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Heavy Barrel or not?

SgtCochran

Private
Minuteman
Aug 19, 2012
4
0
33
West Virginia
How do I tell if my Remington 700 has a sport barrel or a heavy barrel? Also, where could I find a 24" .308 heavy barrel if I'm looking to upgrade?
 
Re: Heavy Barrel or not?

Factory "heavy barrels" are around .830" at the muzzle.

If getting a new barrel don't buy a factory take off. Get a good custom barrel like a Bartlein. If you are going to spend the money to rebarrel do the job right where you aren't wasting money on a hit or miss factory barrel but a good custom. Also make sure to have the action trued by whoever screws the new barrel on.
 
Re: Heavy Barrel or not?

Post a pic of your rifle.

If you do not have a caliper, the muzzle on a sporter barrel will be smaller than a dime. If you have a sporter, you can have a varmint take-off barrel installed, but it will probably be cheaper to sell your current rifle and buy an SPS-varmint, or ADL varmint.
 
Re: Heavy Barrel or not?

That's kind along the lines of my thinking. I just didn't know too many good custom brands or which one to buy. Thanks I'll look into that.
 
Re: Heavy Barrel or not?

If you're going to sell the rifle, keep in mind that you can then buy any rifle you can afford. Unless you need features that are specific to the Police rifle, it can pay to consider a Varmint rifle.

I like both the Rem 700 VLS and the Savage 12FV. The VLS usually comes with a 1:12" rifling twist (which handles 55gr for sure, 60gr maybe), the 12FV uses a 1:9" twist and is better suited to heavier (69gr for sure, 75gr maybe) bullets. My experience with both is that either rifle's factory barrel is certainly good enough to use up completely before rebarrelling with a premium aftermarket barrel.

Greg
 
Re: Heavy Barrel or not?

Sgt, truing your action and installing a good custom barrel will run about $700. Buying a new factory varmint rifle will run about the same. You will end up with a better rifle going the barrel install route. Your choice.
 
Re: Heavy Barrel or not?

Right now I'm building this rifle personally as a keeper, so I'll probably go with the custom barrel install. But I do have another question, should I go with the heavy barrel or fluting?
 
Re: Heavy Barrel or not?

Short, heavy, and a twist comparable to your style of shooting (typically faster than factory). When you decide on the barrel maker, sit down and talk with them. They will provide the best advise of their product.
 
Re: Heavy Barrel or not?

You can just get a lighter contour. You don't need a truck axle on the rifle. Go Rem Varmint or Med Palma if you want to keep the weight down.

10 or 11 twist on the barrel. It will shoot anything from the lighter 155s up to the 208s.
 
Re: Heavy Barrel or not?

Rob, I like a truck axel on my comp gun. To me it seems to keep me more stable in all positions except off hand. If you use the rifle for other things keep the weight down. My Surgeon with mtu contour barrel is a pig, but I don't seem to notice it when competing. Except when carrying it to the next stage.
 
Re: Heavy Barrel or not?

I have a 26.5" MTU on my 6.5 Creedmoor match rifle as well and it used to be 28". My others are 26" M24/40 contour. I don't mind it either but the OP seemed like he might like lighter when he mentioned flutes so I gave him some lighter options.