Author Topic: Barrel Makers! (Read 20081 times)

Eric Smith · « **on:** May 17, 2012, 07:17:41 PM »

Who makes the best barrel today? I have read many posts from several years ago about this one and that one, but whats going on today. What are your recent experiences with barrel makers?

Eric Kettenburg · « **Reply #1 on:** May 17, 2012, 07:30:43 PM »

"Best," in MHO, is Rice. Next best would probably be Rice. Also, make sure to check out Rice, and be extra sure not to overlook Rice.

(I also like a number of the Green Mtn. swamped barrels and have found them to have excellent accuracy.)

JMHO.

elk killer · « **Reply #2 on:** May 17, 2012, 07:46:13 PM »

RICE RICE RICE..
at least they will let you buy one of theirs....

T*O*F · « **Reply #3 on:** May 17, 2012, 07:49:07 PM »

Lacking other information, I shall henceforth refer to you as Smitty.

Smitty,
You expect a definitive answer to a subjective question, which is not possible. Any answers you receive will be purely the opinion of others, humble or otherwise. There are NO bad barrelmakers today, only certain features offered by some which others do not make. We all know what opinions are like, and those opinions plus a dollar bill will not get you a larger cup of coffee anywhere. Any opinion to the contrary is merely that.

Eric Smith · « **Reply #4 on:** May 17, 2012, 07:55:33 PM »

Yeah, thats right. Just asking for opinions. Nothing wrong with taking an opinion poll, is there?Sometimes you get a feel for a certain thing based on your friends ideas. Oh, Smitty is Ok with me. I have a GM and a Colerain. I do not have a Getz, or a Burton(I have one ordered) or a Hoyt or a Rayl. So i have nothing to compare

heinz · « **Reply #5 on:** May 17, 2012, 08:03:35 PM »

Mr. Smith. I am fond of Getz barrels. Jon will make a wide range on request. There is a little lag time but I am not often in a hurry. I also have an older Green Mountain barrel that shoots very well.

mjm46@bellsouth.net · « **Reply #6 on:** May 17, 2012, 08:04:59 PM »

Quote from: T*O*F on May 17, 2012, 07:49:07 PM

Lacking other information, I shall henceforth refer to you as Smitty.

Smitty,
You expect a definitive answer to a subjective question, which is not possible. Any answers you receive will be purely the opinion of others, humble or otherwise. There are NO bad barrelmakers today, only certain features offered by some which others do not make. We all know what opinions are like, and those opinions plus a dollar bill will not get you a larger cup of coffee anywhere. Any opinion to the contrary is merely that.

I've used Colerain, and Rice, seem to prefer Rice because of the surface being smoother means less work for me sanding the barrel surface. That being said have no problem with either barrel both seem like fine barrel makers to me. Guess it depends on my budget and how much of a rush I'm in, or what's available when I want it.

Eric Smith · « **Reply #7 on:** May 17, 2012, 08:08:04 PM »

I sent a letter to John Getz last week, expressing an interest in getting in line to purchase 5 or 6 barrels of different cal. and lengths. I have not yet received a reply. Maybe today

billd · « **Reply #8 on:** May 17, 2012, 08:13:56 PM »

I favor Rice because when Jason says six months, it's six months. I've heard good things about Charlie Burton too. He's doing a barrel for one of the wounded warrior's guns and I also have a swamped O/R .60 caliber ordered for myself from him.

If you're looking for a one of a kind barrel, Rice is not set up to do this. Burton, Hoyt or Rayle. Getz if you have time to wait.

Bill

Eric Smith · « **Reply #9 on:** May 17, 2012, 08:16:51 PM »

I don't know if I have the time, only God knows that. But I sure am willing to get in line. I plan on ordering more barrels from Burton if this on looks good.

rich pierce · « **Reply #10 on:** May 17, 2012, 08:37:44 PM »

As stated above, most all barrels you can buy nowadays are better than originals in every way and will shoot better than most can leverage. Who you decide to order from depends on whether what you need is available off the shelf and is in stock, if you need something custom, perceived value to you and potential customers, estimated delivery time, etc.

Cory Joe Stewart · « **Reply #11 on:** May 17, 2012, 08:39:09 PM »

I have used Buckeye Barrels, they design them and other companies make them. They are usually in stock. The particular barrel I have used is from Rice.

Coryjoe

Ezra · « **Reply #12 on:** May 17, 2012, 09:26:46 PM »

I have had nothing but very good luck with the following:

Rice
Hoyt
Rayl
Charlie Burton

Ez

bob in the woods · « **Reply #13 on:** May 17, 2012, 09:32:52 PM »

I have Getz, Green Mountain, Rice, Rayl, Colerain, and Long Hammock barrels. They all will shoot better than I can hold. Which I get, is dependent on what style/length etc I'm looking for vs what is commonly offered. ie 46 in eliminates GM, and Colerain . { not talking smoothbores ]

Hawken62_flint · « **Reply #14 on:** May 17, 2012, 10:28:42 PM »

Ditto what everyone else said about all barrels today being good. I have even shot some Spanish and Italian barrels that shoot excellent. I have on my custom guns Sharon (no longer available), Green Mountain, and Rayl. If you want something special that no one else will do, Ed Rayl is willing to tackle most any project. The wait right now is approximately a year, give or take a few months. I have 4 of his barrels on rifles and they all shoot to quote another member "better than I can hold them", and I have 3 more barrels on order from Ed. All the others out there make good barrels and I wouldn't be afraid to use any of them. Seems right now that it is hard to get a barrel in any short time frame, especially if it is somethin non-standard.

Vomitus · « **Reply #15 on:** May 17, 2012, 10:32:15 PM »

removed

T*O*F · « **Reply #16 on:** May 17, 2012, 10:39:17 PM »

Quote

Seems right now that it is hard to get a barrel in any short time frame,

Doesn't this give anyone cause to wonder? Not too many years ago, you could only get Getz, GM, or barrels from a very few small makers. Demand outstripped supply, and Rice and LongHammock went into business to take up the slack. Since then, several others have gone into the business.

Everyone is always whining about how muzzleloading is on the decline and there are no new shooters. Where the $#*! are all these barrels going? There are also more builders than ever before. Somebody has got to be buying all this stuff. Who are they?

JDK · « **Reply #17 on:** May 17, 2012, 11:00:47 PM »

Quote from: Poorboy Flint on May 17, 2012, 10:28:42 PM

Ed Rayl is willing to tackle most any project. The wait right now is approximately a year, give or take a few months.

Somebody posted not too long ago that they had just spoken with him and he told them 3 years!

I have to give Scott at Colerain a nod for custom barrels also....he made me exactly what I needed and he treated me right....only a few months wait.

+1 for Green Mountain too.

Don't have any Rice....yet.

Enjoy, J.D.

Ezra · « **Reply #18 on:** May 18, 2012, 12:00:47 AM »

What about Ben Coogle? Anyone use his barrels?

Ez

eddillon · « **Reply #19 on:** May 18, 2012, 02:39:17 AM »

I absolutely agree with Ezra's line-up of makers.

Ed

smylee grouch · « **Reply #20 on:** May 18, 2012, 05:44:26 AM »

All those mentioned are good and that is not a complete list. Jim Carpenter out of Idaho is now making match quality barrels to your specs. I am sure there are others and I would not be disapointed with any of them.

Ezra · « **Reply #21 on:** May 18, 2012, 05:53:21 AM »

CUT RIFLE BARRELS

James E Carpenter
(208) 245-3693
1330 Shepherd Rd
Saint Maries, ID 83861-9419

Just spoke with him this morning. Nice fellow. Reasonable lead time on barrels too.

The linky I posted earlier had an old out of date address and the phone number was incorrect. The above is current and accurate. Sorry for any confusion.

Ez

Ezra · « **Reply #22 on:** May 18, 2012, 07:38:30 PM »

Lest I lead anyone astray, please see the above correction for Mr. Carpenters barrel business. The link I had provided was incorrect. All the above is correct and current now.

Ez

Acer Saccharum · « **Reply #23 on:** May 18, 2012, 07:56:49 PM »

What contours and lengths does Mr. Carpenter offer?

Oct/round; Oct, round, ball and bullet bbls, false muzzles, etc?

Ezra · « **Reply #24 on:** May 18, 2012, 08:16:12 PM »

Acer,

I don't know the full extent of what he can do, but he did tell me that he can do swamped, tapered or straight octagon, octagon to round and smoothbore. Maximum barrel length is 42". He can make ball and bullet barrels for muzzleloaders. Don't know if he does the false muzzle thing. His barrels have won regional matches in the Spokane, Washington area, I know that. He has fairly standard calibers .40, .45, .50, .54, .58, .62 and says he is getting a reamer for .662. He may have others, but those are what he cited to me. He will also make octagon rifle barrels up to a width of 1 1/8" (I think he said he could go bigger, but don't quote me). He will also do pistol barrels to your specifications. He is retired logger and bought out someone in Kalispell, Montana who had made barrels for 27 years.

Ez

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Author Topic: Barrel Makers! (Read 20081 times)

mjm46@bellsouth.net

billd

Vomitus

eddillon