oregon barrels

[edmundreiss1]

Does anyone know how well the drop- in barrels perform for accuracy from Oregon  barrels? I have a Lyman Trade rifle and my barrel keeps cutting my patches after 550 rounds and I am thinking of getting a different barrel or get a Jim Chambers Kit. Thanks for your input! Ed

[Bigsmoke]

Well, I have never had any experience with their moderate bore barrels, but I have with their large bore barrels.  I found that they shot well out to ranges of 200 yards IIRC.  This is with an eight bore rifle.  I see no reason to believe a .50 or .54 caliber would not do as well.
Joe Williams, the owner of the company, is or was a pretty competitive shooter in his day, and I don't see him putting out a product of inferior quality.
I would buy from him with confidence.
John

[edmundreiss1]

Thanks bigsmoke for your reply! I have my lyman trade rifle in 50 cal. since 2001 and have had issues with the rifling cutting my patches. I have tried every combination in the book including lapping the barrel, patch thicknesses and so on, but to no avail. The $350 price from Oregon seems a little steep, considering Rice barrels are around $275. I use 80 grains FFG, cotton wad, .018 patch, .490 round ball. I live near Dixon Muzzleloading in Pa. and they are a terrific place to deal with. I am considering either buying a muzzleloader already made, an Oregon barrel replacement, or getting a Jim Chambers York kit.

[Winter Hawk]

You might also try talking to Bobby Hoyt about freshening the barrel.  I am very pleased with what he did with my T-C, although he ended up reboring it because it was beyond freshening (an option I had discussed with him when I sent the barrel in).  Freshening would have been $65, reboring to .542 was $150 + shipping, and it shoots and loads like a dream!

~Kees~