Bartlein vs PVA Osprey

[patriot07]

Looking to possibly rebarrel my Tikka CTR. I've gone from more PRS style shooting to more prone or bench style shooting just for fun. Which of these barrels is likely more accurate? I'm a hand loader. Considering 6.5CM or 7-08AI, but I just want tightest groups I can get from those barrel options and those calibers.

Will be a shouldered prefit

 

[oldrifleman]

I am totally in the Bartlein camp on this! The Osprey is half a tier or so down the ladder

 

[Hennig]

I’m at 100% success rate with Barts. I didnt have any joy with my Osprey but there are tonnes of guys who love theirs on here.

 

[Hondo1]

I’ve had and have multiples of them both, both shoot tiny groups and both clean up well.

 

[CaptArab]

Josh is OG of the Tikka prefit world. It's so easy to use his website I'd go PVA you won't shoot the difference.

 

[Rob01]

I’ve had and have multiples of them both, both shoot tiny groups and both clean up well.

Same here. Bartlein are excellent and so are the Ospreys. Have used the Bartlein for many years and the Ospreys since they came out and you really can’t go wrong with either.

Super easy to order up an Ospreys prefit on the PVA site and @bohem Josh will get it to you how you want it for length and contour etc. He does great work also as he has been doing barrels for me even before he offered Ospreys so I know his work is top notch.

 

[Hondo1]

I

Same here. Bartlein are excellent and so are the Ospreys. Have used the Bartlein for many years and the Ospreys since they came out and you really can’t go wrong with either.

Super easy to order up an Ospreys prefit on the PVA site and @bohem Josh will get it to you how you want it for length and contour etc. He does great work also as he has been doing barrels for me even before he offered Ospreys so I know his work is top notch.

ll add that Josh throws a little secret sauce into his reamer spec’s. I’ve yet to have one of his barrels that wasn’t fantastic.

 

[CaptArab]

Gotta be careful ordering a fat bart for a Tikka.
Some folks think it's acceptable to send you something like this-

Needless to say, I don't like giving a gunsmith special instructions on how to do his job, so I order Tikka prefits from @bohem now exclusively.

 

[CaptArab]

Oh by the way, that was after waiting nine months and calling me twice to talk about ice cream and how he was too busy with phone calls to do his job

Just buy the osprey.

 

[Hennig]

Gotta be careful ordering a fat bart for a Tikka.
Some folks think it's acceptable to send you something like this-
View attachment 8734567

Needless to say, I don't like giving a gunsmith special instructions on how to do his job, so I order Tikka prefits from @bohem now exclusively.

I mean this isn’t a Bart issue, this is #justSJAthings

 

[CaptArab]

I mean this isn’t a Bart issue, this is #justSJAthings

You're exactly correct. I should just removeHeadFromAss /s

But having a prefit guy that gets contours right without having to communicate with multiple parties all for < $800 is a win. And still much more consistent and reliable compared to something like preferred.

PVA is basically the Amazon shopping experience + 2 weeks turnaround- just click the button and it shows up. I shouldn't have to talk to people on the phone to get a good barrel.

 

[oldrifleman]

I mean this isn’t a Bart issue, this is #justSJAthings

Agreed that is just the fact that you have to have a smaller diameter barrel. You just need a smith who has a smaller Tikka size barrel.

 

[oldrifleman]

You're exactly correct. I should just removeHeadFromAss /s

But having a prefit guy that gets contours right without having to communicate with multiple parties all for < $800 is a win. And still much more consistent and reliable compared to something like preferred.

PVA is basically the Amazon shopping experience + 2 weeks turnaround- just click the button and it shows up. I shouldn't have to talk to people on the phone to get a good barrel.

Personally That is not my choice, I would rather go to Bugholes or Another smith where I pick my barrel. I know that PVA is a supporter and can put out a decent barrel, but I will not be ordering from them.

 

[CaptArab]

I hear ya, I'm not getting the PVA tattoo or anything.

I just bought an AI AT and will likely use a bugholes Bartlein for that, but my Tikka hunting barrels will come from PVA.

When I finally get around to 22 Creedmooring my Kimber Montana it's going to LRI.

We've got a lot of great smiths available to us.

I'm specifically sharing my opinion on Tikka prefits since I've bought several.

Another good option is a pulled factory Tikka barrel for $100 out of the classifieds

 

[Rob01]

Personally That is not my choice, I would rather go to Bugholes or Another smith where I pick my barrel. I know that PVA is a supporter and can put out a decent barrel, but I will not be ordering from them.

How do you know you wouldn’t like them unless you try them?

