Bartlein, Lilja or Krieger?

[jeff556]

I'm looking to buy my first 6.5G barrel from Precision Firearms (http://www.precisionfirearms.com/48m...l-barrels.html). They offer barrels from three different makers.

Any thoughts on the pros/cons of each?

[LRRPF52]

All of those choices are peers. Lilja should be a little more affordable I think, but I'm not totally up-to-speed with PF pricing. I know Mark makes some very accurate rifles, and only uses top-end barrels either way for the Grendels.

[cory]

Your only bad option here is not going with one of those barrels. All great choices form a Tier 1 Precision Rifle company.

[Sputnik]

Received my Neptune V barrel with a Bartlein upgrade. It was ready to ship 4 weeks after ordering. This after cancelling my AA upper order I made in April, with no end in sight. Mark's customer service is unsurpassed, as he responded quickly to several questions I had about the upper. Oh, the upper? It is easily more capable than I am. Many groups at 1/2 MOA at 100 yards with factory 123 gr Amax and SST with several rounds in the group touching each other. The Factory ammo were one MOA at 200 yards with lateral separation from a slight crosswind; otherwise it would have been better groups. I shot 6 rounds inside a 1.5 inch circle with a reloads of 30.6 gr of CFE-223 during a calm wind; the 7th round spread it to 1.75 inches; 8, 9 & 10 were ah-sh*ts (my flinches), or wind...yeah blame the wind! For me these results are fantastic! My shooting partner says the extra money for the Bartlein barrel was well worth it!

[Tedward]

All of the PF products are top of the line and they will provide the best available barrels out there and in the time frame he provides. They don't see items they don't have on hand. You need to decide what the application you will be using it for. Bench shooting paper or woods hunter walking with it all day. Lighter for hiking or heavier sitting so all really depends on that then the manufacture will fall into play. You might need to buy two after reading all of there options.

Also I noticed his Bolt Carriers are offered for an aditional $115, you can't beat that in a package deal. Well you could just go all the way with a complete upper or better yet, the entire rifle.. One stop shopping, he has ammo too...

[Tedward]

Received my Neptune V barrel with a Bartlein upgrade. It was ready to ship 4 weeks after ordering. This after cancelling my AA upper order I made in April, with no end in sight. Mark's customer service is unsurpassed, as he responded quickly to several questions I had about the upper. Oh, the upper? It is easily more capable than I am. Many groups at 1/2 MOA at 100 yards with factory 123 gr Amax and SST with several rounds in the group touching each other. The Factory ammo were one MOA at 200 yards with lateral separation from a slight crosswind; otherwise it would have been better groups. I shot 6 rounds inside a 1.5 inch circle with a reloads of 30.6 gr of CFE-223 during a calm wind; the 7th round spread it to 1.75 inches; 8, 9 & 10 were ah-sh*ts (my flinches), or wind...yeah blame the wind! For me these results are fantastic! My shooting partner says the extra money for the Bartlein barrel was well worth it!

What length are you running and what diameter is the barrel at the GB? Just wondering what the weight aspect is but man that sounds great...

[Klem]

Krieger is a popular brand where I shoot F Class. The shooters perceive Krieger to be not necessarily a stand-out but a consistent barrel manufactuers (i.e. less liklihood of getting a dud). I have three Kreiger F Class barrels and they all are straight shooters... But of course it is the nut behind the bolt who is responsible for the final score.

Lilja is well respected but less seen on the F Class circuit here. Lilja is however used by Olympic shooting teams and the SEALS have chosen the 16" M4 drop-in as a superior barrel to the stock SPR's.

I have never seen a Bartlein in the flesh so cannot comment.

Barrels that I have seen shoot in competition and would vouch for (in no particular order) are Krieger, Lilja, Tru-Flyte (New Zelaand), Maddco (Australian), Archer (UK, I think they are also called Border) and Lawton. I have a Shilen in 6.5*47 but am unhappy with it.

I choose manufacturers who only make barrels. So Noveske and Les Baer for example to me are quality AR parts manufacturers/builders with enviable brand-equity, but are not high-end barrel manufacturers like Lilja. The barrel in my books is everything. I've seen $6,000 F Class guns shoot average scores with one barrel, and next week with a new barrel win matches. Then, 500 rds later the 'golden age' of that barrel wears out and they are back to coming 4th or 5th.

All three are reputable companies and all three produce hummers, but also the occassional dud. It's like choosing between Lambourghini, Ferrari and Maserati. They are all premium race cars.

[LRRPF52]

Bartlein barrels are comparable to Kriegers, but are CNC cut-rifled, making them more available. They all choose high-grade steels to work with so you don't get pipes with inclusions, and they are all lapped well.

I have a Bartlein on my .260 Rem AR10 that shoots between .4 and .6 MOA consistently from a gas gun, even out to 1000yds. I've been able to shoot a lot of different high-end barrels when doing accuracy-testing for a manufacturer, in addition to my long-range shooting hobby. Kriegers definitely have been a consistent 1/2 MOA or better barrel manufacturer.

[NugginFutz]

Your only bad option here is not going with one of those barrels. All great choices form a Tier 1 Precision Rifle company.

Hey! I resemble that remark! My BHW is no slouch, and they're delivering now at 10-12 weeks. Just not one of the OP's choices from PF.

[cory]

Hey! I resemble that remark! My BHW is no slouch, and they're delivering now at 10-12 weeks. Just not one of the OP's choices from PF.

HAHA, Okay relatively bad option.

[Sputnik]

What length are you running and what diameter is the barrel at the GB? Just wondering what the weight aspect is but man that sounds great...

Mark says the barrel is .720 at the muzzle, .750 at Gas Block and .850 under handguard. Otherwise known as a medium Hbar with 5R rifling. I chose 20 inch option.