Cheapest aftermarket rifle barrel maker

bluetopper · April 25, 2022, 11:17 AM

I'm wanting to put a not very common rifle chambering on a Savage Axis and I was wondering where I can get the best deal on an aftermarket rifle barrel?

hounddawg · April 25, 2022, 01:39 PM

least expensive I have seen would be ER Shaw. Eabco, Midway, Brownells all carry them for around $270 with a barrel spanner

BornFighting88 · April 25, 2022, 02:16 PM

What do you consider "not very common" for a chambering?

bluetopper · April 25, 2022, 02:33 PM

6mm BR if that matters.

GeauxTide · April 25, 2022, 04:47 PM

Shaw doesn't offer barrels for Axis and $200 is the low end. You'd do better to buy an Axis in 243 because you'll spend and easy 150-200 on mounting and chambering.

hounddawg · April 25, 2022, 05:24 PM

Axis uses the Savage small thread size, same as the 110 does from .223 - .308

that being said ER Shaw does not have a prefit chambered barrel for 6BR. Call James at Northland Shooters Supply (763) 682-4296 and get a Criterion prefit in almost any chamber you would want. $340 - $365 for stainless match depending on length. Tax and shipping will put that at or slightly above $400. McGowen might be slightly cheaper, but not by much by the time you add in chambering , crowning, and finishing.

While you are spending money budget another 200 or so for a barrel wrench, action vise, GO/ NO GO Gages and a lapped recoil lug. Oh and get a new barrel nut. The easiest way to get the old nut off is with a 24 inch pipe wrench, a propane torch and a cheater bar. Savage puts them on at the factory so tight the Pope would cuss

One other thing, if you want the rifle to be repeater and eject you will need to modify the ejector pin slightly to get the short 6BR case to eject properly. Nothing major, just need a jewelry file and a bit of patience to deepen a notch. But you might buy a spare ejector or two and a couple of springs in case one decides to launch itself across the garage on disassembly / reassembly. Been there done that. Google for a video of where it is needed to be filed down.

bluetopper · April 25, 2022, 06:56 PM

I'm told the Axis action is not their short action and not what I need. I need a mentor.

BornFighting88 · April 25, 2022, 08:27 PM

Just curious. I have not heard of or do not know that round off of the top of my head. Check out McGowen, too. They have pre-fits once in a while that someone orders and doesn’t pay for. They may have 6BR pre fit for you.

bluetopper · April 25, 2022, 08:54 PM

How about a barrel from Eabco.

taylorce1 · April 27, 2022, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeauxTide

Shaw doesn't offer barrels for Axis and $200 is the low end. You'd do better to buy an Axis in 243 because you'll spend and easy 150-200 on mounting and chambering.

Any small shank pre-fit barrel for Savage 10/110 fits the Axis action, so if they make a Savage pre-fit it'll fit the Axis action. A decent custom barrel will cost around $400 plus the tools to install it. I on average spend between $500-600 for barrels depending on custom options like fluting, muzzle threads, and coatings. I find that cheap barrels usually shoot okay around 1.5 MOA to start, but it takes awhile fir them to settle in around 1 MOA. Although I've had one that wouldn't shoot better than 2 MOA ever.

stagpanther · April 27, 2022, 03:11 PM

Eabco/Shaw does make a 6mm BR Norma--ever so slight difference from the BR but still needs different sizing from the BR. i have one and can switch it out from axis to 110 no problem. All that said--if you got any flavor of the 6BR (there's at least 3) I'd go with a AICS magazine capable stock/chassis as the cartridge can be a tough one for short-actions to feed due to short COL. MDT makes a good one.

hounddawg · April 27, 2022, 05:39 PM

My bad Stag , thanks for the correction

stagpanther · April 27, 2022, 09:09 PM

Quote:

My bad Stag , thanks for the correction

No sweat

and I agree a barrel vetted by NSS would be better, but their production times were waaaaaay out there last time I asked (unless you get an in-stock).

std7mag · May 1, 2022, 06:55 AM

The big question is.
What kind of shooting platform are you planning your build?

