Gaillard or Smith Barrel?

CyaN1de

CyaN1de

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Hey Guys,

I am looking at putting together a "budget" F class shooter. I am going to start with a Remington XR-100 and have it chambered in 6BR. The gunsmith doing the work gets Smith barrels out of Alberta (I Can't find any info on him) and another CGN'r mentioned he had just ordered a Gaillard barrel for another rifle he is bulding ($100 cheaper than Smith barrels). I have heard of Gaillard before and know that his barrels are supposed to be very accurate. If anyone knows anything about the Smith barrels, are they worth the $100 difference? If I could find some info on the barrels I would have done my own research comparison, but a Google search nets me absolutely no info whatsoever.

Thanks
Richard
 
R. Smith does not lap his cut rifled barrels. Ted Galliard an Rob M., both lap their button rifled.

In the USA Krieger cut rifles (like Ron) and if memory serves me charges the same as the other button rifle barrel makers who lap their barrels. Do some USA price checks to confirm.
 
I have both Smith's and Gaillard's. I have two chambers cut with the same reamer and the Gaillard barrel is far more consistent and accurate, so I tend to prefer Gaillard's results.
 
Gaillard barrels are as good as Hart, Lilja, Krieger, Mike Rock, or whatever.

I used to specify "fancy names" on my best guns until I realized that Gaillard barrels are as good or better than the others.

I am currently having 2 "long range" rifles built. One a 338Edge the other is a 300 Win. These rifles will have the very best of everything IE: McMillan, Jewel, Nightforce, Badger, and of course Gaillard.

Between the 2 rifles the better part of $15,000.00 will be spent. If for one second I thought that some other "fancy" barrel would buy me better accuracy (no matter how slight) I would buy that barrel.

Spend your $100.00 somewhere more important.
 
Also take a look at the Lothar Walther barrels. They are the only company that guarentees 1/4 minute of angle accuracy with their match barrel program.Made in Germany-available in the USA AND CANADA.
 
I've never had a problem with accuracy and neither have any of the other people I know , with RKS barrels.

I've had them in 6BR, three in 6.5 calibers, and know others with them in 6.5, 7 and 30 cal.
cat
 
The Smith barrels are far and away the top choice of CBA benchrest shooters that use plain base cast bullets,breech seated, and they shoot very small groups. His barrels are also well known in precision Black Powder rifle circles, where his cut rifled barrels and gain twist rifling are much sought after.
 
PGW STEVE,

You use the "fancy" barrels as well as Gaillards.

How well does a Gaillard compare to the big names?
 
I only know a few folks who have RKS barrels on their LR guns. LRC'S 300Dakota is one and its a flippin tack driver!

That being said, I grew up working on a farm about 10min away from Gaillards place. Always makes a fine barrel.
 
Both maker are artists at their chosen craft. The debate between cut vs button wages on. Some say there is more stress put on the barrel if you're moving the steel out of the way vs removing the steel by cutting it, but at the end of the day when everything comes together, and cut shoots like a hot damn, really is one way better then the other??? Flip a coin, call them both, get prices and avail. and spend your money wisely.
 
I have a Gaillard 26 inch heavy in 300 Win. Mag shoots one hole at 100 with 200 grainer's. Ted did the work on the rifle; If i do my part it is inside 3 inches at 500 for 5 rounds, I can't see anything shooting better for the price Just under $3500.00 with Loopy mk 4 and rings.
 
The major difference in terms of work to the barrels is that Ron DOES NOT LAP his barrels.

Kreiger - also cut rifled laps.
 
The last Gaillard I looked at was not lapped well enough to obscure the toolmarks but I have seen Shilens the same way as well.
Of the two, I think Gaillards might be a little more consistent but I'm convinced Smith's are longer lived.
I have match rifles with barrels from Smith, Shilen, and Hart. All perform as required or else they'd not be on the rifles!
Right now, if I were building a new "F" class or BR rifle, my first choice would be Krieger. My second choice would be Shilen. Price and availability play a part here. Shilens are affordable and easy to get. Regards, Bill.
 
Leeper said:
Price and availability play a part here. Shilens are affordable and easy to get. Regards, Bill.
Click to expand...

Price is a factor for me as I will be shooting this more for fun and learning rather than competing and looking for sponsorship, although I would not be opposed to either of the latter :D

Hell if money was no object I would be over at Paul Reibin's right now having parts ordered, but alas I have a mortgage and bills that need paying so budget is the key here for me.

Champagne Hobbies on a Beer Budget :rockOn: :rockOn:

Thanks for your input Bill.

Richard
 
Leeper,

Do you feel Shilen makes a better barrel than Gaillard?

Just curious about your selection order and why?
 
X-fan said:
Leeper,

Do you feel Shilen makes a better barrel than Gaillard?

Just curious about your selection order and why?
Click to expand...

Also, how big of a PITA is it to get said Shilen barrels over the border? Or any other US barrel makers for that matter?
 
We stock a variety of barrels - Shilen, Lothar walther, some Krieger, etc.

Send me a pm on what you are looking for and I can let you know what we have in stock.

Shilen makes a variety of grades. Select match their premium.

All barrel makers can make a poor or sub finish quality barrel.....
 
X-fan,
I don't know for sure that Shilen makes a better barrel than Gaillard but I have installed hundreds of Shilens with near total satisfaction so I like them. I think the BEST barrels from all manufacturers will be equal. The difference will be in the worst barrels and in the average. In other words, I think a higher percentage of Shilen select match will be superb barrels than will the Gaillard barrels. I also think the differences are slight.
In recent years, there are more custom barrel manufacturers than ever before. Some have established great reputations and justifiably so.
I think it's important to note, as well, even those old line barrels, like the Shilen, Hart, Douglas, etc., are not built by the same guys who built them when I started out. So they are really different barrels. Nonetheless, when one has used a given brand for many years and they've always been satisfactory, it's easy to stay with them. Regards, Bill.
 
Thanks for the input Bill.

I have an old article by Bruce Baer in which he states that 98% of match quality barrels are competitive in top level bench rest (long range). To Bruce 3-4 inch ten shot groups at 1000 yards (in good conditions) is competitive.
 
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