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Gunsmithing Any thoughts on structured barrels?

Let us all know what results you get at longer distances when it arrives. Very interested in finding out if it is worth the price difference.
I will. This whole build is going to be on this thread and I will definitely do a detailed report and impressions. Damn Covid had screwed up barrel deliveries... but it is what it is.

I will say that the guys at TACOM have been on the ball in communicating and in helpful advice to get the project done. Once a barrel comes in, it won’t take long at all. I hope to be shooting it this summer!

Cheers, Sirhr
 
Neat concept and honestly for what they cost vs any other premium barrel, I would consider one, The benefits would probably be lost me though.

Cool
 
We have built barrels in the sub 6lb range. Our 32" 1.45dia barrel is sub 7lb. Our TRG-42 300Wm minus optics with a 26" 1.5" barrel is sub 11lbs.
No load work up... at the very least it will be potentially much shorter especially if you don't have a starting point. That is why the discussion of a challenge for large bullet weight variation and type. It was a top F1 team that did that test (this demonstration has been done a few times). With absolutely zero work up three widely varying powder weights, bullet weights all shot sub 3/8" groups. All rounds together touching. The gun was optimized for the 230Berger. What do you think the bullet jump was for that chamber with a Sierra 168gr is? It still shot a sub 3/8" group.
To be truthful- even though it is our gun- walking into a demo with that variation present is always a bit of a pucker. Another common statement about the performance of the barrels is: "It shouldn't do this".... as in group the way it does with widely varying loads with little to no drift.

It's not about the removing weight "makes it stronger"- we haven't figured that one out yet. It's about how the weight is used. Simple an "I" beam versus a rod. Weight for weight in its intended direction the I beam is way stronger than the rod. Look at what AI systems are designing. Shapes look like a bunch of spaghetti. Airplane wings are a series of struts and shapes to keep the weight as low as possible but strength at acceptable limits. We have a series of "I" beams wrapped around a core. As a owner of Applied Ballistics told me "it's stupid strong". Weight for weight our barrel is stronger than a standard barrel. Pure fact.
Very Cool.

Do you have any pics of the TRG? I kind of like the fact that you can actually get a barrel that is somewhat practical. Hell, my 26 inch Krieger that I am running on my Bolt gun probably weights 20lbs with McM A4 and Optic.
 
Neat concept and honestly for what they cost vs any other premium barrel, I would consider one, The benefits would probably be lost me though.

Cool

Yep, i tend to agree. A custom 26-28” premium barrel is about $950 these days. A mass produced Savage prefit replacement barrel is about $500 now. Prices seem to have gone up during this extended ammo/covid/components shortage.

I heard from a buddy that the price of a Tacom barrel depends on how much you exceed 28” and also what features you select. Lots of options there. I believe a normal length Tacom barrel (with the most beneficial features) is around $2K. I would consider one for a large caliber dedicated ELR rifle, or an F-class comp rifle (to avoid a hot barrel moving the vertical), but probably not for a 223 trainer.
 
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Yep, i tend to agree. A custom 26-28” premium barrel is about $950 these days. A mass produced Savage prefit replacement barrel is about $500 now. Prices seem to have gone up during this extended ammo/covid/components shortage.

I heard from a buddy that the price of a Tacom barrel depends on how much you exceed 28” and also what features you select. Lots of options there. I believe a normal length Tacom barrel (with the most beneficial features) is around $2K. I would consider one for a large caliber dedicated ELR rifle, or an F-class comp rifle (to avoid a hot barrel moving the vertical), but probably not for a 223 trainer.
Agree,

I know our 2010's were rated at around 3000 rounds for their service life so so for something in that 300WM/PRC so if one can extend that 25 percent, That almost pays for premium associated with the barrel and if the barrel is in fact more consistent, I think that is overall a win.
 
Hi all.
Gentlemen, I started this thread with the hope of generating a productive discussion on structured barrels. And while our best discussions do tend to go through a “warm phase”, they never fail to uncover new questions and reveal astute lines of reasoning.

My sincere thanks to all, especially Mr John Baker. Please continue to post new research findings and anecdotal insights here as time allows.

SH continues to be the best source for all things related to our sport!
Hi all.