A hunting rifle?
Bench rest? Short range (400 yards & under) long range (600 - 1,000 yards)?
Varmints?
F- Class?

Single feed, or magazine?

All these help determine contour, length and twist rate.

Of course any extras add to a barrels cost. Stainless, fluted, threaded muzzle, etc.

Right now Douglas has the fastest turn around for a new barrel. (3-4 weeks)
Depending upon what your looking for most everyone else is 6 months plus.

If you have a smith local, or a lathe, there are barrel blanks out there that ship in 24 hours.

ilmonster · May 1, 2022, 08:05 AM

I can vouch for Northland Shooter Supply and their barrel systems. I have a Rem 700 action I recently had the barrel removed from. I ordered a 6mmBR Norma barrel (26" Varmint contour), tools and go/no-go gauge set from NSS and installed it on my action with no issues (same process as Savage, just a different nut spec). Last week, I loaded up my first 25 rounds to break in the barrel. These shot well on a very windy day. Cleaned the barrel last night, and this was the easiest barrel to clean I've ever shot (I've never shot a non-factory barrel). These barrels are made locally (locally for me) by Criterion. The 6mm BR Norma is also a really neat round. Low recoil (the R700 was formerly a 6.5CM), doesn't use a ton of powder and so far looks to be a really accurate cartridge (which the 6BR is known for). Definitely worth the money!

p.s. MDT magazines work great. I don't think there is truly a "cheap" way to rebarrel your Savage. 6mm BR Norma isn't that rare a cartridge, and there is in fact a website dedicated to the caliber (6mmbr.com). A lot of bench rest and PRS shooters use 6mmBR. Let us know what you choose!

stagpanther · May 1, 2022, 09:34 AM

The eabco 6mm BR Norma barrel I bought was easy peesy to pop on and off a savage action EXCEPT the included guages they sent were not the right size--took me a few seized bolts after firing to figure that out. Replaced with PTG guages and all was right in the jungle again.

edited to correct; eabco manufacture

std7mag · May 1, 2022, 06:53 PM

Since when did Shaw include headspace gauges?
I have bought 4 of their barrels (ok, 1 was a private buy) and never got a headspace gauge.
Didn't know you could order one from them either.

Note,
Shilen also doesn't "include" headspace gauges. Lol
I got the Shilen through NSS.

stagpanther · May 1, 2022, 07:21 PM

My barrel came with a barrel nut wrench and black non-descript go and no-go guages. A cartridge would not headspace properly when I used them at first. This was an Eabco "special." https://www.eabco.net/savage-rifle-b...-by-eabco.html

I do not know who actually made the blank for Eabco--maybe Douglas--in which case I'm technically wrong that Shaw exclusively made the 6mm BR Norma barrel featured on the Eabco site. But they do offer shaw kits including the gauges. I replaced the gauges with PTGs and everything was fine. Don't recall saying shilen supplied gauges.

bacardisteve · May 4, 2022, 06:57 AM

Criterion barells are hard to beat for savage pre fits.

bamaranger · May 26, 2022, 07:51 PM

About Feb of this year I bought a EABco Shaw package deal, cheap, no shipping, to include wrench and 2 gauges., cal .243 Win. An experienced pal helped me remove the muzzle/crown boogered Savage factory tube from the 1980's era Savage 110. Getting the headspace right was a chore, can't say if it was the included gauges, the action or us, but eventually we got it right.

My usual , safe load yielded high pressure signs and low velocities and so-so, accuracy from the onset, and I was concerned I'd made a major goof. But.....

A change in powders boosted velocities while yielding no signs of high pressure. My C.O.A.L. has shortened noticeably, chasing the lands will be easy with this one. I've relieved the barrel channel a wee bit at the forearm and will shoot for groups this weekend...here's hoping.

