Foxridge Outfitter barrels

[merv444]

How well do foxridge barrels shoot,after reading about bullberry on this forum have changed my mind about them.Anyone have anything to say about Foxridge?

[Keith L]

I have one in 357 Mag that I got in trade a few years ago that shoots well.  But know that Fox Ridge barrels are essentially TC barrels made to non-standard sizes and such.  I think they are more like semi-custom than full custom barrels.  It fits my needs, but may not suit you.

Good luck with your decision.

[Heavy C]

I have two: 1. 6mm Rem  2.  30-06 AI

I broke them in according to the way you're supposed to and they are great shooters.  Yes, you might get slightly better quality/accuracy out of one of those other outfits, but unless you're doing some hardcore paper punching these will suit you well. 

[Chuck White]

I have a 26 inch 221 Remington Fireball that shoots great, 1/2 to 3/4 inch groups at 100 yards.

I can't complain, nothing wrong with that barrel.

If I wanted another barrel, I wouldn't hesitate to order from Fox Ridge Outfitters.

[Cement Man]

I have 3 Fox Ridge barrels - a .223 Contender, 6.5X55 TCR, and a .308 Encore.  All shoot better than me and no issues with finish or quality.  Nice barrels.

[Grumulkin]

I have 3 Custom Shop barrels as well and I'm happy with all.

[Keith L]

I kinda hedged on my answer because I keep hearing that custom barrels are so much better.  I am quite happy with my one Fox Ridge barrel.  I am also happy with all my TC barrels.  The limiting factor on all of them is me, so I hope they don't choose to complain.  I would buy another Fox Ridge barrel in a heartbeat.

[Buckskin]

I wouldn't waste your money on either of them.  Get a factory barrel and you won't be disappointed.  If it doesn't shoot, send it back to them and they will make it right.

[Lone Star]

I wouldn't waste your money on either of them.

Thanks for the offer, but we can waste our own money   just fine by ourselves.   

I was dissappointed in factory barrels - that's why I purchased true customs.  I have seen big accuracy advantages in the custom barrels, and in case life as well.  But if you are not looking for the last bit of accuracy, or if you cannot tell the difference between a barrel that can shoot 1.5 moa or 0.5 moa, then factory barrels are fine.  For me, the custom barrels I have were definately NOT a waste of money.   


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[Buckskin]

Well I know of a lot of guys who have factory barrels that shoot .5" or less groups.  I have one in 204. So I guess I couldn't tell the difference between two.  I wouldn't get all caught up in the hype of custom barrels, unless your in a beauty contest.  Factory barrels have been doing what custom shops have been bragging about for a long time.

[Lone Star]

Well I know of a lot of guys who have factory barrels that shoot .5" or less groups....

Okay, let's see those same guys tell us how consistently they can reproduce 1/2" groups on demand.  It's pretty easy to do it with a keyboard.   I'm not talking about an occasional   tiny group, but being able to count on shooting them! 

I'm not insulting you or your friends, but I have a lot of experience with highly accurate firearms (including T/Cs) and have competed locally and nationally.  I've scored a lot of matches too.  When push comes to shove, few shooters can actually produce that kind of accuracy on demand   with factory equipment - or fancy custom equipment either.  It takes more than an accurate gun to shoot tiny groups all the time.   

I have made it a 'hobby' to pin down some of the shooters who claim very tiny groups from their firearms on a regular basis.  I offer to buy their ammo and pay their range fee if they come out and shoot at my range and shoot aggregates of the groups they claim to shoot.  Very few take me up on it, and those that do almost always end up insisting "there must be something wrong with my rifle today!!"   

BTW, I have bought boxes of match bullets for a couple of guys who could actually "walk the walk".   They were impressive shooters....



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[Buckskin]

Hmmmm, I thought we were talking about barrels here, not the shooters.  Do I shoot .5" groups every time, hell no.  Never said I could, but my factory 204 barrel can do it every time.  I'm glad your entertained by trying to belittle people, maybe we could start another thread to try and get you some more game. Btw, even though I'm not  a competitive shooter, I do like a challenge and next time I'm in Texas I'd love to be your guinny pig.

[Cement Man]

Shooting MOA or less groups does take a better barrel, better sights, better ammo, and a better shooter than is the norm, and and I'm sure most people remember the best results more than the lousy groups. I know I do. So be it.  I try to be helpful to other people and I sure don't lie to them.

On the other hand, posting snide remarks with no basis other than some egocentrically inflated estimation of who needs or wants to prove anything to you doesn't mean much either.  Liike you say - all it takes is a keyboard.  Some "hobby".