I am really happy to see this discussion progressing, and we all look forward to the results and observations from @sirhrmechanic as his barrel testing gets underway.

And @John Baker please let us all know if anything new happening in your business. The interaction among you and others is exactly what has allowed this discussion to yield thoughtful input and exciting inquiries concerning experimental characterization and testing.

Again, thank you to the SH community. We could not have this depth of discussion anywhere but on Snipers Hide!
 
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Hi all.

Hi all.

I am really happy to see this discussion progressing, and we all look forward to the results and observations from @sirhrmechanic as his barrel testing gets underway.

And @John Baker please let us all know if anything new happening in your business. The interaction among you and others is exactly what has allowed this discussion to yield thoughtful input and exciting inquiries concerning experimental characterization and testing.

Again, thank you to the SH community. We could not have this depth of discussion anywhere but on Snipers Hide!
Thanks... hearing that the Bartelin backlog is huge. And could be several more months before TACOM even gets a blank in for me.

Well, cool and bleeding edge comes with delays and requires patience. So right now... holding pattern. Hopefully there will still be a 2A when I get a barrel shipped. But there ya go!

The folks at Tacom are stuck. But are awesome and respond to e-mails so fast that I think they are respond before I send it! We'll just have to see how Bartelin does.

All good!

Cheers,

Sirhr
 
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Thanks... hearing that the Bartelin backlog is huge. And could be several more months before TACOM even gets a blank in for me.

Well, cool and bleeding edge comes with delays and requires patience. So right now... holding pattern. Hopefully there will still be a 2A when I get a barrel shipped. But there ya go!

The folks at Tacom are stuck. But are awesome and respond to e-mails so fast that I think they are respond before I send it! We'll just have to see how Bartelin does.

All good!

Cheers,

Sirhr

Well... Sounds like Frank Green and co at Bartlein need to buy three more precision lathes, and grab more market share!

Btw, i heard Tacom also gets some of their barrels from Krieger.

Keep us posted when you get tour barrel.
 
Well... Sounds like Frank Green and co at Bartlein need to buy three more precision lathes, and grab more market share!

Btw, i heard Tacom also gets some of their barrels from Krieger.

Keep us posted when you get tour barrel.
They offer Krieger or Bartelin. Both are among the best in the world. I chose the Bartelin because they offer a gain twist. At the time, the backlog was 4 weeks. But I wouldn't have cared if it was longer. Because I want to do a gain twist with the structured. There is a lot of benefit to a gain twist... dating back to civil war days!

By combining the structured and gain twist, I'd expect that the precision would be really impressive.

Again, happy to wait my turn. I think the whole industry is in all kinds of 'challenge mode' right now. And I know Frank Green is a big mojo guy here.. I'd not ever ask to jump in front of a guy who has waited longer than me.

All good things take time!

Cheers,

SIrhr
 
Well... Sounds like Frank Green and co at Bartlein need to buy three more precision lathes, and grab more market share!

Btw, i heard Tacom also gets some of their barrels from Krieger.

Keep us posted when you get tour barrel.
If you haven't seen this thread I would check it out. He discusses the reasons why that is harder than it sounds.
 
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Read much of the thread, thx for posting here. It is clear Bartlein is trying their best to scale up production, under very difficult conditions. I wish them well. They have one heck of a reputation. And for good reason!
 
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AR 260-- 24" barrel. Sub 14lbs as pictured. It is a solid sub 3/8moa gun on multiple factory rounds.
Tubb gun 33xc -- 30.5" barrel. Sub 21lbs as pictured.
TRG-42-- 26" barrel (older original designs) sub 17lbs as pictured
6.5PRC -- 24" barrel. Sub 14lbs with 5-25ATACR.
300Norma-- 32" barrel. Sub 24lbs as pictured.

