how to identify a barrel?

[beer__guzzler]

i just bought a custom built 338 was told it was a shilen but i would like to know how i can tell its a shilen. there are no visible markings on it at all. thanks

 

[trevj]

You pretty much gotta take it on faith.

The only one that you can be sure of, is the one you put on there. The rest, well, we just gotta weigh the odds that we were fed a line, or not.

My description of one of my rifles usually goes along the lines of "I was told it has a Douglas Barrel...".

Cheers
Trev

 

[Silverback]

There are markings put on the end of the barrel when it is made but once it is installed on the rifle that part is cut off.

 

[buffdog]

.
Most of these barrels start off as barrel blanks and are turned down to the desired diameter and contour. However, Shilen did make some pre-finished barrels that were threaded for various rifles. I have one that originally was a new .223 barrel, threaded to fit a Remington 700. I rechambered it for .22-250 Remington. It had the name, address and other markings engraved onto the barrel similar to most factory barrels today.
.

 

[beer__guzzler]

ok thanks all, talked to the original owner/builder and it was a blank he bought so all markings are cut off, i feel that i got shilen it shoots one hole groups

 

[bearhunter]

Shilen barrels have the distinction of cut rifling. They usually have six very narrow lands. That has been my experience with them anyway. I have only used their match grade barrels. I don't know if their standard grade barrels are cut the same way.

Even if the rifling profile is as described, that isn't a 100% guarantee. It is a relatively good indicator though.

 

[hunter5425]

Shilen barrels are button rifled, even their select match barrels that I use but they may have used cut rifling in the past though I never heard of this. I have found them to be good barrels and usually very smooth and easy to clean as they are lapped.

 

[Ian Robertson]

When I fit a barrel I take a photo of the end of the barrel (if there is any info there) with the customers name and serial number of the action. It's nice to be able to tell the customer what he has a few years down the road when he may not remember. I try to email this to the customer when I do the job but sometimes I don't remember either!

 

[Silverback]

When guntech did my last build he sent me the end piece with the markings on it with the assembled barreled action.

 

[bearhunter]

Shilen barrels are button rifled, even their select match barrels that I use but they may have used cut rifling in the past though I never heard of this. I have found them to be good barrels and usually very smooth and easy to clean as they are lapped.

Thanks for the clarification hunter, you're right. They are button rifled. Mine have always been good performers.