stock barrels vs. customs

Douglas does make more than one grade of barrel, too. They still have their "air gaged" tolerance barrels, and their "double buttoned" (XX) barrels (they pull the button twice, gives a smoother internal finish, mimicks lapping at much lower cost). And there most definitely are at least a few BR competitors who use their best barrels (which are within a few dollars as expensive as a Lilja or Hart).

The ones they provide the factories have to be produced for a fraction of the cost they charge for an "air gaged XX". And they aren't the same barrels.

Ditto for Shaw and Wilson. Both are capable of making fine barrels. But neither can afford to put in that kind of effort for the $15 or $20 each the factory pays them for barrels.

The ones that go to the factories have to be made fast and cheap, just like the factories themselves make them...

I'd probably just as soon use a hammer forged barrel, if it has to be done fast and cheap. As some of the Savage button rifled barrels I've worked with have been the worst, but some of the Rem. and Win. hammer forged barrels have been the best (of a bad lot, for the most part...). From what little I think I know about it, on a mass production scale, it's easier to get a consistent twist rate with hammer forging, if nothing else.

- DAA
 
I've just gone through the rebarrel process.
Used Rem.700 Lam. Varmit. Traded 2 T/C barrels and $60 for it and it had been shot alot. The best I could get it to do was .9 with 75 btip Hornys. A lot of combo's tried too, 60gr,70gr,75,87 about 600 rounds worth. Rebarreled with a Douglas 26" SS Air Gagued $348 plus local $50 spin in charge. Shoots everything I've tried under 1 mostly .7 to .8 with the best at .4, 70 Sierra Match,Happy,Happy good enough for me.Even beats the Sako for easy clean up. Now its the best consistently shooting Rem I've got. Its shoots right in there with the Brownings. Funny how that works$400 for the used Rem.+$400 for the Douglas barrel = $800 Browning.
Smoothest low copper fouling factory barrels I've found are Sako,Tikka,Browning,CZ. Hard to tell any difference.
The worst are Winchester them Remington. With Winchester at the bottom of the scale. But it could of been just a bad barrel.
If you want to kick the accuracy up a notch without breaking the bank try a douglas. Easy to change cartridges too. Just match the bolt face and action legnth.Ackley improve it, Wildcat it you name it. Lots of options with a new barrel.
 
What DAA says is true. There are some competitive shooters who swear by Douglas air-guaged barrels. Although, as stated, you will see many more Lilja, Shilen, or Hart's. E.R Shaw is pretty much a "workin' man's barrel". Although I've heard they've come a long way. Take heed however, the one's you read about in Jon Sundra's articles will not be the same quality as the one you get! I'm putting a Pac-Nor on my latest project.--2MG
 
If you go here: http://www.riflebarrels.com/
you can click on the link (whether you have dsl or dial up)and see the comparison with a bore scope between a match grade barrel (Lilja) and a new Rem take off barrel.If you or someone you know has access to a borescope,I can about guarantee you that you will never see a production rifle barrel that even comes close to the tolerances and finish of a true match grade barrel,be it Lilja,Broughton,Shilen,Krieger,Hart or a host of other fine barrel makers.The same can be said when comparing a production action to a custom.The bottom line for any of these companies,production or custom,is money and the price generally reflects the quality your paying for.
 
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