With a CF stock and Ti action the PRC would be well into the 9-10lb value.
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The 33xc, 300WM TRG, and 300Norma are all solid sub 1/4 moa 5 shot groups. All are fairly easy to take to 20plus round strings. Shooting with a mil group recently, were they where truing the guns, their guns had to stop at around 10rds to allow cool down to continue truing if a figure had not been met. The 33xc (vs 300WM) at 10 rounds had risen by 20deg on the barrel compared to ambient and the chamber by 10deg.
The mil group absolutely commented on the fact the rifles are "quiet". Noting even with the 33xc they could watch there impacts and there own trace at 1270. Though we could normally see our impacts at 400yds with our CheyTac at 25x.
Watch any videos of our barrels: all of the guns are "quiet".
Twist rates: both standard and gain. Faster than normally suggested (ELR decay) and we are working (successfully) well into the 4+ gains from initial. Our thoughts are to spread out the initial engagement rifling forces- hard right turn versus drifting right hand turn. Our .460S shot a 1" group at 600yds during load development. As we all know - big rifles = recoil control. Comparing the 300Wm shooting a 215gr@3000 as compared to the 33xc shooting a 300gr@3100 using rifles is nearly 30% more recoil.
However even the recent Mark and Sam video shot the 1270yd group on shots 7,8, and 9. Vertical stringing and or velocity migration is reduced. A recent winner, shooting with our barrel, at a ELR noted that they don't have to look at offsets for at least 2.5x the number of rounds fired as compared to a standard configuration. He also noted the lack of POI change during powder ladder testing. A common observation.
We are now working on the second generation barrels including new materials, coatings inside and out, cryo etc... We hope to post a new concept in a couple of months.
Again is this for everybody: nope. Compete with CF: nope. Ease of loads, forgiveness of loads, reduced left right values with load changes, extended shot strings, lower ES and group drift... all yes.
In fairness to hunters: I hope you don't need an extended shot string.
However: though I have always been a bolt guy our AR's are stupid accurate and can nearly convert me.
 
The 33xc, 300WM TRG, and 300Norma are all solid sub 1/4 moa 5 shot groups. All are fairly easy to take to 20plus round strings. Shooting with a mil group recently, were they where truing the guns, their guns had to stop at around 10rds to allow cool down to continue truing if a figure had not been met. The 33xc (vs 300WM) at 10 rounds had risen by 20deg on the barrel compared to ambient and the chamber by 10deg.
The mil group absolutely commented on the fact the rifles are "quiet". Noting even with the 33xc they could watch there impacts and there own trace at 1270. Though we could normally see our impacts at 400yds with our CheyTac at 25x.
Watch any videos of our barrels: all of the guns are "quiet".
Twist rates: both standard and gain. Faster than normally suggested (ELR decay) and we are working (successfully) well into the 4+ gains from initial. Our thoughts are to spread out the initial engagement rifling forces- hard right turn versus drifting right hand turn. Our .460S shot a 1" group at 600yds during load development. As we all know - big rifles = recoil control. Comparing the 300Wm shooting a 215gr@3000 as compared to the 33xc shooting a 300gr@3100 using rifles is nearly 30% more recoil.
However even the recent Mark and Sam video shot the 1270yd group on shots 7,8, and 9. Vertical stringing and or velocity migration is reduced. A recent winner, shooting with our barrel, at a ELR noted that they don't have to look at offsets for at least 2.5x the number of rounds fired as compared to a standard configuration. He also noted the lack of POI change during powder ladder testing. A common observation.
We are now working on the second generation barrels including new materials, coatings inside and out, cryo etc... We hope to post a new concept in a couple of months.
Again is this for everybody: nope. Compete with CF: nope. Ease of loads, forgiveness of loads, reduced left right values with load changes, extended shot strings, lower ES and group drift... all yes.
In fairness to hunters: I hope you don't need an extended shot string.
However: though I have always been a bolt guy our AR's are stupid accurate and can nearly convert me.

Mark & Sam video is certainly impressive. Getting a (edit:) 3” group at 1,270 yards on a 24” plate in the wind is quite something, around 0.2 MOA! Also very little vertical in that group. [Yes it is only a 3 shot group, and it would be more interesting/convincing to see a few 5 shot groups.]

@John Baker
Just curious what ELR event you are referring to where the structured barrel came out on top?
 
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We’re there any structured barrels at the NF comp last weekend?
 
Has anyone here gotten a structured barrel? From what I understand... blanks are just backlogged. Now going on 8 months... for mine.

This is really a time when this barrel technology should be getting out there and we should be seeing some really cool builds. But the barrel blank backlog/shortage must have really ground things to a halt.

