How good are Custom Rifle Barrels?

[AllenOne1]

Not a custom rifle barrel but the Custom Rifle Barrel blanks made by Austin Orgain aka ACE Precision. I know these are the offshoot of the Hawk Hill barrels with a new owner. New owner new issues? Starting and running a business is hard work.

I'm looking for benchrest accuracy, (aren't we all) not pretty. I have been running cut rifling barrels for several years, Proof, Kreiger and Bartlein, with Bartlein being my current favorite. Never tried the Hawk Hill now CRB barrels.

Then you have the whole 4 groove vs 5 groove argument. The 5R might be easier to clean. But that might be a whole different discussion.

 

[oldrifleman]

I shoot Bartlein and CRB, both are exceptional.

 

[Maurygold]

Bartlein Kreiger brux are most of what you’ll see in an actual benchrest comp since you mentioned accuracy

 

[diggler1833]

I did enough research on my own recently while I was looking for my next blank. I went with a CRB. I don't doubt that it will outshoot me and my (limited) skills.

I've had Kriegers, Bartleins, and Brux...and they are all equal on paper to me... even my current Krieger and Bartlein in 6.5x47 shoot the loads developed for the other barrel into a half-minute. I expect no difference with a CRB.

 

[Gray shooter]

I am currently shooting a CRB purchased in the end of 2024. It is chambered in 6 dasher with a Alpha reamer. If I do my part it will really shoot some small groups. I am close to 500 on the round count. Copper fowling has been very minimal.
Yes, I would get another one.

 

[TheOE800]

What’s available in the twist, contour, and rifling you desire? All major high quality blanks are $420-490 now anyway. The chambering job matters more once you’re in this tier of barrel IMO. I bought a couple more Krieger blanks recently because I like the two barrels I have, the twist was right, the contour was right, and I’m fine with 4 groove rifling. Before that I had Bartlein 5R and PVA Osprey barrels; all shoot better than me.

 

[Entropicitis]

They are fan-fucking-tastic

 

[Jcarpenter223]

CRBs absolutely hammer.

 

[EagleEyeShooting]

CRB has been outperforming the big name brands. We use CRB exclusively for 6mm. 25 Cal, 6.5 and 30 Cal. Our 6 Dasher builds have been placing podium finishes.

Being one of the few shops that time curvature of the bore, Ive seen better consistency with and no more than 15 thou runout end to end. Give them a try

 

[dgheriani]

I've yet to try them but I've had plenty of Hawk Hills and they were always hammers