I was talking to one of my gunsmiths and he has built a rifle using Wilson Barrels. He claims they are really good barrels. I've read reviews and as usual, they are both pro and con. I know Cooper uses Wilson and so do a lot of major companies. Any of you have hands on experience with a barrel from Wilson? Not on a Rock River or a Cooper because I know they shoot good. But maybe one bought from Ragged Hole or some one that sells Wilson Barrels? Do they offer an upper end match grade barrel? I don't see anything that says match grade. Its kinda hard to imagine match grade accuracy from a barrel costing $160.
Wilson Barrels.............once again
- Thread starter pyscodog
- Start date
I've bought 2 from Ragged Hole. Neither one have been hard to get shooting well. Chambered in 22br and 6 creedmoor. As far as their work goes it seems to be quality at least on mine. They clean easily and are smooth running patches through them. Don't have a borescope to see how rough they are, but I haven't gotten excessive coppering that shows up while cleaning them. Their website says that they are select match grade blanks.
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Match grade is just a name. Marketing speak. It doesn't mean anything. And for that matter, I largely shy away from barrel makers who offer more than one grade. Preferring barrel makers who only offer the best they can make, period.
Wilson is like any other manufacturer of anything else that has been doing it a long time for a lot of different customers. You would have to think, with the experience they have, they can make a very fine barrel - for the right price. They'll build whatever they have an order or a contract to build. Built to a cost parameter.
But for whatever reasons, my guess being because they are a mass producer, and because their customers are NOT willing to pay the costs, Wilson has never been known as a top shelf barrel. I've had a few, have one right now that I have been shooting a lot, no complaints - for the price. But none of them have been Lilja, Krieger, Hart level stuff. None of them cost nearly as much as those others either. But I'm sure they could build barrels as well as anyone, but their market segment isn't interested in paying $400+ for raw blanks.
- DAA
Wilson is like any other manufacturer of anything else that has been doing it a long time for a lot of different customers. You would have to think, with the experience they have, they can make a very fine barrel - for the right price. They'll build whatever they have an order or a contract to build. Built to a cost parameter.
But for whatever reasons, my guess being because they are a mass producer, and because their customers are NOT willing to pay the costs, Wilson has never been known as a top shelf barrel. I've had a few, have one right now that I have been shooting a lot, no complaints - for the price. But none of them have been Lilja, Krieger, Hart level stuff. None of them cost nearly as much as those others either. But I'm sure they could build barrels as well as anyone, but their market segment isn't interested in paying $400+ for raw blanks.
- DAA
Who made the barrels for Ruger M77’s in the mid seventies?
I have heard that Wilson was the maker but I am just asking.
In 1976 I bought my first Ruger, a Liberty M77 V in 243 Win. This rifle shoots lights out! I My next rifle was a sporter M77 in 270 Win. I was too late and got a 1977 built gun with that one so no Liberty model. It never grouped better than 1 1/4” at 100 yds. I killed everything I ever tackled with that rifle but just never was happy with it.
The best day with that 270 was the day I traded it off for a plain jane synthetic stocked blued Browning A bolt II with the BOSS in 25-06. That rifle is a solid .6” with everything thus far
I have heard that Wilson was the maker but I am just asking.
In 1976 I bought my first Ruger, a Liberty M77 V in 243 Win. This rifle shoots lights out! I My next rifle was a sporter M77 in 270 Win. I was too late and got a 1977 built gun with that one so no Liberty model. It never grouped better than 1 1/4” at 100 yds. I killed everything I ever tackled with that rifle but just never was happy with it.
The best day with that 270 was the day I traded it off for a plain jane synthetic stocked blued Browning A bolt II with the BOSS in 25-06. That rifle is a solid .6” with everything thus far
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Rustydust
Active member
Originally Posted By: Three 44sWho made the barrels for Ruger M77’s in the mid senenties?
I have heard that Wilson was the maker but I am just asking.
My M77V in .220 Swift that I bought as a pre-production model in 1975 had a Wilson barrel. I really would shoot too. 43 grains of IMR 4350 and the Sierra 52 grain HPBT would go into a hole you could not push your pinky though. Just had a straight 12X Leupold on it. Of all the guns that I traded off in my life this one is the one I regret getting rid of the most.
I have heard that Wilson was the maker but I am just asking.
My M77V in .220 Swift that I bought as a pre-production model in 1975 had a Wilson barrel. I really would shoot too. 43 grains of IMR 4350 and the Sierra 52 grain HPBT would go into a hole you could not push your pinky though. Just had a straight 12X Leupold on it. Of all the guns that I traded off in my life this one is the one I regret getting rid of the most.