I feel bad for the guys at TACOM because almost a year ago, they got this great technology buzz going here. But are probably pulling their hair out getting barrel blanks! They have been great about communicating... but the answer is always 'No blanks... "

Just wondering if anything is getting out to folks and what your results have been shooting them?

Cheers,

Sirhr
 
I have been waiting for you report!!

was actually going to pm you a few weeks ago incase it didn’t go so well and you didn’t want to put it out there.
 
To answer some further questions:
A barrel was used at Raton 1.64 Mile Challenge in Raton. A unique challenge a this event was that every target had to be hit 2x in order to go onto the next target... reduces lucky for sure. Rusty Newton was the shooter and skilled at ELR. Dan Warner was the builder. For those who want good third party input, Dan Warner and Rob Vestal rank up there pretty good and certainly would not use our barrels if they were not the real deal.

We are testing next generation barrels: cryo, coatings and materials. We are working with materials that potentially offer 4x life before cryo or coatings. We are also working with further vibration node control- in fact our continuation of the Structured Barrel patent delves into the theory and what we will build. Finally we hope to show a unique barrel and rifle at NRA. Unfortunately UPS lost the barrel - they delivered an empty tube. How you tear apart 1/8 wall heavy card board tubes is it's own mystery- literally torn in half- though they did deliver the two halves. So its been a wild push to get two more barrels in full process and complete within a four week window.

The goal of the barrel was not to produce an top barrel for today's ammo its design goals are- consistent 4-5Kfps rounds- and still have acceptable barrel life. A bit out there perhaps- but let's see how we do...
Brass is being produced to support testing and custom reamers are being produced.

We have made an agreement with Helber Rifle and Bullets to produce barrels for us to supply the European and South Africa market. They have developed a muzzle brake built to enhance the vacuum effects on the muzzle end and we will show it at NRA. They were shocked at how much air moves thru the barrel during firing. TACOMHQ is working on brake/suppressor combo to adapt specifically to our barrels.

We also have a few new optics on there way for ELR and ELR subsonic or super heavies.
 
No barrels were at the NF comp this weekend. We have just recently started producing barrels in the 1.25"dia range (5.5lbs). There will be next year including the woman (Heather) who just took 1st place- they are familiar with our barrels.
 
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What action are you using for testing.

Stronger brass will certainly help but to get 4-5k velocity the pressure will be higher than run of the mill actions can handle safely.

are you looking at different powder and such. I think the theoretical max velocity is 4500 ( I forget the exact number), but the actual burn rates arent much faster.

looking forward to what comes next
 
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No barrels were at the NF comp this weekend. We have just recently started producing barrels in the 1.25"dia range (5.5lbs). There will be next year including the woman (Heather) who just took 1st place- they are familiar with our barrels.

I though Litz won the NF challenge?
 
I have been waiting for you report!!

was actually going to pm you a few weeks ago incase it didn’t go so well and you didn’t want to put it out there.
Looks like barrels are 6-8 weeks out. Before getting to TACOM. Which is where they were in Dec. And May. So not even possibility of barrel blank before October, probably. And then 2-3 months turnaround at TACOM. Then who knows how long to get gunsmith to fit the barrel to my action.

Was hoping to bring to Precision Rifle Expo and shoot with some from friends at Campbell on the way down. But looking like it will be… best case… Feb or March now.

BTW… action is a 700 long action with magnum bolt face. I ordered in .300 win mag because I already load really good rounds for my Mk 13 and figured it would be a great baseline rifle.

I ordered an Aspis from Theis this spring. It will go to Campbell with me as it is not far out. Alas, testing structured barrel will be next spring at best. Oh well.

But, good things take time.

Sirhr
 
But can he pull the same trigger twice ? Or is that a restriction for only the specialist if guests ?
 
We are getting info- considering the range price per exhibitor... I hope it is more than one trigger pull. Otherwise it limits "a message" that you are trying to convey.
 
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Is barrel availability and lead times from Bartlein and Krieger improving, or still one year plus?
 
As @LeftyJason posted above, Frank Green from Bartlein Barrels has been keeping SH informed on what is happening with barrel orders (see below link). But IIRC, as of Tuesday Frank said ~9mo out. They are doing their best to meet demand, but have to deal with delays in their supply chain as well. Regardless, check the link below to see updates. Again, thank you to Bartlein Barrels and @Frank Green for keeping SH informed.

