Author Topic: Are Douglas Barrels worth buying? (Read 3445 times)

nofun1 · « **on:** December 02, 2009, 02:41:20 PM »

I am looking at a semi Custom gun with a Douglas barrel I have only had one Douglas and had problems Partly the fault of the smith who was a hac so I dont want to judge them based on this. I have heard they are a low end custom barrel. but I really like everything else about the gun. any experience would be welcomed.

mjbgalt · « **Reply #1 on:** December 02, 2009, 02:42:51 PM »

mine sure is. cost me $300 or so to buy and have a douglas xx-air gauged stainless featherweight barrel put on my mauser action. shoots tiny little groups.

ncsurveyor · « **Reply #2 on:** December 02, 2009, 03:04:30 PM »

The one on my savage is a solid 1moa or less performer. 30 cal blank chambered by SSS.

It's the shizzle.

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 02, 2009, 06:35:13 PM »

I've had several douglas barrels and have seen many more. Screw them on straight and I think you will be hard pressed to tell the difference between it and the other makers.

the jigger · « **Reply #4 on:** December 03, 2009, 03:39:57 AM »

I've been using Douglas barrels since the '70's. Started with their octagonal muzzeloader barrels. Since have used several centerfire barrels. Currently I am using one on a Ruger #3 chambered in 250 Ackley that shoots sub MOA out to 300yds(if I do my part). All of my Douglas barrels have been XX air-guaged. IMHO you won't go wrong with a Douglas. I have never had a "bad" one.
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!

guzzijohn · « **Reply #5 on:** December 03, 2009, 04:56:05 AM »

Have only had one and that was on a custom 22.250. I don't know how any other barrel could have performed better.
GuzziJohn

Wrongside · « **Reply #6 on:** December 06, 2009, 01:15:08 PM »

Melvin Forbes at NULA uses Douglas barrels exclusively. I think they are probably OK barrels ...

Graybeard · « **Reply #7 on:** December 06, 2009, 05:15:03 PM »

I've heard mostly good things about Douglas barrels but did get some reports they had begun shipping seconds some while back. I have no clue if that was a good story or just one of those rumors folks put out. Prolly the latter.

JD · « **Reply #8 on:** December 06, 2009, 05:27:48 PM »

Bought one for a .270 on an old 1916 Mauser. This was one of the project guns built when I was attending Colorado School of Trades back in the mid 80's. It will shoot better than I can, best so far is 3 Hornady 140 BTSP in .5" @100; the 4th shot I yanked out to 1".

I think any good barrel will shoot well if it is assembled with TLC by someone w/ a personal stake in the outcome.

Tonk · « **Reply #9 on:** December 07, 2009, 06:47:52 PM »

I would say, that any Douglas Premium barrel is going to give you very good accuracy and would be a barrel you could expect to do the job when the trigger was pulled. I personally have never seen a Douglas barrel that never measured up in a rifle and that goes back to the mid-70's.

StrawHat · « **Reply #10 on:** December 09, 2009, 01:06:02 AM »

I have been using their barrels since the 70s also. I have used at least a dozen of the muzzle loader barrels and several of the centerfire barrels. So far, no one has complained. I believe most barrel companies still put out a product that is far superior to what most shooter can use.

Even though they have discontinued the muzzle loading barrel, they are still in demand if you can find one.

ourway77 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2010, 02:21:19 AM »

I am 72 and they have been in business for as long as I can remember, a company doesn't last that long with an inferior product. They make some very good barrels and they stand behind them. Lou

old03 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 28, 2010, 12:39:12 PM »

another happy douglas owner here. Got one in 270 win on a 03 springfield. consistantly groups .75 or less.

dondford · « **Reply #13 on:** March 20, 2010, 10:40:08 AM »

Drilling Man · « **Reply #14 on:** March 20, 2010, 04:16:00 PM »

I've had/have at least 10 to 15 Douglas bbls. since the 70's.. All have been good, but i always purchased the premium ones, as at the time, they offered several grades.

DM

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #15 on:** March 21, 2010, 07:06:13 AM »

I am with Drilling Man, I have mostly Douglas Air Ga. barrels...all are very accurate and easy to clean..Over the years I have had Shilen, Shaw, Pac Nor, Lilja, and of course fact. barrels...Douglas is far an away my favorite...If I were buying a new one today, I would call the factory in W. Va. talk to the tech. and order personally what I wanted.....

Dave in WV · « **Reply #16 on:** March 21, 2010, 10:07:41 AM »

A couple of years ago we had a Douglas employee going through our hunter ed class with his scout troop. I got to talking to him and he told me there are a couple of the "premium" barrel companies Douglas makes some barrel blanks for.

roper · « **Reply #17 on:** March 21, 2010, 01:02:48 PM »

Quote from: Dave in WV on March 21, 2010, 10:07:41 AM

A couple of years ago we had a Douglas employee going through our hunter ed class with his scout troop. I got to talking to him and he told me there are a couple of the "premium" barrel companies Douglas makes some barrel blanks for.

Don't mind me asking but what "premium" barrel company does Douglas make barrels for?

Dave in WV · « **Reply #18 on:** March 25, 2010, 01:57:09 PM »

The guy named two companies but I would be guessing. I really can't remember. One company had to do with barrel blank length. That company didn't make barrels over a certain length and bought those from Douglas Barrel. The other company I can't recall why they bought some barrels from Douglas.

alsaqr · « **Reply #19 on:** March 27, 2010, 12:28:49 PM »

A couple of my guns have premium Douglas barrels. Some of my guns have Kreiger and Lilja barrels. All those barrels were installed by the same gunsmith. As far as accuracy goes there is no difference. The most consistently accurate gun I own has a plain old Remington barrel.

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #20 on:** March 27, 2010, 01:26:06 PM »

That is interesting...while I have had some super accurate bull barreled Rem. I much prefer custom barrels for my rifles...now I have not used a fact. barrel except on my Browning hornet and lever guns for quite a few years.....

roper · « **Reply #21 on:** March 28, 2010, 05:21:31 PM »

Here is Douglas price list
We will fit barrels to SUITABLE bolt actions.

Price for this service is $460.00 plus postage. We will Rockwell check your action and if found not suitable, advise you before starting work. We will supply you with a barrel of your choice of size from our standard shapes FWT through Benchrester. The barrel will be of our chrome moly air gaged, premium quality. Barrel will be fit, headspaced and proof tested in those calibers where proof cartridges are available. If proof cartridge is not available, we will fire a new factory cartridge or hand load assembled into new brass to maximum loads. Every effort will be made to assure highest quality material and workmanship. Barrels will be supplied in the white - NO BLUING. All barrels fit in our shop will be branded with caliber, G.R. DOUGLAS and XX premium grade stamp. Add $20.00 for .17 caliber. Stainless $68.00 extra.

Should your action require that the bolt face be opened to accept magnum head diameter cartridges, there will be an additional $25.00 charge. WE DO NOT INSTALL SIGHTS OR MAKE ALTERATIONS TO THE MAGAZINE to insure the cartridge feeding. This is your responsibility. Should you wish an old barrel to be duplicated, we can probably do this for you, depending on barrel shape wished. Price is $50.00 additional.

We cannot guarantee we will not scratch the blue on your action. Every effort is made to prevent this, but it sometimes happens.

I have nothing against douglas barrels they made a good barrel myself I want alittle more out of a barrel then what they offer. If you look at the total cost for Douglas to install a SS barrel be $525 and Kreiger SS barrel intalled be $585. You have shipping on top of that and that is no action work from Kreiger but they do offer that.