My Shaw/EABCO experience thus far is positive.

stagpanther · May 27, 2022, 02:19 AM

The go no/go gauges that came with my barrel were actually quite far off from one another--I mean who thinks to measure the gauges when they get them, right? My rifle kept having headspacing issues and eventually I got tired of adjusting the barrel nut over and over--that's when I did a shoulder measure between the gauges and discovered there was too much space between them, the PTG guages were tighter and when I used them my headspace issues went away.

std7mag · May 28, 2022, 06:42 AM

Setting headspace shouldn't be that hard.
And i'll agree, you kinda expect headspace gauges to be correct.
I've only used PT&G and 4D Rental gauges. Both have worked with no issues.

The only thing that's given me issues of late, are new Savage rifles. The "loctite" they use is like left over shot blast. Hard as heck to unscrew the barrel from the action & get the barrel nut off the barrel.
Screwing the barrel onto another action i didn't like the feel of.
Had to order a tap & die to clean the threads up.

Bamaranger,

With 243 Win & 100gr bullets, think slow!
As in burn rate.
Try RL26, IF you can find any!

You can thank me later.

taylorce1 · May 28, 2022, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by std7mag

With 243 Win & 100gr bullets, think slow!
As in burn rate.
Try RL26, IF you can find any!

RL26 is like magic fairy dust right now.

However, when I was shooting 100+ grain bullets in a 1:7 26" McGowen Savage .243 Win just about any "Magnum" rifle powder worked well. I got really close to 3300 fps with 105 grain Hornady A-Max and Berger VLD bullets with RL22 and Norma MRP. I didn't think I should be going that fast and settled on a load that averaged 3200 fps to give me some cushion, even though I didn't ever get pressure signs at my top load tried.

April 25, 2022, 11:17 AM	#1
bluetopper Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2005 Location: Northeast TX Posts: 1,197	Cheapest aftermarket rifle barrel maker I'm wanting to put a not very common rifle chambering on a Savage Axis and I was wondering where I can get the best deal on an aftermarket rifle barrel?

April 25, 2022, 01:39 PM	#2
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 4,232	least expensive I have seen would be ER Shaw. Eabco, Midway, Brownells all carry them for around $270 with a barrel spanner __________________ “How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek

April 25, 2022, 04:47 PM	#5
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,424	Shaw doesn't offer barrels for Axis and $200 is the low end. You'd do better to buy an Axis in 243 because you'll spend and easy 150-200 on mounting and chambering. __________________ Reloading For: 223R, 243W, 6.5 GR, 6.5 CM, 260R, 6.5-06, 280R, 7mmRM, 300HAM'R, 308W, 30-06, 338-06, 9mm, 357M, 41M, 44SPL, 44M, 45 ACP, 45 Colt, 450BM.

April 25, 2022, 05:24 PM	#6
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 4,232	Axis uses the Savage small thread size, same as the 110 does from .223 - .308 that being said ER Shaw does not have a prefit chambered barrel for 6BR. Call James at Northland Shooters Supply (763) 682-4296 and get a Criterion prefit in almost any chamber you would want. $340 - $365 for stainless match depending on length. Tax and shipping will put that at or slightly above $400. McGowen might be slightly cheaper, but not by much by the time you add in chambering , crowning, and finishing. While you are spending money budget another 200 or so for a barrel wrench, action vise, GO/ NO GO Gages and a lapped recoil lug. Oh and get a new barrel nut. The easiest way to get the old nut off is with a 24 inch pipe wrench, a propane torch and a cheater bar. Savage puts them on at the factory so tight the Pope would cuss One other thing, if you want the rifle to be repeater and eject you will need to modify the ejector pin slightly to get the short 6BR case to eject properly. Nothing major, just need a jewelry file and a bit of patience to deepen a notch. But you might buy a spare ejector or two and a couple of springs in case one decides to launch itself across the garage on disassembly / reassembly. Been there done that. Google for a video of where it is needed to be filed down. __________________ “How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek Last edited by hounddawg; April 25, 2022 at 05:46 PM.