 
Any updates or deliveries?

Still a interesting concept

Thanks
 
Any updates or deliveries?

Still a interesting concept

Thanks
My barrel is threaded and getting fitted to action.... Expect chambering by next week.

Not long now.

The issue with deliveries isn't with Tacom... but with barrel makers being so backed up.

Expect to have this in hand pretty quick at this stage and am confident it is worth the wait.

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I want to do a structured barrel in .300 NM for my MRAD. Apparently the folks at TACOM are doing some. That seems like an amazing combination to me!

Cheers,

Sirhr
 
So Vestals ended up being too busy to work on my rifle, and the folks at TACOM hooked me up with John Mills out in the PNW. Super guy... really have enjoyed talking with him and he has been putting the rifle together.

Well, he just let me know that he function tested it and it's shooting nicely and feeding well. He'es going to be firing for accuracy before it comes home next week!

structured.jpg


Still going to need some metal finishing when it gets home (or maybe not?) And then I can start load development.

Got my Sphur mount on it and a great KRG chassis system from @Massoud. Thanks KRG team! And TACOM and @Frank Green from Bartelin!

More when it arrives home. Already planning a shoot in May with it.

Now, if I can just get a 28" .300 NM structured barrel in process with LH Gain Twist and an OD to fit a Barrett MRAD barrel-makers kit...

Cheers,

Sirhr
 
The issue with deliveries isn't with Tacom... but with barrel makers being so backed up.
I know your not poking at us but for reference for anyone reading etc...

It's not just us backed up. It's everyone/everything.

Powder is a major problem and as such...bullets, primers, cases, guns/actions etc...

I don't see anything getting any better anytime soon. I think it will be like this for the next couple of years and or this could be the new normal?

It also gets tougher for us when a gunsmith or a shop is suppose to be ordering the barrel for the customer as well. I can't tell you guys how many times the end user/customer calls us up and asks us for a ETA on his barrel. Then when we look in the system his name isn't even in the system so he didn't order it. So as we get deeper in the conversation he tells us oh my gunsmith ordered it. At times the gunsmith hasn't ordered it yet either. It doesn't happen a lot but it does happen. So make sure you and your gunsmith etc...are on the same page as well.

Some gunsmiths will order a barrel for a customer and will want us to reference the customers name in the po box on the order form and......sometimes they don't.

Later, Frank
 
I know your not poking at us but for reference for anyone reading etc...

It's not just us backed up. It's everyone/everything.

Powder is a major problem and as such...bullets, primers, cases, guns/actions etc...

I don't see anything getting any better anytime soon. I think it will be like this for the next couple of years and or this could be the new normal?

It also gets tougher for us when a gunsmith or a shop is suppose to be ordering the barrel for the customer as well. I can't tell you guys how many times the end user/customer calls us up and asks us for a ETA on his barrel. Then when we look in the system his name isn't even in the system so he didn't order it. So as we get deeper in the conversation he tells us oh my gunsmith ordered it. At times the gunsmith hasn't ordered it yet either. It doesn't happen a lot but it does happen. So make sure you and your gunsmith etc...are on the same page as well.

Some gunsmiths will order a barrel for a customer and will want us to reference the customers name in the po box on the order form and......sometimes they don't.

Later, Frank
^^^ this.

And in looking for an MRAD blank… only one company is doing LH gain. Bartelin. And lead times from Krieger and PAC Nor my other go-tos are similar. Steel is on short supply. Cutting tools are in short supply. Labor is in short supply.

One Must just be patient. And it is going to get worse.

Sirhr
 
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^^^ this.

And in looking for an MRAD blank… only one company is doing LH gain. Bartelin. And lead times from Krieger and PAC Nor my other go-tos are similar. Steel is on short supply. Cutting tools are in short supply. Labor is in short supply.

One Must just be patient. And it is going to get worse.

Sirhr
^^^ what he said!

We don't have any steel shortage problems but I will tell you this....the main mill we deal with we have orders scheduled well into 2023 already.

As of May 2021 any new customers to the mill....lead time use to be 5 months it is now 14 months! Also the last I heard on a couple of other mills...they are not calling any employees back yet from the layoffs and taking the gov't stimulus money etc....they are waiting for the steel prices to go up higher etc....

