Shilen or Krieger

I have both and love both. I like the Shilen for my Savages since they are drop in. I tend to use Kreiger on my NBs,
John
 
i have only one kreiger & it's the most accurate barrel i own...but i hav several shilens (some chambered after the kreiger) and i'm extremely satisfied with em....go with whatever ur gunsmith likes...if he pushes back strongly on your choice,reconsider ur choice or another gunsmith...but don't force ur choice into his lathe...
 
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Now that has to be one of the toughest choices I've seen posted recently. But if it were me, my choice would be the Kreiger as well. I honestly don't have either one, but after doing some research and talking to both shooters and a couple gunsmiths, (and no offense to Sheilen) but the Kreiger is the more reliable/accurate of the two.
 
My gunsmith just order a new Krieger 5r for my new 300WSM. I know the wait is long but might want to look at Bartlein barrels gunsmith has one for my 280AI.

My gunsmith doesn't mind ordering whatever barrel his customer's want. He's got a Rock,Obermeyer,Shilen,Broughton coming in besides my Krieger and he has a good relationship with all those guys.

Big thing with gunsmith pushing one barrel over another is their discount on amount they get.

Shilen makes a nice barrel use one on 257Wby and 22-250AI.

If I was build a 6Br 1/8 twist I'd do a Kreiger,Bartlein might even talk to Brux about one of his barrel.
 
Only ever heard of one problem with Krieger. Before we started using Broughton's my hog hunting partner had one that wouldn't clean up after about 500rds. They sent him a new blank that he got about 700rds out of and did the same thing. After that he switched and never looked back. Thats the only issue I've heard of. Don't get me wrong, the barrel shot very well, and maybe it was the tooling for that certain lot of 25 barrels, I don't know. but it was enough to steer me towards another company on my projects after that
 
Originally Posted By: alfKrieger, hands down.

I would have to agree. My gunsmith says the same so that is the what I picked for my custom .220 Swift. I have no regrets as it is one fine shooting gun.
 
Im curious..,. How many have shot Kreigers and Shilens side by side? Ive had several of both and my Shilens always outshoot the Kreigers. I even compared them on the same action so I could verify they werent being effected by something not being trued properly in the action.
Ive also found that my Harts and Lilja's outshoot the Kreigers. Surely the last 4 Kreigers Ive purchased (at double the cost of my Shilens) have been defective. Still have one of those Kreigers setting here all chambered up and ready to re-instal but took it back off after I chambered up an identical Shilen that shoots better.

If you do purchase a Shilen, be sure to get the "select match" and not just a match barrel. They are more accurate but if your just hunting with the rifle and not target shooting like I do almost all summer, any ol' barrel will be just fine.
If your after a long wearing barrel, the Kreiger has better steal and will prolly out last the other brands.
 
Wellsir, I aint never shot them side by side, but my gunsmith (George Vais of Vais muzzle brake fame) is quite well known around these parts for his bench guns, and he was recommended to me by some bench rest shooters. He told me that he will build my rifle with the barrel of my choosing, but that he prefers Krieger or Hart barrels because he had never had a bad one of either. I threw myself at his mercy and told him to build it for me as if he was making it for himself and he opted for the Krieger. There was a three month wait for the barrel, but that was OK as long as I had it on time for prairie dog season. He must have done something right because it sure does shoot. If it wont put 5 in a dime at 100 yards then I did something wrong and not the gun.

I'm sure that there are many fine barrel makers out there, but I can only say that my Krieger barrelled Swift shoots mighty fine.
 
If you are going to go high dollar like a krieger why not look at the bartleins.
They set 3 new world records at the NBRSA nationals. 65% percent of the top
20 shooters were sporting bartleins.
 
Originally Posted By: bigwheeler If you are going to go high dollar like a krieger why not look at the bartleins.
They set 3 new world records at the NBRSA nationals. 65% percent of the top
20 shooters were sporting bartleins.

If I was starting today I may do that. But my varmint collection is pretty much complete now. And ALL of them will shoot 5 into a half inch or less. Dave Allen has done it with my guns as 204Dude and even Who ME. Matterfak, Who Me took my AR-15 varminter and the first time that he ever pulled the trigger on that gun he put 5 into less than a half inch at 100 yards. He never even dry fired it before that. I prefer to shoot critter more so than paper. Half inch at a football field length is pretty good for me. Me and the critters that I like to scatter.
 
For the last 20 years I have used mostly Krieger barrels. Most all top custom barrels are accurate, or they will replace them for the asking.
I use Krieger for 2 reasons:
They are cut rifling which:
Lasts a little longer than button rifling. (At least this is what most HP shooters think)
You can get any twist you want and don't have to settle for even inches. I believe in using the minimum twist for the bullet and frequently that is 8.5" or some other in between twist.

Jack
 
Cut rifling is nice I admit. I beleive Kreigers cut rifling process makes the lands slightly higher too (longer life). Every Kreiger I chambered required a .0002" smaller reamer pilot.
1/2" at 100 is perty good accuracy, I spose I expect better most times when Im target shooting. Yes, all my Kreigers shot 1/2" at 100 so if thats the standard to meet, they will do you fine. I also buy barrels like candy so, being frugal and getting better accuracy with a different brand makes more sence to me, thats why I have been giving Shilen most of my business.
I had a bad 204 9 twist barrel once from Shilen and with one call they admitted that they had a problem with their 9 twist barrels at the time and quickly replaced the barrel no questions asked. That showed quite a bit of integrity I thought. The new barrel shot as well as I could though.
Good luck with your purchase
 
In reality, all the top tier barrel makers are putting out quality products. Pick one and go. In truth, there's a 'ell of alot more that goes into shooting little groups than blaming/praising the barrel.
 


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