Shilen barrel question

[CHARLIEDUECE65]

I'm wondering why shilen sells there stainless match grade contoured barrels for 280 dollars and you can get them from midway usa for around 220 dollars. Are these the same quality of barrel as if you ordered one directly from them in the same contour you want. I've read some of the reviews and they've said the barrels surface is a little rougher than other manufactures. Im considering buying one from midway as i've seen the barrel i would like. Thanks

 

[capt.d]

Midway can get the barrels cheaper fom Shilen because they are buying ten or twenty or whatever at a whack, whereas you would only be putting in an order tio Shilen for one. That being said shilen produces two grades of barrels, match and select match grades, they are not seconds or anything like that, midway simply makes a big order and gets a better deal so don't let that discourage you. I have three Shilen select match barrels and have had excellent results with each of them. They are very accurate and clean up easily due to the hand lapping process they undergo. The exterior finish on these barrels is a little rough and will require polishing or bead blasting to get your desired finish, no big deal really, and does not bear on the interior finish whatever. If midway has the barrel you want in stock, jump on it before someone else does and you have to wait to get one.

 

[Boss Hoss]

In short that is the way business in general is conducted in the United States. Why would any retailer waste recourses and buy a product and then compete with the OEM. Think about it --- makes no sense.

 

[TOM H]

I'm wondering why shilen sells there stainless match grade contoured barrels for 280 dollars and you can get them from midway usa for around 220 dollars. Are these the same quality of barrel as if you ordered one directly from them in the same contour you want. I've read some of the reviews and they've said the barrels surface is a little rougher than other manufactures. Im considering buying one from midway as i've seen the barrel i would like. Thanks

The barrels you are talking about are CM they run appr $225 and SS $270. I guess I didn't look at enough pages as the have SS match grade SS for $225. and unturned blanks for less. If they have the barrel you want be a good deal. Shilen sells barrel to varies supplier like Brownell and I'm sure they have a pretty good discount for Midway on the barrels.

 

[geargrinder]

Midway's core business is to sell items to customers. Shilen's core business is to make barrels.

It's so much cheaper for Shilen to sell a ton or two of barrels to Midway and let them deal with customers, than it is for Shilen to deal with all those customers.

 

[B23]

I've never really understood Shilen's approach. They have all these different barrels that appear to be similar but have different names and different pricing.

So do they class and sell their barrels by the grade level and if so does that mean that you spend top dollar for their "great" barrels. Mid level dollar for their "just good" barrels and bottom dollar for their barrels that are "just ok". That's how their price structure has always come across to me.

 

[James H]

FYI Shilen CrMo barrels are not lapped unless requested when ordered at an additional charge. Not something bad, just something to be aware of.

James