Lilja Barrels (Bolt gun)?

DealHunter · January 23, 2014, 03:55 PM

I recently fell into a used Sako Quad (.22lr Varmint) and had ordered a .17hmr barrel from a local place but now I'm being told it would take forever and a day to get here (would be 12+ months). I like shopping local when I can but that's a bit long to wait for a non-custom item.

I've found a new 17mr varmint barrel for it (available now and cheaper) online in-stock but they also have the option of the same varmint barrel in stainless from Lilja (also in stock).

It's about $100 more for it and I have no experience with them at all. Sako has a pretty good reputation already but has anyone used any Lilja barrels on their rifles and are they worth the extra cost?

Thanks

taylorce1 · January 23, 2014, 04:57 PM

Dan Lilja builds very good barrels, I have two rifles with them a .25-06 and .338-06. Both shoot better than I do, I wouldn't hesitate to pick up any barrel from him.

handlerer2 · January 23, 2014, 05:04 PM

I know that Lilja barreled target rifles, have in Anshultz rimfire rifles, won international and Olympic competitions.

Lilja is a Montana industry located in Kalispell, I believe. They are generally regarded to be amoung the elite barrel makers in the trade. May cost a little more than a Douglas generic replacement barrel. You would, if you ordered from Lilja, have to have the barrel chambered, so if this is a chambered barrel, that's available to you, that's one detail you will not have to deal with.

DealHunter · January 23, 2014, 05:30 PM

Quote:

have to have the barrel chambered, so if this is a chambered barrel, that's available to you, that's one detail you will not have to deal with.

My understanding is the Quad, being designed as a completely modular system, has (literally) drop in barrels so they should come chambered already (both the Sako or the Lilja barrels).

old roper · January 23, 2014, 08:41 PM

I've never used one of Lilja rim fire barrels but have used his center fired barrels that require gunsmith to chamber and their good barrels.

Nathan · January 23, 2014, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Kalispell

actually Plains I believe.

On a more technical note, he makes barrel blanks. If you see a barrel for sale, somebody finished it. It would be good to know who did that work as it might be suspect...

DealHunter · January 23, 2014, 10:00 PM

Quote:

On a more technical note, he makes barrel blanks. If you see a barrel for sale, somebody finished it. It would be good to know who did that work as it might be suspect...

From this website (which I think is their own) it seems like they make them ready to drop in?

http://www.riflebarrels.com/products...le_barrels.htm

reynolds357 · January 25, 2014, 01:22 PM

Lilja is all I shoot on my bench guns. On rare occasion I build with Hart.

January 23, 2014, 03:55 PM	#1
DealHunter Senior Member Join Date: May 1, 2012 Posts: 225	Lilja Barrels (Bolt gun)? I recently fell into a used Sako Quad (.22lr Varmint) and had ordered a .17hmr barrel from a local place but now I'm being told it would take forever and a day to get here (would be 12+ months). I like shopping local when I can but that's a bit long to wait for a non-custom item. I've found a new 17mr varmint barrel for it (available now and cheaper) online in-stock but they also have the option of the same varmint barrel in stainless from Lilja (also in stock). It's about $100 more for it and I have no experience with them at all. Sako has a pretty good reputation already but has anyone used any Lilja barrels on their rifles and are they worth the extra cost? Thanks

January 23, 2014, 04:57 PM	#2
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,249	Dan Lilja builds very good barrels, I have two rifles with them a .25-06 and .338-06. Both shoot better than I do, I wouldn't hesitate to pick up any barrel from him. __________________ NRA Life Member

January 23, 2014, 08:41 PM	#5
old roper Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2007 Posts: 2,155	I've never used one of Lilja rim fire barrels but have used his center fired barrels that require gunsmith to chamber and their good barrels. __________________ Semper Fi Vietnam 1965 VFW Life member NRA Life Member

January 23, 2014, 05:04 PM	#3
handlerer2 Senior Member Join Date: April 26, 2010 Location: Yellowstone Co, MT Posts: 489	I know that Lilja barreled target rifles, have in Anshultz rimfire rifles, won international and Olympic competitions. Lilja is a Montana industry located in Kalispell, I believe. They are generally regarded to be amoung the elite barrel makers in the trade. May cost a little more than a Douglas generic replacement barrel. You would, if you ordered from Lilja, have to have the barrel chambered, so if this is a chambered barrel, that's available to you, that's one detail you will not have to deal with.

January 25, 2014, 01:22 PM	#8
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	Lilja is all I shoot on my bench guns. On rare occasion I build with Hart.