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CONTOUR #3 BARREL Reviews & Ratings

All the loving care of the best stockmaker and the meticulous attention to detail of the master machinist will not make a gun shoot any straighter than the accuracy capability of the barrel used. And, it is the insides of a barrel, that very small and vital area of lands and grooves over which the gunsmith has no control, that can determine whether the finished work of art is for shooting - or “just for looks”. Craftsmanship . . . not price . . . determines the quality of a barrel. But, by the same token, the customer willing to spend the money for a custom gun is shortsighted indeed, if he starts economizing and orders “just any old barrel so long as it’s cheap”. Furthermore, he is jeopardizing your reputation as a gun builder by making such a request. We, as your supplier, are laying our reputation (and yours, too!) on the line by offering you barrel blanks. They have got to be good or we are in trouble! Big trouble!! We must never sell you anything but that which will enlarge your stature with your trade. And, we feel that the Brownell Barrel, made for us by Ed Shilen, will do just that! Shilen barrels, either chrome moly or Stainless, are rifled with six lands and grooves by the “Cold Forming” process using carbide dies made in Shilen’s own plant under the most rigid controls. This rifling method achieves extremely close inside uniformity from breech to muzzle. Finished barrels are air-gauge inspected (air-gauged sensitivity is .00005" - five-one-hundred-thousandths!) and 6X borescope in- spected. All barrels, .22 through .30 caliber have groove tolerances within .0005" and uniformity within .0003" No straightening is done, and all barrels are completely stress-relieved. All stainless steel barrels are hand lapped at the factory. Only those barrels passing all spec tests are offered to the trade. Any barrel even slightly “suspect” is started through the production process again and bored to a large caliber. In no other way can quality and reputation be maintained. Slightly more expensive to produce - but vastly greater in quality and ultimate performance.

SPECS: 4140 chrome-moly or 416 Stainless Steel. METRIC: 1 " (2.5cm), 1 lb. (.45kg).

Special Orders: If no Stock # is shown in the chart, that barrel must be ordered on a Special Order basis. Special Orders require Full Payment in Advance and are non-cancelable and non-refundable. Allow 8-10 weeks for delivery. Not shipped prepaid.

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3 Stars

Reviews Summary

The CONTOUR #3 BARREL has a mixed reception from users. Many praise its excellent accuracy and consistency, often achieving sub-MOA performance. However, some express dissatisfaction with the barrel’s finish and fouling issues, leading to concerns over quality control. While some commend its machining and value, others recommend looking at alternative brands before purchasing.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Product Performance

60%

Many reviewers highlight the impressive accuracy and consistency of the CONTOUR #3 BARREL, often achieving sub-MOA groups with various loads. Users note that once properly chambered, the barrel performs admirably, making it a respected choice among custom rifle builders.

Quality Control

40%

A significant concern mentioned by several reviewers is the inconsistent quality of the barrel's finish and internal machining. Issues such as excessive tool marks and fouling in the bore surfaced in multiple reviews, leading some to question the overall quality standard of the product.

Comparison with Other Brands

30%

Some users suggest that there are superior alternatives to the Shilen barrels. While many are happy with their results, others feel that spending more on a different brand might yield a more consistent and reliable performance, indicating a divide in customer satisfaction.

Ease of Use

50%

Reviewers appreciated the ease of threading and chambering of the barrel, often remarking that it doesn't require extensive break-in time and cleans up easily after use. This positive feedback highlights the user-friendly aspect of the barrel, aiding a smoother shooting experience.

Fouling Concerns

35%

Several reviews raised issues with barrel fouling, indicating that some users experienced significant copper fouling after minimal use. This detracts from the overall shooting experience and raises concerns about the long-term maintenance of the barrel.

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Barrel

Easy to thread and chamber ! Put it on a Ruger 77 in 30-06 . Shoots very well.

by NELSON RIKARD on October 29, 2023

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Was this review helpful? 1

great barrel

Shilen Barrels are among the best out there.

great barrels

I have installed Shilen barrels on 6 rifles and all have been MOA or Sub-MOA groupers with not only handloads but also factory ammo. Finish beautifully and great machining ease.

Great barrel

I chambered this barrel in 6.5-06 A-Square, put an 11 degree crown on it, put it on a commercial Mauser receiver, then headed to the range. 45.5gr of H4350 behind a 140gr Accubond bullet into .32 inches center to center. I fired a total of 36 rounds in about an hour, testing loads. None of the loads tested, from 44 gr up to 48gr had a three shot group greater than an inch. Cleanup was a snap, with very little copper fouling. Every time a customer wants me to build a hunting rifle, this is the barrel I will use.

Great barrels

Built over 20 custom rifles using this brand of barrel. I built a custom 6mm on a ruger action. I shoot the 70 gr nosler B.T. very accurat, use: hunt coyotes. have over 1000 rounds through it, still shoots good I wish Brownells would carry the faster twist barrel. so a guy wouldn't have to go through the Co. Also very nice to machine

Great Barrel/very accurate

Put on mauser 98, chambered in 6.5x55. Average 5 shot group(3/4 inch. Handloads not factory ammo. Shot great out of the gate. 200 rounds through it.

First time using a Shilen barrel....

I always heard good things about Shilen barrels but had never tried one. This one is on my personal hunting rifle, a custom 260Rem Model 700. First and foremost, the barrel shoots excellent. It is the #3 contour, which is just about the same external dimensions as most factory sporter weight barrels. It does not walk after 30 shots and being warm enough to make me stop and let it cool. The first group out of the barrel was great and other than a little copper fouling I have to say it really doesn't require alot of break in. I own a borescope and I was surprised to see alot of tool marks in the bore. In fact, on looks alone I was going to send it back and order someone elses barrel, but didn't want to wait. Honestly, the bore doesn't look any better than the typical factory Remington barrel. But, in all fairness to Shilen the barrel definately shoots better than it looks internally. Given the number of tool marks in the bore I would have expected it to foul with copper alot worse too, but it really does seem to clean out pretty easy and without alot of time and effort. Bottom line is that if I though I could get another one that shoots as good as this one I would buy another Shilen barrel. If you own or have access to a borescope do not be surprised when you look down that bore and see alot of tool marks. But, also dont be surprised if the barrel shoots very good groups anyway.

Save your money

Not the best, save your money and get the select match or another brand, built a custom 6mm Rem on this barrel and couldn't get it to shoot better than 0.75 MOA consistantly

These barrels are junk.They dont care

There are better brands, buy one of those. These are sub-standard at best.

Rough Bore - needs lapping

It may be a shilen but this is the roughest, worst fouling bore I've ever gotten a hold of in well over 100 centerfire purchases. Only one proof shot through the barrel and it fouled so badly I was getting blue on the patches for a very long time. Compared to a new 5R rifle I have, which has never copper fouled to date, this thing is likely will never shoot. I am sure that the takeoff bbl which I never fired is smoother than this thing. Live and learn!