Rate quality of barrels

[jtwodogs]

How would everyone rate the quality of say an
1. Ed Rayle barrel.
2. Colerain (spelling?).

If anyone has had either good or bad experience with either

[jbullard1]

How would everyone rate the quality of say an
1. Ed Rayle barrel.
2. Colerain (spelling?).

If anyone has had either good or bad experience with either

Top of the line

[Chairslayer]

Can't go wrong with either one.

[riverrat]

How would everyone rate the quality of say an
1. Ed Rayle barrel.
2. Colerain (spelling?).

If anyone has had either good or bad experience with either

Top of the line

They are both great barrels but I wouldn't call them top of the line.
#1 sought after custom barrel would be a Getz...!
#2 sought after barrel would be a Rice.

[nessy357]

I have a 50 cal Jeager, with an Ed Rayl barrel,wide lands, deep round button rifling. It shot a 4 5/8" - 3 hole group @ 200yds  but I would recommend the Ed Rayle.

Cheers Bob.

[rollingb]

I have a 50 cal Jeager, with an Ed Rayl barrel,wide lands, deep round button rifling. It shot a 2 5/8" - 3 hole group @ 200yds  but I would recommend the Ed Rayle.

Cheers Bob.

WOW!!!!!  :shock:  

Were ya shooting roundballs?

[nessy357]

Yup !
I shot 4 times , the top hole in the 8 ring , I pulled the shot  
Had to quit shooting after 4 shots ,(fog rolled in )

[Uncle Russ]

Fantastic! Chances are, there was a bit more involved here than just the quality of the barrel. That's an exceptional group at that range!  :clap

Uncle Russ...

[Captchee]

myself i wouldnt put colerian anywhere near Ed Rayle
 IMO colerian and GM are more like able  associates .
 ed should be up there with Getz and Rice
 now if you speaking of a barrel made by old man Getz or Rice , now thats another subject all to gether  as IMO those are the barrels that are sought after

[Mike R]

all of the current barrels shoot better than most of us can. I have or had barrels made by Colerain, Getz, Rice, Longhammock, Green River [extinct, but fine], Rayl [pistol], Numerich [extinct], Sharon [extinct] and others.  Some of the best groups I have ever seen were shot with Green Mountain, Green River and Numerich barrels.  The gunsmith who made my favorite .50 longrifle used a 44" Colerain swamped and he uses an identical one to win competitions--as does his son. I would not worry too much about the barrel.  Some makers like one brand over another because some take less work to finish than others from the factory--that does not affect accuracy unless the maker screws up the crown.  Both Colerain and Getz [different cos] claim they make the old Bob Paris barrels.  My old cheap Numerich .36 barrel would shoot 1" grps at 100 yds with a tang peep sight. I have yet to find that accurate a load for a couple of my big name barrels.

[Uncle Russ]

IMHO, There is a tremendous amount of wisdom in those words, Mike

FWIW: I don't have, and will never have, the amount of experience working with Muzzleloaders that some of you fellows have, but as a working Gunsmith for several years, an instructor at Colorado School of Trades, and having built more than just a few modern "race rifles" for Long Range Silhouette,  I can assure you the subject of "best barrel" has never been completely resolved in any shooting sport.....

There are many different favorites, many for the same reasons Mike mentioned, but actually being better is strictly subjective.

Personally, I would think of this as a bonus, as it gives each of us the right to have a preference.


Uncle Russ...

[rollingb]

all of the current barrels shoot better than most of us can. I have or had barrels made by Colerain, Getz, Rice, Longhammock, Green River [extinct, but fine], Rayl [pistol], Numerich [extinct], Sharon [extinct] and others.  Some of the best groups I have ever seen were shot with Green Mountain, Green River and Numerich barrels.  The gunsmith who made my favorite .50 longrifle used a 44" Colerain swamped and he uses an identical one to win competitions--as does his son. I would not worry too much about the barrel.  Some makers like one brand over another because some take less work to finish than others from the factory--that does not affect accuracy unless the maker screws up the crown.  Both Colerain and Getz [different cos] claim they make the old Bob Paris barrels.  My old cheap Numerich .36 barrel would shoot 1" grps at 100 yds with a tang peep sight. I have yet to find that accurate a load for a couple of my big name barrels.

Mike, I agree with ya, when you say "currently made barrels shoot better than most of us can".

I think each (individual) riflegun's "fit, lock time, and load" are 3 major factors that often influence just how well an indidvidual muzzleloader barrel shoots for us.

Of course I'm "legaly blind",... so I dunno for sure.

Nessy,... that's some "fine shooting" indeed.  :hey-hey  

[nessy357]

Thanks, I was going by memory and got the group size wrong   closer to 4 5/8" on the bottom 3. also it was shot benched, not O/H as the target is marked.

Back to the subject,an barrels, I haven't heard a bad thing about Colerain, I wouldn't hesitate to buy one.

Jack what rifle were you planning on getting ?

Cheers Bob.

[Hank in WV]

I just finished up a rifle with a Colrain barrel and it shot fine right from the gitgo. It feels just a little rough loading but doesn't foul easy and grouped from the start. My favotite barrel is Rice but can't argue against any others. I even have a CVA Mt Rifle circa 2001 (Spain) that shoots with about any rifle it's been up against.

[jtwodogs]

Thanks, I was going by memory and got the group size wrong   closer to 4 5/8" on the bottom 3. also it was shot benched, not O/H as the target is marked.

Back to the subject,an barrels, I haven't heard a bad thing about Colerain, I wouldn't hesitate to buy one.

Jack what rifle were you planning on getting ?

Cheers Bob.

Well for now was just sizing up barrel options. I know Mr. Rayle did a great job on referbing. my antique, he took it from an unusable .36 (rusted from all the years of inattention) to a nice shiny .40, still have not rung it out at the range though. but I am sure with what little bit I have shot it, that it will do fine. I will probably just go with one of his barrels, I had just heard through the grape vine that there was a small supply of cheap colerain barrels available.
Thanks guys for your always helpful insights.
jack