Cutting tools....the place we use for our gun drills and bore reamers...last summer lead times on carbide in a span of 12 weeks...the lead times went from 8 weeks to 12 weeks to 22 weeks and is currently at 40 weeks! They will not and cannot expedite any orders anymore for anyone. We've had to double the size of our orders or order more frequently etc... as well as carry more inventory. When a lead time like this goes from 8 weeks to 40 weeks....you know places are going to get caught with they're pants down!

So the supply chain system is broken/screwed up big time!

I know it's not gun stuff but it's effecting every industry as well...as another example I've got a dishwasher and a new stove on order since last October. I was told end of Jan. for delivery....still waiting!
 
I know your not poking at us but for reference for anyone reading etc...

It's not just us backed up. It's everyone/everything.

Powder is a major problem and as such...bullets, primers, cases, guns/actions etc...

I don't see anything getting any better anytime soon. I think it will be like this for the next couple of years and or this could be the new normal?

It also gets tougher for us when a gunsmith or a shop is suppose to be ordering the barrel for the customer as well. I can't tell you guys how many times the end user/customer calls us up and asks us for a ETA on his barrel. Then when we look in the system his name isn't even in the system so he didn't order it. So as we get deeper in the conversation he tells us oh my gunsmith ordered it. At times the gunsmith hasn't ordered it yet either. It doesn't happen a lot but it does happen. So make sure you and your gunsmith etc...are on the same page as well.

Some gunsmiths will order a barrel for a customer and will want us to reference the customers name in the po box on the order form and......sometimes they don't.

Later, Frank
Well you guys did beat the estimated delivery for my recent 338 barrel by a few months.
:)
 
I know your not poking at us but for reference for anyone reading etc...

It's not just us backed up. It's everyone/everything.

Powder is a major problem and as such...bullets, primers, cases, guns/actions etc...

I don't see anything getting any better anytime soon. I think it will be like this for the next couple of years and or this could be the new normal?

It also gets tougher for us when a gunsmith or a shop is suppose to be ordering the barrel for the customer as well. I can't tell you guys how many times the end user/customer calls us up and asks us for a ETA on his barrel. Then when we look in the system his name isn't even in the system so he didn't order it. So as we get deeper in the conversation he tells us oh my gunsmith ordered it. At times the gunsmith hasn't ordered it yet either. It doesn't happen a lot but it does happen. So make sure you and your gunsmith etc...are on the same page as well.

Some gunsmiths will order a barrel for a customer and will want us to reference the customers name in the po box on the order form and......sometimes they don't.

Later, Frank
on that note, you prob remember a bunch of GT BB barrels that had to be rushed because someone didnt order them until we reminded them

by the way everyone, Frank Green jumped through hoops to get some barrels in the right hands on that one


ive posted it before but some of my suppliers were sending us actual pictures of the shipping lane software and ship locations circling around a port

they would circle and say "that boat" but they didnt know when it was being off loaded
 
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I see several mentions of “average shooter” above.
Average shooters are not on SH.
 
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Just to punctuate Frank's points...

I just ordered a 72" piece of 3/4" alloy brass bar from MSC. Catalog price from 2021 catalog was $78. Price today... $307.

Ordered a custom decimal size chucking reamer. .531" Nothing exotic. Last year's catalog price was $80ish. Just got delivered for over $150. Took two weeks to get in. While project sat on my shop floor.

And while I was at the gas station an hour ago... the price for diesel went up 10 cents. Got a picture of Rich putting up the new number on his sign. That's 30 cents in 24 hours. Our diesel is $4.60 a gallon. 120 to fill up my truck.

You know what Brandon can do with his ice cream and crack pipes?

Sirhr
 
I still have to get some photos... but with this now in hand and having had a day to spend fondling -- er -- evaluating it in the most scientific and professional ways possible... some impressions. And probably have a window to shoot it this weekend, but not to any kind of potential. So that will have to wait for mud season to end.

