Wilson barrel accuracy

[J E Custom]

I do agree with you and was not justifying the OP's gunsmith one way or the other. I was more interested in describing Wilsons business and the quality of their match grade barrels. Even the OP's gunsmith eluded to the fact that the $ 200 barrels were hit or miss which I find strange, and would never consider him if that was his recommendation.

No Problem, The nice thing about this site is that we get to see "ALL" point of views and people can decide what is best for them.

As in most things related to this sport, there are different ways and opinions and we can debate
them (Hopefully without hard feelings) and offer our experience and opinions to anyone interested).

J E CUSTOM

 

[FEENIX]

No Problem, The nice thing about this site is that we get to see "ALL" point of views and people can decide what is best for them.

As in most things related to this sport, there are different ways and opinions and we can debate
them (Hopefully without hard feelings) and offer our experience and opinions to anyone interested).

J E CUSTOM

Amen to that!

 

[elkaholic]

Our local gunsmith thinks $200 Wilson barrels are the best buy and can sometimes match Kreigers for accuracy. What has been your experience?

I think the operative word here is "sometimes"! In other words, its a crap shoot with low odds. Bottom line; buy ONE Krieger for $350, or 5 Wilsons for $1000......Rich

 

[Hammett88]

$200 barrels are NOT hand lapped,,, they're not machine lapped, either.. Barrels that aren't lapped foul quickly. I'd wonder about anyone who calls themselves a "gunsmith" that thinks any barrel that's not been lapped can/will equal a barrel that has been hand lapped. Those $200 barrels are just slightly better than what most factory rifles wear. In this case, Ya' pay for what ya' get!

You're wrong. Wilson barrels are lapped and they are VERY good. I've used 12-15 in builds and they hold their own with the best including Krieger

 

[Hammett88]

I'm seeing a lot of uninformed opinions on a company they know nothing about. Ive used no less than 10 Wilson barrels on builds and somewhere around 5 Kriegers. I know what a Krieger can do and they're amazing and all but honest to goodness so is Wilson.
Wilson barrels are used by JP,WOA,Cooper,and otters. They ARE lapped,stress relieved,5r Buffon rifled with high quality 416r stainless. After chambering they break in just like the best of them and absolutely hammer.

 

[Hammett88]

It's just sad that I use Wilson and just about all of my personal rifles except for ones where I need a twist faster than 8 or a specific contour. Why? Because I can hand blindly you a Wilson and a Krieger and you would never know the difference. Honest. But just because they're half the price of "top tier" companies most are quick to kick them to the curb. Look. They're cheaper because button rifled barrels deserve to be. You can fill the back end of a pickup with button rifled blanks by the time you have a hand full of cut. So cut barrels deserve the price and I'll always hold them slightly higher than a button but a button will hold its own right with a cut as long as the company is doing their part and Wilson is. They just aren't gouging you guys. Your Smith was trying to do you a solid and sadly probably lost business because of it.

 

[Hammett88]

I had an old tang safety Ruger M77 7mm rem mag that was built during the time period they were using Wilson barrels. I remember the rifle cost me $199 new and I know I spent at least three times that amount in reloading components trying to find a load that would shoot through it. It was good for about 3" groups at 100 yds, 2 1/2" groups if it was a real good day. I tried every manner of bullet, seating depth, powder, primer combination you could think of and that what she would do. Finally I had it rebarreled and all of a sudden it shot! I couldn't believe it, up until that time I was of the mind that I just had to find a load it liked. That started my foray into custom barrels.

Depending upon what work you're having done and what type of rifle it's being done to, a rebarrel job is going to cost at least $250 in gunsmith charges. You can spend $200 on a Wilson and take your chances, or you could spend $325 (butch's reloading price) on a Bartlein. In the end you're looking at $450 vs. $575. With one you get a questionable unlapped barrel that may or may not shoot, the other you get a top of the line barrel that may or may not shoot BUT I know where my bet would be placed as to which one will perform. You pay your money and take your chances but going with a cheap *Rule 4 Violation* barrel just to save 20% on a barreling job is penny wise and pound foolish in my opinion.

I was dead serious when I said find another gunsmith. If one tried to talk me into a Wilson instead of a Kreiger I'd thank him for his time, gather my rifle and go find a gunsmith with more of an eye for quality. If he thinks that's "good enough" for my rifle then what kind of work is he going to do on it? If his standard is that low in components then I doubt his standard for his own work is any better. I have rifles built because I want better than I can get from the factory, not the same. I want a gunsmith that's a perfectionist, not one with a "that's good enough" attitude.

You'd be sad to learn that a lot of smiths have a "good enough" attitude BECAUSE they're using top shelf components. You just aren't seeing it. You can get away with a lot when using barts,Kriegers,hawk hills,ect and smiths are sadly doing it every day. I could name several TOP shops that are letting a lot slide and getting away just because barrels are so good these days you can get away with a lot and still deliver a shooter.

 

[Mikecr]

I can picture Cooper buying lots of 100 barrels to get what they want.
A similar discussion could occur with Loather Walther barrels, while they can actually produce any barrels, any way you want, as good or better than anyone's. This, for large lot orders and the appropriate $$.

We don't know the circumstances of the build either. If it's gonna be a barrel burner for relatively short distance work, then the smith' may be more logical than credited so far.
It could make sense.

I had a gunbuilder (not a gunsmith) talk me into Pacnor for a re-barrel.
I hate everything about them, but he pointed out that it would be a guaranteed gain for me. He had a rack of them & could spin one off and spin another on till I was good to go (if needed). So I went that route and it happened that everything turned out totally fine (shoots/cleans great), with no delays or issues.
He would of course have finished any other brand that I desired. But there would be delay in getting it, and more expense in getting it, and for that factory action/stock varmint gun, all that may not have been necessary.

See where I'm going with this?

 

[Mram10us]

I have used Wilson arms on a 6.5-284, 28 nosler, 300rum, 6.5 creedmoor and 7-08ai. During the build process I have run JB bore paste to lap them. No tests to know how much it helps. Anyone knocking them has zero idea about them and is doing it based on price point. They definitely shoot

 

[shortgrass]

You're wrong. Wilson barrels are lapped and they are VERY good. I've used 12-15 in builds and they hold their own with the best including Krieger

Todays Wilson barrels are lapped. Back in the day, when we bought them they were not. Bore scoping can easily see whether the barrel has been lapped, or not. As for" holding their own with Krieger", I seriously doubt that. You would have to prove that to me. To each his own. If Wilsons are good enough for you, have at it.