Custom barrel? SSK,Virgin valley, or Bullberry?etc

[vhunter]

I am wanting to add a barrel to my Encore in 17 Remington but have know idea who I should get to make it? I know Virgin valley-Bullberry and SSk make barrels but what is your recommendations? Thanks!

[Lefty Behind]

I've got a cabinet full of Bullberry barrels.  Never had a bad one, except sometimes the wait is long.
SSK has a poor attitude in my experience, but they sure build a nice (albeit overpriced) product.
Virgin Valley has sold me a lemon (once) in the past, but they "fixed" it.  
Odds are, any of the above will build you a keeper.

[Ladobe]

Touchy question for this (or any other) TC crowd for sure.   :roll:  

My cabinet is full of Bullberry and SSK barrels - almost all wildcats and I love them all.   Have had zero problems with any of them or who made them for me.

Fred can be slow at times, but he has a small shop and 1000+ orders in process almost all of the time (I know - used to live there and hang out with him often).   He admits he's not a great business man or production scheduler, but he is knowledgable, honest and tries his best on every item he turns out.   He still gets most of my business and is the first shop called more often than not.

JD is a sour old cuss for sure, but he "knows" and makes a hell of a barrel - and that is the bottom line.   Costs more maybe but he can and will deliver much faster than Fred does, so it can be worth the extra $$$ if you're in a hurry.

Mother told me if I didn't have anything good to say about someone, its better to say nothing at all - so I'll pass on comments about Virgin Valley.   :wink:

Ladobe  :bye:

[Catfish]

I`ve got 3 BB barrels and they are all shooters. I`ve never had any of the others so I can speak to them.

[3rgunman]

OTT's website is www.mbmco.net if you use .com you get a copier company.

[skb2706]

I have BB and VVCG......SSK obviously didn't want my money so I passed on them.
As said earlier Fred at BB is a far better barrel maker than business man and his work is great ......plan on waiting up to 9 months for a BB barrel.
Virgin Valley does excellent work and I have a few of those.....my personal choice.
SSK when I called them the guy was such an axxhole about it I determined that was not where I was spending $400.
OTT haven't tried but I would n't be afraid to.....Mike comes highly recommended.

[ra]

I have had a very odd experience in that I ordered a barrel from BB and VVCG and both barrels had to be rebuilt because they weren't built to specs. Both were ordered with tight necks and both were made with standard necks.

The BB barrel and stock set was delivered in 4 months, then the barrel was returned and remade and I had it back 3 weeks later.

The VVCG barrel and forend took 5 months, the barrel was sent back and over 2 months later still no barrel, I am about to lose interest in this barrel before I get to fire it.

[Questor]

Not SSK. I have had grave dissatisfaction with SSK.

[Big Gun]

Don't overlook Gary Reeder for Encore and Contender barrels either, I ordered one from them - the workmanship is very good and it was exactly as I ordered it.  The delivery time is a bit long, but I was in no hurry in this case.  The price is also pretty reasonable, especially for those of us who like muzzle brakes on the heavy hitters - the muzzle brake is an extra $25!!!  Much better than the $100 plus you would pay for most.  This closed the deal for me since I was getting a 375 H&H in handgun length.  www.reedercustomguns.com is the web site I do believe.  He has some barrels listed there as ready to ship - check them out.

I also have one Bullberry and 3 SSK barrels, all of which were bought second hand.  I have exchanged emails with JD a few times and kind of left with the impression some of the rest of you did - doesn't seem like he really wants to earn my money, although I have nothing but respect and appreciation for what he has done for handgun hunting and TC shooters.

I would not hesitate to buy a VVCG barrel, but have not run across one that I NEEDED yet.  I suspect that if I do order another custom barrel it will be from OTT - they are the only one that I have never heard a bad comment about.  One other custom barrel maker that you do not hear much about is Dave Van Horn - don't have an opinion one way or the other on his work since I have never even seen one of these barrels.  That is my 2 cents worth.

[shootdonniebrook]

steve at vvcg made me this barrel for my encore. It's a weatherby 270 mag. 26"! I am very impressed with it

[neil]

I have several barrels from BB and they are great.  I have a VV barrel that I had OTT rechamber and a Van Horn also rechambered by OTT.  I have new barrels by OTT and they are perfect.  My barrels from now on will come from OTT as I pick the neck size, chamber size and get what I want not what reamer the barrel maker has.  Send Mike a dummy loaded round and explain what you want and that is what you get.  OTT's chambers are perfect period and that goes a long ways toward accuracy.  IMHO :grin: