Darn good - for the money!
Bought one of these as a quick, easy, and cheap way to get a Standard Modell shooting. The tenon was shorter than inner collar to receiver face but close enough it would have worked with no mods. Chamber was .025 short - perfect for hand reaming to spec. Barrel holds 2moa easy with iron sights and while not the smoothest, cleaned up fast. For $100 and under an hour of time to completely install, its a great value for the results!
Good for the price
Barrel was installed on Belgian 98 action, shortened to 21" with a 11 degree crown, had light visible chatter in bore but after lapping and break in shoots just over 1 moa. Took on a plains game Safari in SA and shot great! Would have rated 5 stars, but shouldn't have to mitigate chatter in a barrel, granted it shoots well and cleans easily after some elbow grease.
You get what you pay for.
Center axis of bore was not concentric with secondary machine work. Threads and chamber were concentric but off center of the bore by about .0012" . All axes were parallel. Barrel shoots a nice round 2" five shot group at 100 yards in blue printed Mauser action, not too bad for hunting large game. Spend more money if you want a target barrel.
Accurate barrel
Chambered mine with a rented PTG reamer. Shoulder to breech face distance timed perfectly to my VZ-24. First shots came out under MOA with basic hand loads (140 Sierra MKs with RE22). Very satisfied with it. "Shoe-shined" the barrel with 320 and 400 grit metal sandpaper to prep for blueing. Used Birchwood Casey paste Perma Blue and it took a nice deep color. Only reason I gave it a 4 and not 5 stars is I would have liked the contour lighter. It could have been thinner towards the action end and saved a bunch of weight without being a whippy featherweight contour.
nice barrel
i was very impressed when i unwrapped the barrel and was very happy to find such a smooth bore, i've shot 3 groups thus far for break in purposes and i am really impressed at how easily the bore cleans up and how little jacket fouling i'm finding at this point. i haven't shot for groups yet as it's been below zero since i finished this up but i expect good things. blued beautifully too!
allways use these barrels
I use these barrels 25/06 30/06 95 precent of the time building 98 mauser coustom sporters i can find nothing wrong with them, polish,and blue,really good,both hot an cold, but the proof is in the pudding,eight guns 6 will shoot 1inch NOA.2 less than 3/4inchMOA at 100yards. Not bragging just facts
New life for my old 98
A very good economy barrel for someone who isn't afraid to finish, polish, and install for themselves. Exterior finish is pretty coarse, don't think it will make a tack driver due to it's thin profile, but that remains to be seen. Should make a good shooter, which is what will get my old 08 receiver out of the safe and into the woods and not break the bank.
