Shaw barrels

BoogieMan · October 19, 2015, 06:08 AM

I posted on another thread that I ordered one for a 358 Norma. Someone mentioned that they received very poor quality from Shaw. I would like to know who has used one and what the results have been. I dont expect a match grade barrel but I do expect to have a great shooter. I still have time to cancel.

Roughedge · October 19, 2015, 04:06 PM

I've bought a dozen barrels from Shaw and all have been top notch. They have a long wait time but its worth it.

tobnpr · October 19, 2015, 06:01 PM

I have one that I bought a few years ago from Gun Shack before I got my FFL.
Savage prefit (they're a stocking dealer, with a lot of popular chamberings in stock) that I had no issues with, it's capable enough for 1000 yard shooting- but not as accurate as those from CBI in my opinion. However, for the price point, I'd buy again. It's a matter of whether 3/4 minute is accurate "enough"- or if you need better.

Scorch · October 19, 2015, 08:33 PM

I probably buy two dozen barrels a year, so this is my experience. Shaw barrels are OK, but just OK. For a hunting rifle they are fine. If you want anything more than that, pick a different one.

FrankenMauser · October 20, 2015, 12:27 AM

See my reply in the other thread.

Bottom line:
It fouls like mad.
But it shoots 3/4" at 100 yards consistently. (And I've only tested one bullet. Further load development may improve that.)

I might buy one again for a rifle that only needs "hunting accuracy" but I'd buy from a better barrel maker for a precision rifle.

Ifishsum · October 20, 2015, 08:42 PM

Only Shaw barrel I have (that I know of) is an AR15 in 5.56 - once I got it broke in and figured out which bullets it liked it's actually a tack driver. Wasn't real bad with other loads I tried, but I wanted better and was able to get it. Doesn't foul excessively either. I would buy another one for a hunting or other casual use rifle, but not for competition.

reynolds357 · October 20, 2015, 08:56 PM

Not great quality. I would say they are definitely sub-par to factory Savage barrels.

BoogieMan · October 21, 2015, 05:11 AM

I ended up canceling order with shaw. I bit the bullet and paid the extra money for shillen on my 6.5 build. I may do the same for the 358 norma but I'm still hopeful I find a fair deal.
Shaw reviews seem to spotty for me. I don't want to risk spending the money and taking the extra time to polish the barrel in and maybe not even get the results I want.

taylorce1 · October 21, 2015, 08:40 AM

Well I don't know why you'd cancel the Shaw barrel. .358 Norma isn't a cartridge that you're going to be shooting in volume. I caught quite a bit of flack when I used an A&B barrel on my .375 Ruger, but you know what it shoots very well. Yes it fouls terribly and after 50 rounds accuracy goes to pieces, but guess how often I shoot 50 rounds through it in a year?

If you're looking for an in stock barrel call Penny at Pac-Nor. I hey have a .35 caliber barrel ready to ship right now for $310 in stainless steel super match in a Remington Sendero contour. Ask her how much extra it would be to thread it for a Savage action and chamber in .358 Norma as well as lead time.

Quote:

#463
35 SSSM 27"
bore: 35
twist: 12
L/G: 5
Dia.: 1.235
length: 27"
steel: SS
grade: SM

Comments: Sendero contour

Another option is to send your current barreled action to JES Reboring and in about 4-6 weeks and for around $300 you can have a rifle in .358 Norma. I'd change out your bolthead and magazine first to handle the magnum cartridge so he can check function.

GeauxTide · October 21, 2015, 08:58 AM

I have them in 6.5-06 and .280. They have been superb, shooting 1/2" cloverleafs regularly. Getting ready to re-barrel a 700LH to .280.

kcub · October 21, 2015, 10:12 AM

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YhUZaAYsaGU

Look, why take a chance? At least that's the way I see it.

emcon5 · October 21, 2015, 10:19 AM

I don't own a Shaw barrel, but when I look at the prices of them, I have to ask why they are so cheap. When a ready to install Shaw barrel for a Savage is $180, considerably cheaper than an unturned blank from anywhere else (PacNor: $275, Douglas: Start at $225, Shilen: Start at $200, Hart: Start at $315, Krieger: Start at $345).

Some people swear by Harbor Freight tools. I think when the sole deciding factor for purchasing an item is "cheapest" sometimes it works out fine, sometimes it bites you in the ass.

steveno · October 21, 2015, 01:06 PM

about 30 years ago a friend of mine said that my Remington 700 in 243 would be a lot better if it was a 22-250. we ordered a Shaw barrel ( I don't remember the cost) and it was a medium heavy barrel. we just faced and crowned the muzzle and chambered it. it ended up being 27 inches long. the first 5 shots out of the barrel could be completely covered with a dime.

