Upgrading to aftermarket barrels

[Alan]

A lot of shooters end up making a switch from their factory barrel to an aftermarket option. For those who’ve gone ahead with it, did you experience any noticeable enhancements in accuracy, consistency, or reliability that justified the price tag?

 

[Mark M]

Absolutely, there's no comparison, Pac-Nor makes an excellent barrel along with Bartlein. Krieger. Lilja are a few, oh, and we can't forget Douglas.

 

[dokmand]

Before you consider it learn to shoot better than your current barrel otherwise you’re spending money just for the fun of it

 

[50CalCal]

I replaced a shot out original 30-40 Krag barrel with a McGowen. I sporterized it for my fathers 70th birthday. I also bought a Shaw barrel in 325 WSM to put on a Savage action.

 

[The Alpha]

I swapped in an aftermarket barrel for one of my pistols, and honestly, the biggest change was just consistency. It didn’t make my shots magically accurate but the groups tightened up because each shot was more predictable.

 

[Rotty]

Personally i feel that in some cases how it's installed makes a bigger difference than what is installed.
That being said i swapped a barrel out on a ruger preciosion from factory to a proof research and it made a dramatic difference in accuracy, I've also to a rifle that was shooting less than satisfactory, trued the action, bedded it and shrunk groups by 50%.
Than i had a rifle that i bedded, free floated and still didn't shoot that great, put a pressure point between the barrel and stock and it tightened right up.
Lots of variables