by straightshooter » 08 Feb 2017, 7:27 am
And the answer is.........
All of them and more
Even lowly regarded (by target shooters) Douglas barrels had their moment of fame with benchresters with their double buttoned barrels.
The reality is any hand lapped barrel by a competent maker will shoot.
The problem is these days many of the big name makers have to machine lap in order to deal with their production volumes so inevitably a not so good barrel will slip through. That's when they rely on the old standbys
1. Faulty chambering and fitting (sometimes true)
2. Incorrect run in (gimmee a break)
Stainless vs. Chrome moly
Stainless is easier to machine and thus obtain an excellent finish, tooling lasts longer. It is less inclined to foul but compared to chrome moly gilt edge accuracy life may be shorter. Those characteristics that make it easier to machine work against it for accuracy life.
Chrome moly is harder to machine and more work is required to obtain an excellent finish, harder on tooling. It will be more inclined to copper foul and will require careful cleaning and more of it.
The best shooting barrel I have had was a Tobler. It was full of chatter marks but if I had a borescope at the time I would have never accepted it.
The best internally finished barrels I have ever checked are Lothar Walther.
Please note that I am talking about Competition Target barrels here and not sporter or replacement barrels.
MAB (now TSE), Tobler and Maddco are all capable of making excellent barrels. In the past Maddco was the least easy to deal with.
To the best of my knowledge only MAB will make chrome moly target barrels, they will even hand lap sporter barrels if you want.
I hope I have dispelled any notions that you can just go out, pick a maker, and buy a 'best' barrel.
In the end you pays yer money and takes yer chances.
"Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about."
"There is no expedient to which a man will not resort to avoid the real labor of thinking." Sir Joshua Reynolds