[Lone Star]

Btw, even though I'm not a competitive shooter, I do like a challenge and next time I'm in Texas I'd love to be your guinny pig.

I'd welcome that.  I am amused that some folk here appear to think that because I call someone else's bluff that I am somehow "belittling" them.   They seem to forget that I don't force anyone to do anything; but how else is there to find out the truth?  Reading posts in a forum like this?       For the record: I get a kick out of someone actually shooting as well as they claim.  I do not enjoy seeing anyone fail - that isn't the point of the exercise - and I usually pay their entry fee anyway after we discuss why they couldn't perform as they expected.  I like to think that those shooters leave smater and better for the exercise. 

As for the accuracy of a particular barrel and load - unless the shooter puts it into a machine rest the only way to demonstrate it's accuray is by actually shooting it himself.      Experienced shooters know that a few moa groups do not mean that the firearm is capable of doing it consistently.  Many would be surprised to find that even using a machine rest the group sizes vary considerably - as statistics dictate they must do.  We cannot claim an accuracy level for any T/C barrel without shooting it enough to demonstrate its accuracy.  Otherwise we'd seem to believe in magic.   


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[Cement Man]

Lone Star,
You say your "hobby" is pinning down some of the shooters who claim very tiny groups from their firearms on a regular basis.  You offer to buy their ammo and pay their range fee if they come to your range and show you.  You "call their bluff".  With all due respect I find that a strange "hobby".  I've looked at many of your last posts and I don't see any real challenges issued - just snide inuendo, not really directed to anyone.  Maybe I just didn't read enough of them, or you do this on other forums.
I sincerely and respectfully find it amazing that anyone would care enough about what you think to feel that they had to prove anything to you.  You have stated (correctly, I might add) that it's easy to claim small groups by using a keyboard, or something to that effect. I guess I would add that it's equally easy to claim that shooters would come out to a range and perform for someone because of some cyber-challenge and the offer to buy some bullets, or ammo.  It also seems counter-intuitive that a BS'er would answer this challenge anyway if he didn't feel he could do it.  Conversely, if he did believe he could do it, then he wouldn't be a BS'er, so what's the point? 
Now if you say this is your "hobby", and people actually do this, I won't doubt you.  Let me just say, well, I think it's amazing.
But back to shooting and accurate barrels:  You have stated that (condensed version) that unless one uses a machine rest one must shoot it himself, a few moa groups don't mean the firearm is capable of doing it consistently, and even a machine rest can result in group sizes that vary consiiderably.  OK, what I get from all that is that the firearm/ammo combination either shot from a machine or by the shooter can vary a lot, and we cannot claim an accuracy level without shooting enough to demonstrate its accuracy.
In general, those statements are theoretically correct, but they are not precise or measurable, just stating the obvious.
So, what is your exact statistical criteria for a barrel/ammo/shooter combination to claim an accuracy level, and is there some standard which is universally agreed upon?  I do believe you are very knowledgeable, so please share with us. 

[Buckskin]

So please tell me how I can determine if I have a barrel worth tagging as accurate.

Saturday I missed a coyote at 330 yards, which generally is a gimme shot for me.  Then I remembered that my Son accidentally knocked over my 204 when it was on its by-pod.  I intended to check the scope but forgot about it.  Even though it was 10 F and a 20mph wind I decided to see where it was shooting.  First shot didn't hit paper at 50yds!  Turns out it was about 12" off to the right @ 100yds (lucky coyote).  After getting it close, minus the crosswind I printed 4-3 shot groups that would have cost you money.  3 were inside an inch and 1 was near .5".  None were off target.  I'm sure its hitting a bit right on a calm day.  But I think its safe to say that my barrel is a shooter and it cost me $250.  When we do this little contest, I think we should make it a little more interesting that just shells though, how about barrels.  I go to Texas a couple times a year for work so I will need some directions to your range.

[BeverlyHillbilly]

merv444

I find the twist rate a big limitation in the Foxridge barrels.  Since they don't differ from the T/C factory twists, I find that they don't offer me much beyond a factory barrel except length, contour, caliber, and sometimes finish.  A custom builder can handle more variations than FoxRidge, and that is why I go full custom when my requirements are such.   I have both factory, FoxRidge, and custom barrels and I pick who makes them based on my needs.  I mostly shoot paper since hunting isn't an option for me most of the year, so most of my barrels are custom builds strictly for punching the smallest holes possible.  Plus, a few big bores in to have some fun with