Shillen or Douglas barrel ?
 

Would someone have any information on these two brands of barrels. Is the grade and quality of steel the same or is there a considerable amount of difference between the two? I have placed an order for a barrel and they are having problems with Shillen barrel blanks so they offered the Douglas barrel instead. Is this a good move?

RE: Shillen or Douglas barrel ?
 

I had trouble with Douglas years ago. I used to live down the road from the plant in Charleston, WV. So they made right on it. It was rougher than a cob, and rifling was rounded near the middle of the barrel looking with a hawkeye borescope.

Melvin Forbes from NULA's uses them. So they must be good. there is alot of gunsmiths that refuse to use Douglas.

I like Shilen, Lilja, and recently have been using Krieger. The Krieger have very nice uniform rifling. People are amazed including myself when cleaning a nice match barrel compared to factory. I used to push a tight patch thru a factory, and you could feel different uniformities thru the barrel, but not with Lilja or Kieger.

More imporatantly is the chamber job from your gunsmith IMO.

RE: Shillen or Douglas barrel ?
 

Itss all in the chambering job as BC says although I am sure a bad one slips out of all those makers plants every once in awhile. Gunsmith friend of mine in Alabama that's all he uses(Douglas) and they work every gun I have shot built by him has been a serious shooter . I am betting Mr Forbes gets the best of the best from Douglas though since he's probably their biggest customer.

RE: Shillen or Douglas barrel ?
 

I've used both Douglas and Shilen barrels with good success. There's others out there that are highly praised and command a ferw extra bucks.

Douglas has never let me down.....They are my number 1 "go to" barrel.

RE: Shillen or Douglas barrel ?
 

I would go McMillan. They have great customer service. Best I've ever seen and their barrels are second to none I have 3 barrels from them. 2 super match grade and one match grade. The prices are about the same. The last barrel I bought was 26" #8 contour already chambered and threaded for the pre 64 model 70 in 30-06. The thing was that it was in their clearance box on their web page. counting shipping I paid $97. I was supprised to find it was target crowned already.

The customer sevice guy (I forget his name) emailed me 2 times to make sure it got to me and was what I wanted. He gave me his phone # so I called him and he answered all my questions even the ones not pertaining to barrels.

RE: Shillen or Douglas barrel ?
 

bigcountry You spoke volumes.:)
I was amazed at how easy it is to clean a match grade barrel compared to a factory barrel.
I highly recommend a Lilja barrel. Dan Lilja does great work. IMHO

RE: Shillen or Douglas barrel ?
 

I understand that Shilen barrels are excellent, but so are Douglas Premium Grade barrels.



This is a 100-yard, 5-shot group fired with a 6mm/284 with a 26" Douglas Premium Grade medium sporter weight barrel. 100-grain Sierra bullet, 53.5 grains of old original H4831. Many groups fired with this barrel were similar, using both 85-grain and 100 grain Sierra bullets, but this is the best one.

RE: Shillen or Douglas barrel ?
 

I have only had expirence with Douglas but I have had very good results with them.

RE: Shillen or Douglas barrel ?
 

Thanks for all the information. The manufacture said that Douglas barrels were good but I just wanted some reassurance. I have never ordered a custom barrel before.
They had only offered two choices and it was between Shilen and Douglas barrels. Decided on going with the Douglas barrel. I could have waited for the Shilen barrel but it would have been August before seeing it. With my luck the barrel would only be here after hunting season. Thanks again..