And the Osprey barrels are a good touch higher than decent.

 

[bohem]

Personally That is not my choice, I would rather go to Bugholes or Another smith where I pick my barrel. I know that PVA is a supporter and can put out a decent barrel, but I will not be ordering from them.

We cut customer supplied barrels if you have something you want to use specifically. The availability of product drives the industry, if you have something in hand that you want cut it's not a problem.

We have a long standing service with Evolved Ballistics to custom cut Proof blanks if someone wants a barrel they don't stock/make as a prefit.

It's not a problem for us if you have a loyalty to a blank maker. This business started that way, we just can't maintain our customer base's expectations waiting for 14 months on blanks from some of the big names and we have the capability to make excellent barrels here.

 

[oldrifleman]

How do you know you wouldn’t like them unless you try them?

And the Osprey barrels are a good touch higher than decent.

Could be but I trust Krueger, Bartlein and CRB for center fire and PVA is not my preferred smith. As I said I am sure he puts out a decent barrel as do others ( decent is my really good).

 

[DocRDS]

Either. I think if you REALLY get into F-class (Like High marksman, 200-10+X level--and then you know EXACTYLY what you are ordering already), I'd give a nod to bartlein, 99% of the shooting community (including myself and this site--not just the fudds) can't shoot the difference. which ever is the better deal and available in the contour you want.

Bugholes is my Bartlein crack dealer (mainly because they can do AI's for me and treat me good with all my stupid questions).
PVA would be my choice for Osprey.

 

[Rocketmandb]

ll add that Josh throws a little secret sauce into his reamer spec’s. I’ve yet to have one of his barrels that wasn’t fantastic.

It's not just reamer specs, it's how the chamber is cut and the attention to detail during that process. I'd never seen it done until I took a bunch of new barrels up to Spartan to get them chambered. It was eye opening. During that trip, I also wanted my 308 barrel to have its chamber altered. Because of how sloppily that prefit was done (I won't say who did it, but suffice to say I'm never doing business with them again), Spartan couldn't work with it - I left the rifle there and ended up ordering a new Bartlein for Spartan to chamber.

 

[Jonny_]

Oh by the way, that was after waiting nine months and calling me twice to talk about ice cream and how he was too busy with phone calls to do his job

Just buy the osprey.

I mean this isn’t a Bart issue, this is #justSJAthings

Not to change the direction of this thread but I am assuming this is a Straight Jacket Armory barrel? I feel like I keep seeing negative things about SJA and it's making me second guess a barrel order I have there.

Does SJA regularly put out bad work?

 

[CaptArab]

Does SJA regularly put out bad work?

Couldn't tell you. I've seen a sample of one during covid mania. You'll probably be fine.

 

[Hennig]

Not to change the direction of this thread but I am assuming this is a Straight Jacket Armory barrel? I feel like I keep seeing negative things about SJA and it's making me second guess a barrel order I have there.

Does SJA regularly put out bad work?

There was a monster thread full of horror stories last year - pretty sure it got nuked in the end.

Might be great now, but I certainly wouldn’t be chomping at the bit to get a SJA barrel given the multitude of reputable smiths out there.

 

[Jonny_]

There was a monster thread full of horror stories last year - pretty sure it got nuked in the end.

Might be great now, but I certainly wouldn’t be chomping at the bit to get a SJA barrel given the multitude of reputable smiths out there.

I thought I saw references to a thread but could never find it. I guess it was deleted.

 

[TheOE800]

We cut customer supplied barrels if you have something you want to use specifically. The availability of product drives the industry, if you have something in hand that you want cut it's not a problem.

My PVA chambered Krieger is a 1/4 MOA barrel, regularly.

 

[Rob01]

Yup I have a few Bartleins that Josh made prefits with for me. He does great work.

 

[4O6shootist]

Not to change the direction of this thread but I am assuming this is a Straight Jacket Armory barrel? I feel like I keep seeing negative things about SJA and it's making me second guess a barrel order I have there.

Does SJA regularly put out bad work?

I had two very bad experiences with the some time back, 4 years ago? Things might be better now, but once I get shit delivered to my doorstep on my dime, I'll never touch em again for anything.

 

[oldrifleman]

I have one SJ and it is a Hammer

 

[Jonny_]

Yup I have a few Bartleins that Josh made prefits with for me. He does great work.

I have several from pva but they didn't have the reamer I was looking for when I ordered. Might be worth checking to see if they do now.

 

[chrome]

I've ordered 3xPVA Ospreys over last 12 months. 308 and 2x6.5cm.

All arrived on time and are boringly accurate.