I have the 17" Sporter by GM, she shoots great even with bulk ammo.I recently decide to do my first 10/22 build. So down the rabbit hole we go.
I had originally thought about using the green mountain heavy sporter barrel but looking at Shaw barrels I'd have to say they also look like a strong contender. Kidd would probably be in the mix as well if they shoot that much better than GM or Shaw for the price difference.
Has anyone here had barrels from both GM and Shaw that could give some feedback what you thought of each, which gave more consistent accuracy with more ammo grouping well , as well as ease or difficulty in the fitting of the barrel to receiver?
The gun will be a hunter as well as a target shooter so I'm open to sporter or bull barrels.
Shaw or GM barrels? anyone have experienced both?
I recently decide to do my first 10/22 build. So down the rabbit hole we go.
I had originally thought about using the green mountain heavy sporter barrel but looking at Shaw barrels I'd have to say they also look like a strong contender. Kidd would probably be in the mix as well if they shoot that much better than GM or Shaw for the price difference.
Has anyone here had barrels from both GM and Shaw that could give some feedback what you thought of each, which gave more consistent accuracy with more ammo grouping well , as well as ease or difficulty in the fitting of the barrel to receiver?
The gun will be a hunter as well as a target shooter so I'm open to sporter or bull barrels.
I had originally thought about using the green mountain heavy sporter barrel but looking at Shaw barrels I'd have to say they also look like a strong contender. Kidd would probably be in the mix as well if they shoot that much better than GM or Shaw for the price difference.
Has anyone here had barrels from both GM and Shaw that could give some feedback what you thought of each, which gave more consistent accuracy with more ammo grouping well , as well as ease or difficulty in the fitting of the barrel to receiver?
The gun will be a hunter as well as a target shooter so I'm open to sporter or bull barrels.
41 - 59 of 59 Posts
I have the 17" Sporter by GM, she shoots great even with bulk ammo.
Shaw is better than GM. I prefer Fedderson. But if picking one of those two- Shaw. Never had much good experience with GM.
I have Kidd, Volquartsen and Shaw barrels. All three shoot well with the Kidd barrel on a Volquartsen action shooting the best. All three companies make great barrels with the luck of the draw on the barrel and the quality of the fit up to the action being the deciding factors.
I have experience with both Green Mountain and Shaw barrels. The Green Mountain is an 18”, non-threaded, chrome moly, 0.920” barrel. The two Shaw barrels are (1) 18” chrome moly, 0.920”, non-threaded, and (2) 16.5” stainless, 0.920”, non-threaded and ordered through the Shaw custom shop when Shaw recently has a 15% off sale over Christmas. Keep in mind that three barrels is a tremendously small sample.
Eley Benchrest Semi-Auto Benchrest ammunition used through all barrels, at 50 yards, same or similar conditions, 10 rounds (because that’s what fits in the magazine). Flyers not counted. First round from magazine not counted, because I get more first round flyers than good shots. All barrels floated. I assembled all rifles.
The Green Mountain barrel shoots great, delivering edge-to-edge 10-shot groups, routinely, at 3/4” or less.
The 18” Shaw barrels shoots good, delivering edge-to-edge 10 shop groups, routinely, at 7/8” or less. This barrel shows definite tendencies for ammunition is likes, and dislikes. It dislikes Lapua X-Act, with over 1” groups. It loved the no longer made Federal UM-1(?)—the stuff made for the Olympics, which sadly, I have shot all of it—this particular ammunition delivered consistent MOA groups at 100 meters with it.
The 16” custom Shaw barrel shoots great, delivering edge-to-edge 10-shout groups, routinely, at 5/8”, and maybe one group in ten groups will be under 3/8”—I had to measure those groups twice. I even shot a 3/16” group, 8 rounds with two hilarious flyers. The barrel took five weeks from order to delivery, and came with “CUSTOM” on the side. I bore scoped it. Chatter marks are present and are of the same magnitude as the 18” Shaw barrel. Someone had polished the bore!
Eley Benchrest Semi-Auto Benchrest ammunition used through all barrels, at 50 yards, same or similar conditions, 10 rounds (because that’s what fits in the magazine). Flyers not counted. First round from magazine not counted, because I get more first round flyers than good shots. All barrels floated. I assembled all rifles.
The Green Mountain barrel shoots great, delivering edge-to-edge 10-shot groups, routinely, at 3/4” or less.
The 18” Shaw barrels shoots good, delivering edge-to-edge 10 shop groups, routinely, at 7/8” or less. This barrel shows definite tendencies for ammunition is likes, and dislikes. It dislikes Lapua X-Act, with over 1” groups. It loved the no longer made Federal UM-1(?)—the stuff made for the Olympics, which sadly, I have shot all of it—this particular ammunition delivered consistent MOA groups at 100 meters with it.
The 16” custom Shaw barrel shoots great, delivering edge-to-edge 10-shout groups, routinely, at 5/8”, and maybe one group in ten groups will be under 3/8”—I had to measure those groups twice. I even shot a 3/16” group, 8 rounds with two hilarious flyers. The barrel took five weeks from order to delivery, and came with “CUSTOM” on the side. I bore scoped it. Chatter marks are present and are of the same magnitude as the 18” Shaw barrel. Someone had polished the bore!
Back in the day I had Shilen,Lilja,Clark,GM, and Shaw. The Shaw shot worse than the stock barrel, but they were gracious and took the barrel back no questions asked. I had good luck with all the others listed, but of them the Clark was the best shooter. The Shilen a very close second. The Lilja was a sporter barrel and the others were bull barrels so not a truly fair comparison. Price vs performance winner were the GM's. That is based on 15 to 20 year ago observations so may not be relevant nowadays.