Later when Remington came out with the 7 mm-08 we re-barreled a Remington 600 to the 7-08. this was the light barrel and it would do inch groups at 100 yards all day long. even with 24 inch barrel this rifle weighed in at barely 6.5 pounds with a Weaver all steel 6 x scope including the wood stock.

I wouldn't hesitate to use another Shaw barrel if the need arose

taylorce1 · October 21, 2015, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emcon5

I don't own a Shaw barrel, but when I look at the prices of them, I have to ask why they are so cheap. When a ready to install Shaw barrel for a Savage is $180, considerably cheaper than an unturned blank from anywhere else (PacNor: $275, Douglas: Start at $225, Shilen: Start at $200, Hart: Start at $315, Krieger: Start at $345).

$180 isn't for a finished barrel, that's for a chrome moly barrel in the white that needs some kind of metal finish to prevent rust. A finished barrel from ER Shaw for a Savage starts at $228 for chrome moly either polished or matte blue, and as much as $295 for a matte stainless steel barrel. Let's put that in perspective McGowen is $295 for a blued chrome moly and $325 for a stainless barrel. Criterion is $300 for a stainless barrel through Northland Shooter Supply.

Do I think Shaw is as good as a full custom barrel from the names you listed? No I don't, but I do think they are better than the factory barrels you get on many production rifles today. My main point as to why I gave shaw a chance, and why I still will depends on the type of rifle I'm making. If I'm making a hunting rifle to where I'm satisfied around 1 MOA for groups, I know Shaw barrels will shoot at least that well. If I'm building a competition/varmint/LR rife then Shaw isn't the place I'm going to look.

FrankenMauser · October 22, 2015, 12:00 AM

Quote:

$180 isn't for a finished barrel, that's for a chrome moly barrel in the white that needs some kind of metal finish to prevent rust. A finished barrel from ER Shaw for a Savage starts at $228 for chrome moly either polished or matte blue, and as much as $295 for a matte stainless steel barrel. Let's put that in perspective McGowen is $295 for a blued chrome moly and $325 for a stainless barrel. Criterion is $300 for a stainless barrel through Northland Shooter Supply.

My .35 Whelen barrel was a stainless Savage pre-fit in the barrel change "kit".
Total cost: $199
-Free shipping.
-Barrel nut wrench.
-Headspace gauges (cheap, but effective).
-Crappy cleaning supplies.

The way I see it, that was a finished stainless steel barrel for about $125.

Now that I know it will shoot well enough for my intended uses, I'll probably be putting a little more money into that barrel to remove excess weight (reprofile and chop a few inches), but it was still a dirt cheap stainless barrel.

taylorce1 · October 22, 2015, 08:51 AM

FM, I was just posting what is listed on Shaw's web site for Savage pre-fit barrels.

Huffmanite · October 22, 2015, 01:33 PM

FWIW, bought a chrome-molly magnum contour barrel directly from Shaw in 6.5x55. It does copper foul, but with right reload, it shoots fairly accurate. Shot it today, two or three shots will cloverleaf and one shot will be 1/2" or so away.

Bought a Shaw Stainless varmit contour 6x45 (6mm223Rem) a couple of months ago from "Gun Shack", here in Texas. Accuracy is very good with it. Ordered it after a fellow range member, that chases accuracy very seriously with his rifles, told me of his satisfaction with the two Shaw barrels he'd installed. Gun shack keeps a decent selection of Shaw and McGollwan barrels stainless savage replacement barrels for various cartridges with the Shaws being about $100 lower priced. As to copper fouling, well, none of our stainless barrels copper foul, but as I wrote, my chrome molly Shaw does copper foul. But it is not any worse than many of the factory barrels on my rifles.

FWIW, have a 6.5x55 Varmit contour Shaw stainless barrel on order from Gun Shack.....expect it around next Monday. I'm replacing a decent shooting .308 barrel. I live in Tx, so sales tax and shipping added to make final price of $233.78

FrankenMauser · October 22, 2015, 02:40 PM

Quote:

FM, I was just posting what is listed on Shaw's web site for Savage pre-fit barrels.

Understood.
I was just sharing that E.R. Shaw's web pricing isn't always the same as 'real world' pricing.

I have not, however, often come across barrels from better manufacturers that could be found for well below "MSRP".
The closest I can get to that are Shilen factory 'blem' barrels, which can sometimes be found in Brownell's inventory for as little as 50% of typical retail pricing.

taylorce1 · October 22, 2015, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankenMauser

Understood.
I was just sharing that E.R. Shaw's web pricing isn't always the same as 'real world' pricing.

Web pricing is what you get when you're ordering a .358 Norma barrel which is what the OP ordered. Getting a .35 Whelen barrel kit from Midway or other online retailer for $199 which was purchased in extreme quantity to get the price down that low. Even if the OP bought your same kit he'd be looking at least another $100-150 to have it rechambered to .358 Norma and headspaced by a gunsmith, unless he had access to the tools to do it himself.