April 27, 2022, 03:11 PM	#11
stagpanther Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2014 Posts: 11,792	Eabco/Shaw *does* make a 6mm BR Norma--ever so slight difference from the BR but still needs different sizing from the BR. i have one and can switch it out from axis to 110 no problem. All that said--if you got any flavor of the 6BR (there's at least 3) I'd go with a AICS magazine capable stock/chassis as the cartridge can be a tough one for short-actions to feed due to short COL. MDT makes a good one. __________________ "Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill *I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk!* Last edited by stagpanther; April 27, 2022 at 03:30 PM.

April 25, 2022, 02:16 PM	#3
BornFighting88 Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2021 Posts: 455	What do you consider "not very common" for a chambering?

April 25, 2022, 02:33 PM	#4
bluetopper Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2005 Location: Northeast TX Posts: 1,197	6mm BR if that matters.

April 25, 2022, 06:56 PM	#7
bluetopper Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2005 Location: Northeast TX Posts: 1,197	I'm told the Axis action is not their short action and not what I need. I need a mentor.

April 25, 2022, 08:27 PM	#8
BornFighting88 Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2021 Posts: 455	Just curious. I have not heard of or do not know that round off of the top of my head. Check out McGowen, too. They have pre-fits once in a while that someone orders and doesn’t pay for. They may have 6BR pre fit for you.

April 25, 2022, 08:54 PM	#9
bluetopper Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2005 Location: Northeast TX Posts: 1,197	How about a barrel from Eabco.

April 27, 2022, 05:39 PM	#12
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 4,232	My bad Stag , thanks for the correction __________________ “How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek

May 1, 2022, 06:55 AM	#14
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	The big question is. What kind of shooting platform are you planning your build? A hunting rifle? Bench rest? Short range (400 yards & under) long range (600 - 1,000 yards)? Varmints? F- Class? Single feed, or magazine? All these help determine contour, length and twist rate. Of course any extras add to a barrels cost. Stainless, fluted, threaded muzzle, etc. Right now Douglas has the fastest turn around for a new barrel. (3-4 weeks) Depending upon what your looking for most everyone else is 6 months plus. If you have a smith local, or a lathe, there are barrel blanks out there that ship in 24 hours. __________________ When our own government declares itself as "tyrannical", where does that leave us??!! "Januarary 6th insurrection". Funny, I didn't see a single piece of rope...

May 1, 2022, 08:05 AM	#15
ilmonster Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 180	I can vouch for Northland Shooter Supply and their barrel systems. I have a Rem 700 action I recently had the barrel removed from. I ordered a 6mmBR Norma barrel (26" Varmint contour), tools and go/no-go gauge set from NSS and installed it on my action with no issues (same process as Savage, just a different nut spec). Last week, I loaded up my first 25 rounds to break in the barrel. These shot well on a very windy day. Cleaned the barrel last night, and this was the easiest barrel to clean I've ever shot (I've never shot a non-factory barrel). These barrels are made locally (locally for me) by Criterion. The 6mm BR Norma is also a really neat round. Low recoil (the R700 was formerly a 6.5CM), doesn't use a ton of powder and so far looks to be a really accurate cartridge (which the 6BR is known for). Definitely worth the money! p.s. MDT magazines work great. I don't think there is truly a "cheap" way to rebarrel your Savage. 6mm BR Norma isn't that rare a cartridge, and there is in fact a website dedicated to the caliber (6mmbr.com). A lot of bench rest and PRS shooters use 6mmBR. Let us know what you choose! Last edited by ilmonster; May 1, 2022 at 08:28 AM.

