John Krieger Talks about Barrel-Making
At SHOT Show 2013 we had the chance to chat with legendary barrel-maker John Kreiger of Krieger Barrels. In this wide-ranging interview, John addressed a number of questions our readers often pose…. What is better for a 6mm, 0.236″ land or 0.237″ land? What are the pros/cons of various barrel types: 3-groove, 4-groove, 6-groove, 8-groove, and 5R? What types of land/groove configurations clean up more easily? (John says the 5R might be the winner there).
John also discusses barrel cleaning and he explains why it’s unwise to pull a dirty brush back across your delicate crown: “The problem comes from the fact that abrasive materials — powder and primer residues in particular — get embedded in the brush. Essentially that is how a lap works.”
When we suggested that Krieger Barrels might want to offer three-groove barrels in the future, John surprised us by revealing that he has been considering putting a 3-groove design into production. John says that, in theory at least, a canted-land 3-groove holds a lot of promise. John hopes to build some prototype 3-grooves to test. Krieger Barrels has a 300-yard underground tunnel where barrels with various land/groove configurations and calibers can be tested using a return-to-battery fixture. John admits that tunnel testing of barrels is “on the back burner” as his company focuses on filling orders. But he says that he has a strong personal interest in testing different land/groove configurations, different amounts of choke, and different internal dimensions. We hope we’ll be able to share some results from the Krieger Barrels test tunnel in the near future.
Similar Posts:
- SHOT Show Interview: John Krieger Talks Barrels
- Krieger Barrels Now Offers 5R Rifling Option
- 500-Round Group at 300 Meters — Now That’s a Test!
- John Krieger on the Art and Science of Barrel-Making
- Benchmark Expands Centerfire Barrel Line
Tags: Cut Rifling, John Krieger, Krieger Barrels, SHOT Show, Video
I met John at Perry many years ago. I was looking for a barrel to put on an action I had and after discussing what I wanted with him, he pulled out a barrel that he had. I told him that I wanted it but had to go back to the condo where I was staying to get some cash and the action I wanted it installed on. John held the barrel for me even though others came up trying to buy it. It is one of the most accurate rifles I own! It is a rare thing when you find someone who will deal on the strength of their word. John is such a man! I have since added many more Krieger barrels to my rifles and have never been disappointed!