FrankenMauser · October 22, 2015, 10:55 PM

If you call E.R. Shaw and ask what they have in their 'blem', 'overrun', or 'rechamber' rack, you can get a much better deal than internet list price.

Back in... April(?), I called about that .35 Whelen barrel. The guy on the phone tried for about 15 minutes to talk me into a stainless 'heavy magnum' contour .35 Whelen 'overrun' barrel that would otherwise be over $300, but he was offering for $175 with $7 shipping, or $250 with a barrel nut wrench and headspace gauges. He had had it sitting on the rack for so long that he was willing to drop the price on everything. There was absolutely nothing wrong with it - just the fact that they made nine of them when the purchase order was only for eight, and he wanted it to go away.

He tried (politely) to talk me into nearly every other option on the rack, as well: Rechamber a .35 Rem barrel with a bad chamber. Cut down a 26" .35 Whelen Chro-Moly barrel. Cut threads, chamber, turn, and crown a blem .358" blank. And on and on...

It ended up being a 55 minute call. (Informative, but exhausting.)

They seem to have quite the selection of blems, overruns, and barrels rechambered due to an error in the first chamber cutting operation. ...Should anyone care to ask.

Txhillbilly · October 23, 2015, 04:14 PM

For a button rifled barrel, E R Shaw barrels will shoot right with any other brand of button rifled barrel.
A cut rifled barrel that has been hand lapped will usually shoot better, but that's why they cost a lot more. I have several different brands of aftermarket barrels on rifles, and my Shaw barrels will shoot as good if not better than the more expensive brand of barrels.
Maybe I just got some really good Shaw barrels!

October 19, 2015, 06:08 AM	#1
BoogieMan Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2012 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,217	Shaw barrels I posted on another thread that I ordered one for a 358 Norma. Someone mentioned that they received very poor quality from Shaw. I would like to know who has used one and what the results have been. I dont expect a match grade barrel but I do expect to have a great shooter. I still have time to cancel. __________________ Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it. Milton Freidman "If you find yourself in a fair fight,,, Your tactics suck"- Unknown

October 19, 2015, 04:06 PM	#2
Roughedge Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2011 Location: Monroe,NC Posts: 669	I've bought a dozen barrels from Shaw and all have been top notch. They have a long wait time but its worth it. __________________ The man that die's with the most stuff win's!

October 19, 2015, 06:01 PM	#3
tobnpr Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2010 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 4,556	I have one that I bought a few years ago from Gun Shack before I got my FFL. Savage prefit (they're a stocking dealer, with a lot of popular chamberings in stock) that I had no issues with, it's capable enough for 1000 yard shooting- but not as accurate as those from CBI in my opinion. However, for the price point, I'd buy again. It's a matter of whether 3/4 minute is accurate "enough"- or if you need better. __________________ Remington 700/Savage Rebarreling /Action Blueprinting 07 FFL /Mosin-Nagant Custom Shop/Bent Bolts Genuine Cerakote Applicator www.biggorillagunworks.com

October 20, 2015, 12:27 AM	#5
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	See my reply in the other thread. Bottom line: It fouls like mad. But it shoots 3/4" at 100 yards consistently. (And I've only tested one bullet. Further load development may improve that.) I might buy one again for a rifle that only needs "hunting accuracy" but I'd buy from a better barrel maker for a precision rifle. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

October 21, 2015, 05:11 AM	#8
BoogieMan Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2012 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,217	I ended up canceling order with shaw. I bit the bullet and paid the extra money for shillen on my 6.5 build. I may do the same for the 358 norma but I'm still hopeful I find a fair deal. Shaw reviews seem to spotty for me. I don't want to risk spending the money and taking the extra time to polish the barrel in and maybe not even get the results I want. __________________ Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it. Milton Freidman "If you find yourself in a fair fight,,, Your tactics suck"- Unknown

October 19, 2015, 08:33 PM	#4
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	I probably buy two dozen barrels a year, so this is my experience. Shaw barrels are OK, but just OK. For a hunting rifle they are fine. If you want anything more than that, pick a different one. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

October 20, 2015, 08:42 PM	#6
Ifishsum Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,033	Only Shaw barrel I have (that I know of) is an AR15 in 5.56 - once I got it broke in and figured out which bullets it liked it's actually a tack driver. Wasn't real bad with other loads I tried, but I wanted better and was able to get it. Doesn't foul excessively either. I would buy another one for a hunting or other casual use rifle, but not for competition.

October 20, 2015, 08:56 PM	#7
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	Not great quality. I would say they are definitely sub-par to factory Savage barrels.

