Lilja barrel found on other side of the world
Matt Unrau
Several weeks ago the Valley Press reported a story about a Plains man named Dan Lilja who makes world-reknowned rifle barrels famous for their high level of accuracy. His company is called Lilja Precision Rifle Barrels.
Since the story has come out the Valley Press has learned of another Plains man who got his hand on one of the barrels half-way around the world in Africa.
Lance Corporal Tyler McNeil, graduated from Plains high school in 2007 and grew up going to Plains Bible Chapel with Lilja. So, it was a shock when he and his unit met up with a group of Navy Seals who were carrying around sniper rifles with the Lilja logo on the side. “I was kind of surprised. I had to take a double-look at it,” says McNeil.
McNeil and his unit were in Northern Samali where they met up with the Navy Seals. The Seals had allowed McNeil’s unit to test fire their rifles, which is how McNeil first noticed the barrel. With more than a hint of satisfaction McNeil then pointed out the logo and told the Seals that he had grown up going to the same church as the man who made the barrel.
It surprised the Seals who thought the maker of such high-quality barrels wouldn’t be in such a small town. “They thought it would be a huge industry. They didn’t think it would be in Plains, Montana,” says McNeil. “I told them if they ever wanted one for a personal rifle, ‘come visit me in Plains!’”
According to McNeil, the Seals couldn’t say enough about the barrel and the accuracy it gave them. “Whenever they need new barrels, that’s where they go for sniper rifles,” says McNeil.
It was a good opportunity for McNeil as well to get a chance to shoot with their 50 caliber Sniper Rifle since he is thinking about entering sniper school himself. With the rifle he was hitting a target person from the waist up and a 3x3 foot metal sheep at a mile distance.
McNeil says at that distance you have to account for a multitude of things including the temperature, humidity and curvature of the earth.