue with 1:10.

You see 1:12 in a lot of factory Remington barrels, and I think it is fine for 168g SMK's which happen to not be very stable into the transonic anyway.

At least.. that's what I've been told by various people. Some of these things are harder to get a first hand grip on

[TurretGunner]

Bartlien is really top of the heap right now, closely followed by Krieger and then Rock Creek.

Check this thread out.
http://forum.snipershide.com/s4-snip...-pros-use.html

Krieger has more barrels out there, but most top end builders and shooters will tell you bartliens are more consistant, and the gain twist is awsome.

[orkan]

Bartlien is really top of the heap right now

You mean they are the "flavor of the month" which is required to be on your rifle if you are to be accepted into the "cool kids club" on snipershide? ... because that's all it is.

Twice in the last 3 months I've punched a group in the zero's with benchmark barrels during load development.

Every single top end barrel manufacturer has the capability of producing record-setting barrels. To claim one better than the other based on the number of people using them is as flawed of logic as I've seen. Every brand listed thus far is in use in benchrest competition... where REAL accuracy counts on paper, and the brand of barrels that are winning certainly aren't necessarily the same ones you see the "pro's" using in tactical matches. The old "boring" companies like lilja, brux, and obermeyer can be found winning. Not because they are necessarily better than the rest, but because that's what the winning shooters happen to have on their rifle at the time they win.

These days I shoot benchmark, because they are readily available, easy on the wallet, and have been shooting amazingly well.

To say one top barrel manufacturer is better than all the rest is purely subjective, totally impossible to substantiate, and has absolutely nothing to do with anything other than picking the brand approved by the cool kids club. A barrel will either shoot, or it won't. Brand won't make one little bit of difference if your rifle shoots bugholes.

[CC556]

Bartlien is really top of the heap right now, closely followed by Krieger and then Rock Creek.

Check this thread out.
http://forum.snipershide.com/s4-snip...-pros-use.html

Krieger has more barrels out there, but most top end builders and shooters will tell you bartliens are more consistant, and the gain twist is awsome.

I'm also curious what you base this on. There's no doubt Bartlien makes quality barrels, but is there some data you can share to show that they're "really top of the heap right now" or are you just basing this on what the current fad is?

I've had guns in the last couple of years with Benchmark, Brux, Krieger, and Obermeyer barrels and they've all shot great. Any of the top barrel makers will turn out a good blank.