October 21, 2015, 08:58 AM	#10
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,424	Immensely Satisfied I have them in 6.5-06 and .280. They have been superb, shooting 1/2" cloverleafs regularly. Getting ready to re-barrel a 700LH to .280.

October 21, 2015, 10:12 AM	#11
kcub Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2010 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 3,318	https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YhUZaAYsaGU Look, why take a chance? At least that's the way I see it.

October 21, 2015, 10:19 AM	#12
emcon5 Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 1999 Location: High Desert NV Posts: 2,850	I don't own a Shaw barrel, but when I look at the prices of them, I have to ask why they are so cheap. When a ready to install Shaw barrel for a Savage is $180, considerably cheaper than an unturned blank from anywhere else (PacNor: $275, Douglas: Start at $225, Shilen: Start at $200, Hart: Start at $315, Krieger: Start at $345). Some people swear by Harbor Freight tools. I think when the sole deciding factor for purchasing an item is "cheapest" sometimes it works out fine, sometimes it bites you in the ass.

October 21, 2015, 01:06 PM	#13
steveno Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2004 Location: Minden , Nebraska Posts: 1,407	about 30 years ago a friend of mine said that my Remington 700 in 243 would be a lot better if it was a 22-250. we ordered a Shaw barrel ( I don't remember the cost) and it was a medium heavy barrel. we just faced and crowned the muzzle and chambered it. it ended up being 27 inches long. the first 5 shots out of the barrel could be completely covered with a dime. Later when Remington came out with the 7 mm-08 we re-barreled a Remington 600 to the 7-08. this was the light barrel and it would do inch groups at 100 yards all day long. even with 24 inch barrel this rifle weighed in at barely 6.5 pounds with a Weaver all steel 6 x scope including the wood stock. I wouldn't hesitate to use another Shaw barrel if the need arose

October 22, 2015, 08:51 AM	#16
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,248	FM, I was just posting what is listed on Shaw's web site for Savage pre-fit barrels. __________________ NRA Life Member

October 22, 2015, 01:33 PM	#17
Huffmanite Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2006 Location: Northeast of Houston, Tx Posts: 393	FWIW, bought a chrome-molly magnum contour barrel directly from Shaw in 6.5x55. It does copper foul, but with right reload, it shoots fairly accurate. Shot it today, two or three shots will cloverleaf and one shot will be 1/2" or so away. Bought a Shaw Stainless varmit contour 6x45 (6mm223Rem) a couple of months ago from "Gun Shack", here in Texas. Accuracy is very good with it. Ordered it after a fellow range member, that chases accuracy very seriously with his rifles, told me of his satisfaction with the two Shaw barrels he'd installed. Gun shack keeps a decent selection of Shaw and McGollwan barrels stainless savage replacement barrels for various cartridges with the Shaws being about $100 lower priced. As to copper fouling, well, none of our stainless barrels copper foul, but as I wrote, my chrome molly Shaw does copper foul. But it is not any worse than many of the factory barrels on my rifles. FWIW, have a 6.5x55 Varmit contour Shaw stainless barrel on order from Gun Shack.....expect it around next Monday. I'm replacing a decent shooting .308 barrel. I live in Tx, so sales tax and shipping added to make final price of $233.78

October 22, 2015, 10:55 PM	#20
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	If you call E.R. Shaw and ask what they have in their 'blem', 'overrun', or 'rechamber' rack, you can get a much better deal than internet list price. Back in... April(?), I called about that .35 Whelen barrel. The guy on the phone tried for about 15 minutes to talk me into a stainless 'heavy magnum' contour .35 Whelen 'overrun' barrel that would otherwise be over $300, but he was offering for $175 with $7 shipping, or $250 with a barrel nut wrench and headspace gauges. He had had it sitting on the rack for so long that he was willing to drop the price on everything. There was absolutely nothing wrong with it - just the fact that they made nine of them when the purchase order was only for eight, and he wanted it to go away. He tried (politely) to talk me into nearly every other option on the rack, as well: Rechamber a .35 Rem barrel with a bad chamber. Cut down a 26" .35 Whelen Chro-Moly barrel. Cut threads, chamber, turn, and crown a blem .358" blank. And on and on... It ended up being a 55 minute call. (Informative, but exhausting.) They seem to have quite the selection of blems, overruns, and barrels rechambered due to an error in the first chamber cutting operation. ...Should anyone care to ask. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

October 23, 2015, 04:14 PM	#21
Txhillbilly Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2008 Posts: 512	For a button rifled barrel, E R Shaw barrels will shoot right with any other brand of button rifled barrel. A cut rifled barrel that has been hand lapped will usually shoot better, but that's why they cost a lot more. I have several different brands of aftermarket barrels on rifles, and my Shaw barrels will shoot as good if not better than the more expensive brand of barrels. Maybe I just got some really good Shaw barrels!