May 1, 2022, 09:34 AM	#16
stagpanther Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2014 Posts: 11,792	The eabco 6mm BR Norma barrel I bought was easy peesy to pop on and off a savage action EXCEPT the included guages they sent were not the right size--took me a few seized bolts after firing to figure that out. Replaced with PTG guages and all was right in the jungle again. edited to correct; eabco manufacture __________________ "Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill *I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk!* Last edited by stagpanther; May 1, 2022 at 07:55 PM.

May 1, 2022, 06:53 PM	#17
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	Since when did Shaw include headspace gauges? I have bought 4 of their barrels (ok, 1 was a private buy) and never got a headspace gauge. Didn't know you could order one from them either. Note, Shilen also doesn't "include" headspace gauges. Lol I got the Shilen through NSS. __________________ When our own government declares itself as "tyrannical", where does that leave us??!! "Januarary 6th insurrection". Funny, I didn't see a single piece of rope...

May 1, 2022, 07:21 PM	#18
stagpanther Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2014 Posts: 11,792	My barrel came with a barrel nut wrench and black non-descript go and no-go guages. A cartridge would not headspace properly when I used them at first. This was an Eabco "special." https://www.eabco.net/savage-rifle-b...-by-eabco.html I do not know who actually made the blank for Eabco--maybe Douglas--in which case I'm technically wrong that Shaw exclusively made the 6mm BR Norma barrel featured on the Eabco site. But they do offer shaw kits including the gauges. I replaced the gauges with PTGs and everything was fine. Don't recall saying shilen supplied gauges. __________________ "Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill *I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk!* Last edited by stagpanther; May 1, 2022 at 07:52 PM.

May 4, 2022, 06:57 AM	#19
bacardisteve Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2006 Location: West virginia Posts: 653	Criterion barells are hard to beat for savage pre fits. __________________ Kill em all and let God sort em out! USAF

May 26, 2022, 07:51 PM	#20
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,313	kit special About Feb of this year I bought a EABco Shaw package deal, cheap, no shipping, to include wrench and 2 gauges., cal .243 Win. An experienced pal helped me remove the muzzle/crown boogered Savage factory tube from the 1980's era Savage 110. Getting the headspace right was a chore, can't say if it was the included gauges, the action or us, but eventually we got it right. My usual , safe load yielded high pressure signs and low velocities and so-so, accuracy from the onset, and I was concerned I'd made a major goof. But..... A change in powders boosted velocities while yielding no signs of high pressure. My C.O.A.L. has shortened noticeably, chasing the lands will be easy with this one. I've relieved the barrel channel a wee bit at the forearm and will shoot for groups this weekend...here's hoping. My Shaw/EABCO experience thus far is positive.

May 27, 2022, 02:19 AM	#21
stagpanther Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2014 Posts: 11,792	The go no/go gauges that came with my barrel were actually quite far off from one another--I mean who thinks to measure the gauges when they get them, right? My rifle kept having headspacing issues and eventually I got tired of adjusting the barrel nut over and over--that's when I did a shoulder measure between the gauges and discovered there was too much space between them, the PTG guages were tighter and when I used them my headspace issues went away. __________________ "Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill *I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk!*

May 28, 2022, 06:42 AM	#22
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	Setting headspace shouldn't be that hard. And i'll agree, you kinda expect headspace gauges to be correct. I've only used PT&G and 4D Rental gauges. Both have worked with no issues. The only thing that's given me issues of late, are new Savage rifles. The "loctite" they use is like left over shot blast. Hard as heck to unscrew the barrel from the action & get the barrel nut off the barrel. Screwing the barrel onto another action i didn't like the feel of. Had to order a tap & die to clean the threads up. Bamaranger, With 243 Win & 100gr bullets, think slow! As in burn rate. Try RL26, IF you can find any! You can thank me later. __________________ When our own government declares itself as "tyrannical", where does that leave us??!! "Januarary 6th insurrection". Funny, I didn't see a single piece of rope...