Re: Running Boar / Muzzle Weighted Barrel
Lafayette,
First the disclaimer; I used to do testing and R&D with Green Mountain's General Manager, so I might be a little biased.
I've used the barrel you're asking about (in fact, I have one of the prototypes that has the fluting, done for aesthetics more than anything, on the muzzle end). The one I have is in .17 HMR, and was very accurate (it sits on a Ruger 77/22M). quite honestly, and as unbiased as I can be (given my relationship with GM) I really liked the way the rifle handled with that little bit of extra weight on the end, especially swinging on a running target, like a rabbit busting out the brush or a prairie dog making a run for his hole as you come around the end of a ravine or gully.
Like I said, I have done testing for GM, so I'm a little biased (so take my input for what its worth). That being said, the agreement the General Manager and I had was that what ever barrels were sent for testing, were barrels that were randomly pulled off the production line. Rick would literally walk down the plant floor and pull a barrel and have his admin ship it to me for testing (grouping, fit, finish, etc.). Made for some interesting projects, that's for sure. And, while some ideas didn't work or weren't feasible due to price point/machine time, we did have some fun cranking out a few things that were quite successful (the 16" heavy barrels for the 10/22's comes to mind; which had been a failed attempt to get .22 SSS 60 gr rounds to function in a 10/22.) Even tried back boring the muzzle 6" one point, and it just wouldn't work. I remember talking to Rick about it, and he said "Yeah, but the barrel just looks freaking cool that short".
I agreed, he did a small run, and they were sold out in a few days. Now it's a standard offering (go figure).
At any rate, sorry to ramble and get off topic. The barrels shoot, and with the added weight (IMHO) tend to swing better. In the UK they are quite popular, as Bisley still has a running boar event there (though it is shaped like a red stag), so I guess that confirms the designs benefits to some degree.
Not sure if that helps, but there you go.
BTW, I don't know if the article is still somewhere on the web, but if you query my screen name and "running boar" it'll probably pop up with a review I did on the barrel design.
