Bergara Barrels seem controversial, any reason why this is please?

[Yorkie]

And still... for me the S&L is useless because it is not stainless. I'd prefer a button pulled stainless over a cut chrome molly for hunting. Some button barrels have beat the pants off cut barrels in world class competitions. I would prefer cut barrels but also have very good button barrels just the chrome molly rust while stalking.
ed

I recon Bergara is somewhat under pressure producing at lower costs to cater for the lower end rifles price wise. One hears quite a few complaints as well as some extremely happy customers. Often accuracy issues are related elsewhere and magically gets sorted after some time. So far we had around ten Bergara barrels fitted to all sorts of rifles. They all shot well as in 1/2inch and a few below that. The last three sporter barrels were fitted to 2x 223 and mine as 22-250. All three group well under half inch and I couldn't be happier.
edi

Hi edi.
Thanks for helping.
Do you think the way that Bergara make their barrels differs considerably - or at all for that matter - from the so called better manufacturers of buttoned barrels?

I assume Bergara use 416r stainless like most others, maybe not Lothar.

Drilled, reamed, honed, buttoned and then stress relieved. I realise as a layman i may be over simplifying but hopefully you get my point.

 

[Yorkie]

I wouldn’t call it hate, indeed it’s difficult to muster such emotion about an inanimate object, but an objective opinion based off findings that hopefully folks find useful-which is kinda the point of a online forum.

The rifles are represented as a rem 700 clone, in a PSE style stock, with a custom barrel-for basic tikka money. Instantly I was suspicious, where’s the catch?

It appears to be QC and materials. It seems you either get a bargain, or a lemon.

I have had several mates buy, and get rid, all serious riflemen who know their onions. I know a chap who runs a grouse moor who issued a few to keepers, and they were back on tikkas very quick. Usual complaints, as well documented on here.

Hi JH
I take your point about the word Hate, i did put it in inverted commas though.

 

[Yorkie]

This is an old video of the Bergara manufacturing process. I apologise as many will have seen it, but it is still interesting and may be of use to some.

On the surface it seems a pretty decent operation they have, but then i am a layman.



Brilliant, it will not play. Oh well.

 

[Dickie]

To play the devils advocate, could be they also just want to sell their own stock or don’t have them as a supplier

That would be where you have ones that do supply them say why they would and those that don’t why they won’t equal to rifle owners I guess, but the op was about barrels.
I don’t or haven’t owned one so don’t matter.

 

[Bowland blades]

Agreed, but I have to say that the ONlY barrels I have ever had rust, were buttoned rifles. They were notorious for rusting inside, and also outside. None of my good barrels have ever exhibited rust

Have only owned two stainless barrels, and didn’t like them, they’re ugly and just don’t look right IMHO

There is no relationship that makes button rifling rust faster than cut rifle barrels . All barrels will rust ( including stainless) though these do have some extra protection the grades used but do still hold the potential

 

[Ronin]

I don’t work on this brand or use their barrels

There is a heap of information about quality control issues with their products both when they first were released which continues up and to present day

So have they really sorted qc issues ,,, or is it a lottery when you spend hard earned cash

Barrels - I’ve fitted two historically and was presented with a rifle that had a barrel fitted by someone else that wouldn’t shoot and the owner struggled to extract cases from the chamber

This particular barrel had what I can only describe as lumps removed from the chamber - the steel quality was very poor

The two barrels I fitted, (or tried to fit) both had similar machining characteristic (soft steel, irregular chip formation and failed to machine to a satisfactory finish ) despite trying various grades of tooling insert, I got as far as boring for chambering and putting a reamer in but the finish was awful after a few passes and I stopped as I’m not wasting high value reamers on **** barrels

Ultinetaly, Both barrels ended up in the scrap bin and I fitted barrels that were from a reliable manufacturer


Re comments on not making by money on barrels therefore only buying ones you can make a profit on - well I for one charge clients the price I pay for the barrel plus whatever the delivery cost was

Unless your buying barrels in bulk there’s no discount from manufacturers and third party suppliers have already made a mark off them

Some may charge extra - I don’t and won’t

Which reminds me I need to pay my trade membership here

 

[JTO]

I hope the stainless plate and screws in my leg don't rust.

