SSK new owners?

[todd]

Lehigh Defense has bought JD Jones' SSK Industries, i was wondering if they are any good making Contender barrels? SSK used to be good, if not great. MGM does a wonderful Encore barrel. Bullberry also is good, but i don't have any.

i want to buy a 10" Contender in 45 Colt from SSK, but if they aren't any good, i'll go to Bullberry.

 

[Rick H]

I can't speak for SSK. I own a Bullberry carbine contender barrel and another from Virgin Valley (the company that became MGM). Both of these are first rate. I understand the the owner of Bullberry retired and left the company to one of his employees (or a relative.....not sure). I don't know if the quality of workmanship is still the same with the new owners.

 

[358156 hp]

Lehigh Defense is owned by Wilson Combat. I think SSK Industries got spun off separately in the very end as SSK Firearms, and only the ammunition division went to Wilson. It's all very confusing, and the corporate link for SSK reads like an updated version of the original SSK Industries. I wish they'd update their website. Supposedly, SSK has purchased the manufacturing and design rights for the original Contender. If you search for Contenders, S&W comes up as the parent company. Like I said, confusing.

 

[Jeff H]

... Supposedly, SSK has purchased the manufacturing and design rights for the original Contender....

Haus of Arms started taking pre-orders on a remake of the original Contender like... three years ago? It was at least before S&W ditched TC.

SSK-50 FRAMES

Still no frames. I think Marty had good intentions and meant to see this work, but it seems there were larger forces at work against him. There were numerous foibles, extending delivery dates over and over. In the meantime, S&W ditched TC and I'm not sure if there is a connection between the demise of a great product and the failed launch of its avatar, but I'm not suggesting a conspiracy either. I'd just like to know what's going on, as I've been on the list for the remake for a long time.

I've never owned an SSK or Bullberry barrel, but I own three MGM barrels; a 24", stainless 30/30 barrel which makes me look like I know what I'm doing with a rifle, a blued, 18" 357 Mag barrel, which has been a gem, and a blued, 20" 357 MAX barrel I have yet to put a round through. The overall quality on these barrels has been excellent and I don't feel badly about what they cost me.

What they cost today, only a few years later is scary though.

 

[Brad]

My SSK 308 JDJ barrel shoots way better than it ought to. As accurate as any hunting rifle I own.

 

[todd]

Haus of Arms started taking pre-orders on a remake of the original Contender like... three years ago? It was at least before S&W ditched TC.

SSK-50 FRAMES

Still no frames. I think Marty had good intentions and meant to see this work, but it seems there were larger forces at work against him. There were numerous foibles, extending delivery dates over and over. In the meantime, S&W ditched TC and I'm not sure if there is a connection between the demise of a great product and the failed launch of its avatar, but I'm not suggesting a conspiracy either. I'd just like to know what's going on, as I've been on the list for the remake for a long time.

I've never owned an SSK or Bullberry barrel, but I own three MGM barrels; a 24", stainless 30/30 barrel which makes me look like I know what I'm doing with a rifle, a blued, 18" 357 Mag barrel, which has been a gem, and a blued, 20" 357 MAX barrel I have yet to put a round through. The overall quality on these barrels has been excellent and I don't feel badly about what they cost me.

What they cost today, only a few years later is scary though.

all of my Encores' are MGM in a 23" blued heavy factory barrels. i own three (20 Vartarg, 444 Marlin, 500 Linebaugh), but i've sold three 6.5 Creedmoor MGM barrels (14", 16 1/4" stainless steel and 23" heavy factory barrels) and a 27" MGM heavy factory in 22-250AI. oh, i have 50 cal inline too.

i think it was around $400 including s/h when i last bought the MGM. i have two Encore actions, one is a TC, while the other is S&W. i have laminated High Plains gunstocks on both of them (Sapphire and Royal Jacaranda).

the MGM barrels are accurate. when i was going thru a phase, accuracy was my main goal. a 1/4" at 100 yards (10 shots/bench) was a good starting point. i was using the 20 Vartarg and 22-250AI (1 in 8" twist). i spent more time making a handload, than shooting it. i "needed" exact measurements and weights to make the perfect handload. i think it was the time that the rest of my hair was pulled out. lol!!! now its "sloppy" reloads fer me!!!!