Rustydust,
I am surprised you let it go. My Liberty V is still wth me and it is still in good shape since I do not drag it around daily on the ranch. It has gotten rid of a lot of coyotes but still has a relatively low round count since I only use it on predators.
A local gunsmith did a number on the trigger . I scaled it recently and it breaks at 1.5#
My pet load runs right at .3” at 100 yds out and I assume it’s a Wilson for what that’s worth.
Three44s
I am surprised you let it go. My Liberty V is still wth me and it is still in good shape since I do not drag it around daily on the ranch. It has gotten rid of a lot of coyotes but still has a relatively low round count since I only use it on predators.
A local gunsmith did a number on the trigger . I scaled it recently and it breaks at 1.5#
My pet load runs right at .3” at 100 yds out and I assume it’s a Wilson for what that’s worth.
Three44s
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Rustydust
Active member
Originally Posted By: Three 44sRustydust,
I am surprised you let it go.
Why? Because I was a 23 year old dummy. I lived in Houston at time and other than the shooting range I had no place to shoot it. I got bored just drilling holes in paper with it and I wanted this neat .357 Thompson Contender that had a 2X Leopold mounted so I traded it. Not the only dumbazz thing I ever did but I still kick myself for this one. The Swift I have now is a M700 with H-S precision stock and a 28" Krieger barrel. I assure you, it shoots very well. Still, sure would like that have the M77V back. Meh. Would like to be young and thin and hansome too. Oh well. At least I'm still handsome!
I am surprised you let it go.
Why? Because I was a 23 year old dummy. I lived in Houston at time and other than the shooting range I had no place to shoot it. I got bored just drilling holes in paper with it and I wanted this neat .357 Thompson Contender that had a 2X Leopold mounted so I traded it. Not the only dumbazz thing I ever did but I still kick myself for this one. The Swift I have now is a M700 with H-S precision stock and a 28" Krieger barrel. I assure you, it shoots very well. Still, sure would like that have the M77V back. Meh. Would like to be young and thin and hansome too. Oh well. At least I'm still handsome!
So you are handsome and live in Idaho but without your great shootin’ Ruger tang safety model.
I am in Communist WA, never was handsome but still have my Liberty Tang ..... I’ll ponder that one a spell .....
I suppose since you got a 700 that does what you ask of it, you got me whooped
Best regards
Three44’s
I am in Communist WA, never was handsome but still have my Liberty Tang ..... I’ll ponder that one a spell .....
I suppose since you got a 700 that does what you ask of it, you got me whooped
Best regards
Three44’s
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Originally Posted By: pyscodogWhat does Cooper do to make their barrels shoot so good?
Pays more for them, I'd imagine.
As I said earlier, I'm sure Wilson can make as fine a barrel as anyone, for anyone willing to pay. Seems the vast majority of their customers are looking for less expensive product. They build to cost. The same as any other manufacturer of anything building for a lot of different customers.
According to Jim Carmichael, who I consider a pretty solid source, Wilson made all those Ruger barrels, Douglas had nothing to do with it.
- DAA
Pays more for them, I'd imagine.
As I said earlier, I'm sure Wilson can make as fine a barrel as anyone, for anyone willing to pay. Seems the vast majority of their customers are looking for less expensive product. They build to cost. The same as any other manufacturer of anything building for a lot of different customers.
According to Jim Carmichael, who I consider a pretty solid source, Wilson made all those Ruger barrels, Douglas had nothing to do with it.
- DAA
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^^^^^^
I had totally forgot about that, never been in the market for a Cooper or paid too much attention to them, but your right. That explains that. Now, at least.
Back in the day, I'd still guess Cooper was simply willing to pay the higher costs of tighter specs, extra steps in manufacture and inspection and higher rejection rates etc. That's what I'd imagine it takes to get a consistently better barrel and it's easy to see costs being driven upward very fast for small gains.
- DAA
I had totally forgot about that, never been in the market for a Cooper or paid too much attention to them, but your right. That explains that. Now, at least.
Back in the day, I'd still guess Cooper was simply willing to pay the higher costs of tighter specs, extra steps in manufacture and inspection and higher rejection rates etc. That's what I'd imagine it takes to get a consistently better barrel and it's easy to see costs being driven upward very fast for small gains.
- DAA
Varminterror
New member
The references I have seen put Douglas barrels 1969-1973, Wilson 1973-1991, and in-house hammered barrels 1991-present.