Are aftermarket barrels worth it?

[Alan]

What were your expectations when you decided to upgrade to a new barrel and how did the actual performance stack up? Did the aftermarket barrel really make a noticeable difference, or were the improvements just slight?

 

[Magus]

Depends on the maker. I'm a fan of Green River when I have the option, like say, on an AR, but really, its all in quality. I got a good deal on a custom honed 870 barrel once, it wasn't much better than the stock barrel.

 

[jglenn]

Really depends on you use and how well you expect the rifle to shoot. I have used barrels from several custom makers when rebarreling my Rem 700 actions. My expectations were these would shoot better(.under 1" or 1/2 at 100yds) depending in the maker. I used quite a few Shilen barrels for years.
All of them shot under 1" with some shooting under 1/2". When you buy the more expensive barrels like bartlein or brux you expect them to be under 1/2 or 1/4". All that said i have several stock remington rifles that shoot close to 1/4". That's the exception.
You simply expect that performance from custom barrels all the time.
BTW I have also used Shaw barrels for hunting rifles and they all have shot under 1" using custom reloads. Go figure.. the smith doing the work also matters. Using custom tuned reloads verses factory ammo matters too.

Some folks are happy with a rifle that shoots 2" while some would sell it.

 

[Brucer41]

I have used quite a few after market barrels and found some that have been above average from the box, most have been similar to the OEM. I have one barrel that was so bad, for the cost, I didn't even bother to return it. I use it for an odds and ends when I need a bar for extra reach or something. It isn't worth being called a rifle barrel.