Lots change in 20 years, sometimes good, sometimes bad.
When buying barrels, I have found that I tend to get a better barrel when I order a custom barrel or a barrel that is not made until I place the order.
When buying barrels, I have found that I tend to get a better barrel when I order a custom barrel or a barrel that is not made until I place the order.
I shot my 16.5” stainless Shaw custom today. It shoots good enough for me, and better for my wife, who shoots, at most, twice a year. The outside of the 6 ring measures just under 1 inch. I did not have access to my friend’s Green Mountain barreled 10/22 today. Shaw has a 10% off sale: Shaw Barrels.
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When I did my upgrade, I searched all over at different barrels and most of what I wanted was never in stock. Then I clicked on Shaw and they had the blue sporters available. I got one and am quite happy with it. I am shooting sub moa at 50 yrds.
I'm sure this has been posted before but throwing it in for those who have not seen it. A video of testing three different grades of target barrels for the 10/22. The results are surprising.
I have a Green Mountain 18 inch .920 on one rifle and it shoots quite well. But for offhand shooting I think I prefer a 20 inch as it seems to balance better to me.
2 Shaw barrels and both shoot very good. Getting .5” at 50 yrds isn’t a problem- with good ammo, good bags, and good form of course!
How do you figure?GM will be able to shoot hypervelocity except for Stingers by CCI & Shaw cannot shoot any hypervelocity ammo. Go for a 17" by GM, lotta high reviews from guys who got one for their 10/22. Planning on a wood or plastic stock?
Where do you get this information from? I’m specifically referring to your Shaw barrel reference.
Shaw barrels and G.M. barrels both have the same chambers , that means they both can shoot the same ammo.
ps
As long as the brass is standard length , then you are good to go.
not all hyper velocity ammo uses the longer case.
agreed, a bentz chamber, provided they a cut to the same depth, is a Bentz chamber there’s no special sauce there.How do you figure?
Where do you get this information from? I’m specifically referring to your Shaw barrel reference.
Shaw barrels and G.M. barrels both have the same chambers , that means they both can shoot the same ammo.
ps
As long as the brass is standard length , then you are good to go.
not all hyper velocity ammo uses the longer case.
It don’t matter how short the Benz chamber is cut, if it can chamber and shoot a standard velocity round it can chamber and shoot a hyper velocity round so lang as the ammo uses a standard length brass case.
period…… there is no exception……….
As far as ammo like cci stinger and aguila super maximum “ what ever it’s called” that uses the longer brass case, then you are absolutely correct.
my point is G.M.and Shaw barrels both use a Benz chamber and even if a Shaw barrel Benz chamber is cut shorter “ hypothetically “ than the G.M. barrel , they both still can safely use and shoot hyper velocity ammo so long as it’s in a standard length brass.
if the Shaw barrel chamber is cut so short that i can not chamber and safely fire a hyper velocity round in a standard length brass then same is to be said of any ammo used in that barrel. Period……. No if and or but………….. fact.
If that chamber is cut that shallow then you need to send it back to Shaw or take it the a gun smith that has chamber reamers and get that barrel chamber properly sized.
ps
I serious doubt Shaw would intentionally produce and sell such a barrel without providing literature both with the barrel and low on their website pertaining to this, the only thing Shaw says is to not use cci stinger length cases as they use benz chamber with their barrels. Same with G.M..
period…… there is no exception……….
As far as ammo like cci stinger and aguila super maximum “ what ever it’s called” that uses the longer brass case, then you are absolutely correct.
my point is G.M.and Shaw barrels both use a Benz chamber and even if a Shaw barrel Benz chamber is cut shorter “ hypothetically “ than the G.M. barrel , they both still can safely use and shoot hyper velocity ammo so long as it’s in a standard length brass.
if the Shaw barrel chamber is cut so short that i can not chamber and safely fire a hyper velocity round in a standard length brass then same is to be said of any ammo used in that barrel. Period……. No if and or but………….. fact.
If that chamber is cut that shallow then you need to send it back to Shaw or take it the a gun smith that has chamber reamers and get that barrel chamber properly sized.
ps
I serious doubt Shaw would intentionally produce and sell such a barrel without providing literature both with the barrel and low on their website pertaining to this, the only thing Shaw says is to not use cci stinger length cases as they use benz chamber with their barrels. Same with G.M..
@twinight At the very least test some CCI Standard Velocity or CCI Subsonic ammo...go further and test out some mid grade target ammo or a box of decent match grade ammo. You appear to be shooting bottom of the barrel bulk ammo and those are the results you will get. HV ammo especially bulk HV with little to no Quality Control is at best for plinking at tin cans and Minute of Squirrel. Please don't shoot any paper targets with it - it will only upset you and make you think your rifle sucks! LOL
Between the 2? GM gets my vote. Slight edge in accuracy,
At what these two are priced at it isn’t much more for the best.
KIDD barrel.
KIDD barrel.
Did you ever finish your build? What does it look like? How does it shoot? Which barrel did you try?I recently decide to do my first 10/22 build. So down the rabbit hole we go.
I had originally thought about using the green mountain heavy sporter barrel but looking at Shaw barrels I'd have to say they also look like a strong contender. Kidd would probably be in the mix as well if they shoot that much better than GM or Shaw for the price difference.
I'm also building a 10/22, and was looking to spend less than $200 on a tapered barrel. Looked at Shaw, Green Mountain, and Fedderson. Shilen and Kidd were over budget. In the end, I'm ordered a Shaw 18" factory sporter barrel on their Memorial Day sale. It was the least expensive option of the bunch.
Cheers!
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