what makes a good barrel?

[unluckyjohn]

what makes a good barrel i under stand the muzzle has allot to do with it.
but what about the metal?
i hear people say stuff about how some barrels are slow and some are fast can some one explain that.
anything else you think i should know about barrels.
thank you.

 

[shoot4fun]

Re: what makes a good barrel?

Charred oak and full of the finest of bourbons.

 

[Unknown]

Re: what makes a good barrel?

What makes a good barrel?

The short answer is accuracy, longevity, and consistency. How manufacturer's get there is an entirely different question. There is a tremendous amount about barrel manufacture that you probably should look up. Here are some of the topics to seek info about:

1. How barrels are made: broach, cut, hammer forged, button rifled.
2. Difference between stainless and carbon steel (of course, there is carbon in stainless steel though)
3. How barrels are chambered, throated, and muzzles cut and crowned
4. How cartridge powder capacity, and bore size effect/affect throat erosion.
5. What is runout?
6. Barrel length and it's effect on accuracy and/or velocity
7. Bullet weights, and how velocity and twist rate effect accuracy

You will want to know how various twist rates interrelate with bullet weight to produce accuracy. The short part of this is that too heavy of a bullet without enough spin won't be accurate.

Gaining a basic understanding of ballistic coefficient, and sectional density will also be very helpful.

There really isn't a shortcut to the answer to your question. Although there are many people on this board who know the answers, it would take us all just at least as long to type it out for you as it would take you to find and read about it.

The tutorial section of this website has an exceptionally good reference section that you may want to access. Sure, you would have to join the site to get access, but I'm very certain that all the information you seek, (and more) can be found there.

There is a web site that has 6mmbr in it's name that has some really helpful information. As they aren't an advertiser on this site, I don't want to post the full access information.

 

[Alaskaman11]

Re: what makes a good barrel?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: shoot4fun</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Charred oak and full of the finest of bourbons.
</div></div>

I was thinking the same thing!

 

[BOLTRIPPER]

Re: what makes a good barrel?

and then there is Texas bourbon....

and you can own one of your own too

http://www.garrisonbros.com/garrison_brothers_the_old_300.html

 

[The Mechanic]

Re: what makes a good barrel?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: unluckyjohn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">what makes a good barrel i under stand the muzzle has allot to do with it.
but what about the metal?
i hear people say stuff about how some barrels are slow and some are fast can some one explain that.
anything else you think i should know about barrels.
thank you.</div></div>
It's all in the maker. A good blank can turn into a stake but a good barrel maker could turn bad metal into a shooter.

 

[Switchblade]

Re: what makes a good barrel?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: shoot4fun</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Charred oak and full of the finest of bourbons.
</div></div>

School takes up way too much time or I would have had that first

 

[unluckyjohn]

Re: what makes a good barrel?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: The Mechanic</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: unluckyjohn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">what makes a good barrel i under stand the muzzle has allot to do with it.
but what about the metal?
i hear people say stuff about how some barrels are slow and some are fast can some one explain that.
anything else you think i should know about barrels.
thank you.</div></div>
It's all in the maker. A good blank can turn into a stake but a good barrel maker could turn bad metal into a shooter. </div></div>
what does the rifle barrel maker do that's different from a factory rifle barrel

 

[shoot4fun]

Re: what makes a good barrel?

Most "factory" rifle barrels these days are hammer forged on a mandrel that shapes the barrel and forms the rifling.
Most "custom" barrels are shaped from extrusions (forgive if I am not exact on my techo lingo) and rifling is done with a button or cut (IMHO the best way). Then they lap the barrel to get it as smooth and tool mark free as possible. This is why most custom barrels shoot better, clean up easier, etc.
It has also been my experience, subjectively of course, that custom barrels have much longer lives than factory barrels, mostly due to choices in steel but to the reasons above as well.