 

[scb]

The only barrel I have from SSK is a 16" AR15 barrel in 300 Whisper. That was from a long time ago. The accuracy of that barrel is phenomenal.
The Whisper is of course the predecessor of the 300 Blackout. Mr. Jones did what others before him tried to do and he copywrote the name in an attempt to (i'm guessing) "corner the market". This strategy was used earlier with at least one other cartridge called the 22 Varminter. I'm also guessing they had about the same success as Remington went on to make ammo for it and chamber rifles for it but called it the 22/250 in order to avoid paying royalties'. Although it is also my understanding that there are some minor inconsequential changes in the 22/250 cartridge dimensions. It has been my experience that there are some serious and potentialy dangerous differances between the 300 Whisper and 300 Blackout.

 

[todd]

has anybody seen these "open" sights? i haven't and i just wanted to know when i buy the Contender barrel.

SeeAll - Tritium Gun Sights

SeeAll Sights

www.seeallopensight.com

 

[popper]

SeeAll Yup, had one, missed a hog with it and it's gone. Slow acquisition on moving target. Advertised for shotgunning too.
Quality is good idea just didn't work for me. Eye glasses mess with it a bit but you can compensate. Astig didn't help much.

 

[JonB]

bump

 

[Jeff H]

bump

Timely bump.

I've been shopping for barrels - PASSIVELY. SInce I got word that my SSK50 is ready to ship, I've not been able to keep my mind from wandering and wondering and coming up with reasons that another barrel would make sense. I've been very convincing too! I've devised in my little mind that a 38-55 would be a hoot with sights - no optics, and I HAVE a brand new Williams Target Peep already. All I would need would be a new barrel,.... and stock set, and dies, and a mould,... BUT, it would use the same powders as I use for my 30/30 and I could use 30/30 brass if I had to and,... See? I can't shut myself up! I keep trying to convince myself I need another barrel.

So, I've been sort of looking at prices and chamberings.

MGM: Holy.... WOW! I bough two new MGM barrels about four or five years ago for $375 each and thought that was a bit much, but I sucked it up and paid Caesar's tribute. They've been wonderful barrels. Got another "used," which appeared to have never been shot for about $300 in a trade.

EABCO: Better on pricing, but not by a lot and seems more limited on chamberings, unless I'm missing something.

Bullberry: Actually seems to be competitive and you seem to get an actual custom with custom attention.

SSK: Seems to have at least some of the most common barrels ans SOME are fully $100 less than the MGM barrels I looked at. My best friend recently bought an SSK barrel for an Encore and was very pleased with the barrel.

 

[Rick H]

I own a Bullberry 7x30Waters 21" barrel. It has been stellar. The workmanship, blueing, accuracy and ease of cleaning is the best of any rifle I own. It is an honest 1/2 MOA rifle with Hornady 120 gr. spitzers and 3/4 MOA with Speer 130gr. SPBT's. I also have a Virgin Valley (forerunner of MGM) 22 rimfire rifle barrel that is very accurate but not finished as well as the Bullberry. Both were purchased new many years ago. My understanding is the original owner of Bullberry retired and workers took over the company. I don't know if the standards are the same as when I bought mine. That said, I would not hesitate to buy another barrel from Bullberry.

 

[Jeff H]

One other thing - SSK wants you to create an account to use their custom barrel configurator. I'm not a fan of giving out that much personal information just to see IF I want to buy something from someone.

 

[Missionary]

One item that would roll through my mind working on the floor of "my part owner shop" is Only the best !