 

[dropmdead]

I don’t work on this brand or use their barrels

There is a heap of information about quality control issues with their products both when they first were released which continues up and to present day

So have they really sorted qc issues ,,, or is it a lottery when you spend hard earned cash

Barrels - I’ve fitted two historically and was presented with a rifle that had a barrel fitted by someone else that wouldn’t shoot and the owner struggled to extract cases from the chamber

This particular barrel had what I can only describe as lumps removed from the chamber - the steel quality was very poor

The two barrels I fitted, (or tried to fit) both had similar machining characteristic (soft steel, irregular chip formation and failed to machine to a satisfactory finish ) despite trying various grades of tooling insert, I got as far as boring for chambering and putting a reamer in but the finish was awful after a few passes and I stopped as I’m not wasting high value reamers on **** barrels

Ultinetaly, Both barrels ended up in the scrap bin and I fitted barrels that were from a reliable manufacturer


Re comments on not making by money on barrels therefore only buying ones you can make a profit on - well I for one charge clients the price I pay for the barrel plus whatever the delivery cost was

Unless your buying barrels in bulk there’s no discount from manufacturers and third party suppliers have already made a mark off them

Some may charge extra - I don’t and won’t

Which reminds me I need to pay my trade membership here

I was wondering if there's any difference between soft chromoly and soft stainless in how they cut (irrespective of how they perform)

 

[Ronin]

I was wondering if there's any difference between soft chromoly and soft stainless in how they cut (irrespective of how they perform)

All examples I’ve had in my hands were stainless “steel”

 

[dropmdead]

All examples I’ve had in my hands were stainless “steel”

Are bergara stainless or chromoly?

 

[HonestJohn]

Are bergara stainless or chromoly?

Depends if you order stainless or not presumably

 

[Yorkie]

I hope the stainless plate and screws in my leg don't rust.

Hi JTO.
I have the plates and screws that were removed from my arm in 1977. They are still rust free and in a plastic tub in my bedside drawer .

 

[Yorkie]

All examples I’ve had in my hands were stainless “steel”

Hi Ronin.
Thank you for helping.

So 416r can vary in quality depending on the steel mill?

I was assuming it was a standard that had to be met to be called 416r.

 

[Ronin]

Hi Ronin.
Thank you for helping.

So 416r can vary in quality depending on the steel mill?

I was assuming it was a standard that had to be met to be called 416r.

Maybe it was not that grade

Odd that the barrel done by someone else exhibited exactly the same issues as the two “new ones” obtained

Albeit many years ago now, I’ve no trust in the product whatsoever.

Never experienced similar issue with any other brand

 

[JRF]

Bergara stainless is 410, it generally has less Chromium in it that 416 so it’s more prone to corrosion. It also has less Sulfur which can make machining it a little more fussy. But they may used to use 416, i’m not sure.

 

[Yorkie]

Maybe it was not that grade

Odd that the barrel done by someone else exhibited exactly the same issues as the two “new ones” obtained

Albeit many years ago now, I’ve no trust in the product whatsoever.

Never experienced similar issue with any other brand

Bergara stainless is 410, it generally has less Chromium in it that 416 so it’s more prone to corrosion. It also has less Sulfur which can make machining it a little more fussy.

Hi JRF.
It was just internet searches that led me to believe they were 416. I am happy to be corrected though.

 

[JRF]

Possibly they use to be or some models are. The barrels they sell for gunsmithing vs fitted to the production barrels may differ.

The couple i’ve fitted machined ok, the rifling had a slightly weird profile to the lands and were more difficult to clean. I don’t think they’re lapped.

 

[JTO]

Hi JTO.
I have the plates and screws that were removed from my arm in 1977. They are still rust free and in a plastic tub in my bedside drawer .

I am wondering if it is the same material that barrels are made of!

 

[HonestJohn]

Hi JTO.
I have the plates and screws that were removed from my arm in 1977. They are still rust free and in a plastic tub in my bedside drawer .

Why?

 

[Yorkie]

Why?

Good question. I am just sentimental i suppose.