R8 Custom Barrels-Dream Come True!

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Yepper. About the only way you can save a few bucks is to buy it used and even then it's not inexpensive...the Blaser or the Stihl.

Finding exactly what you are looking for is the problem. And being patient enough not to settle for something that's "kinda close". If you've chosen to go this route, spend the $ on a new one or get ready for a waiting game. It's not worth settling at this level.

@BeeMaa
When I read the title I thought about time BeeMaa got a 35 Whelen barrel for hisR8 and @CoElkHunter sold his 338WM and bought a Whelen.
I suppose it was to big a miracle to ask for but I still live in hope you two will come to your senses.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Bob

 

[CoElkHunter]

@BeeMaa
When I read the title I thought about time BeeMaa got a 35 Whelen barrel for hisR8 and @CoElkHunter sold his 338WM and bought a Whelen.
I suppose it was to big a miracle to ask for but I still live in hope you two will come to your senses.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Bob

Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! You funny man Bob!

 

[BeeMaa]

@BeeMaa
When I read the title I thought about time BeeMaa got a 35 Whelen barrel for hisR8 and @CoElkHunter sold his 338WM and bought a Whelen.
I suppose it was to big a miracle to ask for but I still live in hope you two will come to your senses.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Bob

I have enough in the way of firearms at the moment, but I appreciate the thought. As a matter of fact, I’ve listed 4 firearms for sale and still have more that need to go.

 

[Lkhntr]

Here is some more information on where I currently stand on trying to get my money back or barrel from Justin Sip. The local magistrate court here in New Mexico awarded me a default judgement for the cost of the barrel $1000.00, court fees of $77.00, process serving fees of $100.00 for a total of $1,177.00. The next step was to apply for a writ of execution which was approved, to later find out it could only be served in New Mexico (which does me no good since he is in Utah). I am now having to go thru utcourts.gov (Utah court system), and start the whole process over again. Justin has ignored inquiries from me, the Better Business Bureau, and the local magistrate court.
Even though Justins website says he is temporarily closed, it amazes me how he can list 31 R8 barrels (he calls gamma 88), and 9 R93 barrels (he calls gamma 93) under barrel inventory and ready for delivery (hell! i even offered to maybe take another barrel in exchange). I noticed the 30-06 barrel he was to sell me was not listed, so I am assuming it never existed or he sold it to some one else. I am thinking I am going to start a new thread "Anyone else get cheated by J. Sip and Sons". Maybe that will get his attention. Justin has to know he is losing business when victims let it be known that he has screwed them over.

 

[Philip Glass]

Accurate statement. It is like buying a Sthil chainsaw, they just don’t go on sale. But when you buy one you are glad you did; they work and last a long time.

Agree

 

[Philip Glass]

I am glad I got my last barrel from him even though it was over a year getting it!
I can no longer recommend J Sip. I’d go to Pale Horse Zero or just stick with Blaser barrels.

 

[Glenn Slaven]

I am glad I got my last barrel from him even though it was over a year getting it!
I can no longer recommend J Sip. I’d go to Pale Horse Zero or just stick with Blaser barrels.

Agreed. I thought I had found a good thing…

Spoke with PHZ today and she said their blanks are taking almost a year to come in. I guess I lucked into the one I found on GB for sure. Saved me $800 or so and a year wait.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

That’s not bad. The ones I was looking at, semi-weighted and fluted were 800 to a grand more than that. If you want shorter barrel than their standard length in a caliber they seem to get real pricey for that, which I don’t get.

@Fastrig
Sound like your better off getting the standard barrel and paint you Smith 50 bucks to shorten it and regrown it
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Those are terrific prices.

@Red Leg
Savage barrel ready to screw in less than 300 bucks. No it's not an R8 but it still shoots good and kills stuff and the big plus it's in my price range.
Love the R8 but I can do a lot more shooting with the Savage on my budget.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

In my .300 Win Mag R8 barrel, the 200 gr ELD X shoots 1/2 MOA from the rest. There is very little really new under the sun.

@Red Leg
Someone has to keep reinventing the wheel to make it that milli-poofteenth better. The Weatherby has that nasty belt on it that makes it less accurate.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@

That's funny, my wife and I were just discussing going hog hunting in GA this morning.
She wants to take the 375H&H and leave me with the 416RM.
That should get it done.

BeeMaa
You think so. Mate take ENOUGH gun, go bigger or go home as they say.
Bob

 

[nomspc]

I heard a rumor that Proof is producing Blaser R8 barrel blanks. I sent them an inquiry, they said yes and directed me to Evolved Ballistics in TX. The owner, Paul Butler, called me and said he is awaiting delivery of Blaser blanks in 3 configurations, all light Sendero contour:

• .264, 22”, 8 twist
• .284, 24”, 9 twist
• .30, 22”, 9 twist

He told me that he was looking for a shop with Blaser barrel manufacturing experience to finish the blanks, and had reached out to Sip. I gave him the heads-up from this and other sites regarding the current state of affairs with Sip, and suggested PHZ. He said he would follow up with them. I reserved a .284 and .30 barrel, got an invoice, but he’s not looking for payment yet. Great guy.

 

[Philip Glass]

So do they have the rights from Blaser? Are they going to be carbon fiber or steel?
This is very interesting. More shopping to do at SCI and DSC looks like!

 

[nomspc]

So do they have the rights from Blaser? Are they going to be carbon fiber or steel?
This is very interesting. More shopping to do at SCI and DSC looks like!

Carbon fiber; I think cost will be $779.

 

[Justin.]

Carbon fiber; I think cost will be $779.

That will be an absolute game changer!

 

[nomspc]

An update on the Proof Blaser barrels: PHZ does not want the project as they are not working with stainless steel for Blaser barrels. Paul has tried contacting Sip, but no response. So while he has the blanks, it doesn’t look like there is anyone available to finish them.

 

[Philip Glass]

What a mess and missed opportunity!

 

[mikecatt13]

So are these "endorsed" by Blaser or what's the situation with that?

Also, it looks like they're just threaded, so what makes them a "Blaser blank"? (Related to Blasers position on these as it would be very very difficult to get the chambers and bolt lockup correct without assistance from them I'm thinking)

I may know a Smith that might be interested but not if they're going to get hit with patent infringement threats etc. like Sip supposedly was. With more info I can try and get some of these finished for us Blaser owners

 

[nomspc]

So are these "endorsed" by Blaser or what's the situation with that?

Also, it looks like they're just threaded, so what makes them a "Blaser blank"? (Related to Blasers position on these as it would be very very difficult to get the chambers and bolt lockup correct without assistance from them I'm thinking)

I may know a Smith that might be interested but not if they're going to get hit with patent infringement threats etc. like Sip supposedly was. With more info I can try and get some of these finished for us Blaser owners

No idea on endorsements or patents. I know Elmer Laitala made fine aftermarket R8 barrels as I had one. PHZ is making them and selling them now which would seem unlikely if there was a patent infringement issue. For that matter, Sip made and sold them. I had one of his as well, and it was nicely made and accurate.

The threads appear to be on the muzzle end of the barrel. If you PM me, I can give you contact info for Paul Butler, so your smith can speak with him directly.

 

[nomspc]

An update:

The PROOF Blaser barrels seem to be a no-go, as the dimensions seem to be wrong:

Top is Blaser factory barrel, middle is PROOF blank, and bottom is Sip carbon barrel. You can see that the shank on the PROOF is too short. Both the front optics recess and the front receiver stud would be in the carbon. As an aside, the barrel diameter on the carbon barrels is 22mm, so they wouldn’t fit Blaser standard, which kind of defeats the purpose.