First, it was a long process but totally worth it! For those who do not know, it's a M700 .300 Winchester Magnum action/bolt face. Bought the action from, I think, @powdahound76 here on SH a year or so ago for... whatever project cropped up. I chose .300 Win Mag because it would work with this action and because I have another superbly-accurate .300 Win Mag in my Mk 13. They are good to compares side-by-side. And I know I have great ammo loaded as well. So as this was as much to really get a feel for a structured barrel as anything, this is the reason I chose a cartridge that is really not going to see the full-potential of a structured barrel compared to some of the big ELR calibers.

The chassis is a KRG Whiskey 3 (@Massoud) and is my second chassis from them. My first being a very early Bravo. And I got to play with a prototype TRG stock from them in about 2012... so have a long history of loving everything the KRG folks put out. Big fan of the mag release button for some reason ;-) Anyway, there was some concern about the barrel channel being large enough for the OD of the structured barrel. No worries, it fits with plenty of room to clear!

Final assembly was supposed to be done by Vestals. But by the time the barrel was done, they were backed up something like 9 months and my 'slot' was gone. Which ended up being a good thing because @John Baker and the folks at TACOM up with John MIlls at Buffalo Creek Precision in Bellingham, Wa. https://www.buffalocreekprecision.com/ John Mills is another ELR builder who is making a name for himself and this is his first structured barrel project and won't be his last for sure. He was an absolute pleasure to work with on this project. In fact, we ended up having several very indepth conversations about gain twist, chambers, harmonics and a wide array of gun topics. He is so sold on the structured barrel idea that I think he is ordering one for himself at this point. He was reasonably priced, great at communications, did the work in a timely manner and was overall everything one could want in a builder. I am already looking for our 'next' project to work on.

Rifle is done in a gain twist. I will share the @Frank Green Bartelin barrel "Button" cut off the end of the barrel when I post some pictures. Worth the wait! The reamer used for the chamber was a .339 NK. John Mills suggested it and I have no issue with his recommendation though may have to do some neck turning. It chambered my 'fireforming' rounds fine.

We installed a recoil lug on the barrel at John Mills suggestion. And it has a brake that will hold a suppressor fitted to it. With suppressor, I may need guy wires to support it. It will look like Anzio Annie.

An older Sphur mount and one of my Signature USO 3.2-22 (or something like) that EREK Mil scopes for optics.

The fit and finish on the barrel is gorgeous! It has several small 'steps' along its length. I am not sure if those were put in at TACOM, but assume they were. The cooling 'dimples' add surface area over the chamber and are beautifully done. I have not figured out the purpose of the holes into the 'structured' drilling holes. Either for air circulation or perhaps to prevent the air inside from acting like a hammer or a spring when the gun is fired. I could see a desire to let air flow through the drillings, not sit static inside. That's a question for John Baker, I guess!

As I have not fired it yet, but I will quote John Mills from his range trip where it shot extremely well with nothing more than fireforming ammo I sent him: "I will say the recoil was very interesting and I was able to see impacts at 100yds which was really pretty amazing." He also mentioned that the think is a "Lookie-Lou" magnet at the range. Lots of "What is that." Here is one of his targets. Again, keep in mind that this was fireforming ammo only. With 'leftover' lead soft nose hunting bullets and some Sierra's left over from another project... This ammo was thrown into the cases for function testing, not match quality. Overall, no issues with the 'test' group!

target.jpg


Only other thing we are running into is some feeding from the mags and I need to order a mag lip adjusting tool. 4th round was diving until a slight lip modification was made. After that, the mags fed fine.

So when the weather gets to not suck.... I'll take this and the Mk 13 out for a side-by-side comparison. And I expect that the structured barrel is going to be really great to shoot. And with proper handloading is going to shoot absolute holes in holes.

Overall, a worthy and fun journey and one that has not stopped by any means. Already working on getting a structured .300 NM barrel done for "Boomer" the MRAD. And possibly another ELR project that is cooking away on my back burner. Both should have some serious ELR potential to them.

Thanks to everyone, especially the folks at TACOM who showed up here to explain their product... and I hope are gaining some serious converts to a cool technology!

Cheers,

Sirhr
 

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Some random pictures.

Below are the 'air holes' that I was mentioning above. And the cooling dimples.

structured 1.jpg


Overall barrel. With suppressor-mount brake. This will take a SilencerCo Hybrid. Plenty good for a .300 WM.
structured 3.jpg


Sphur mount. One of the screws went awry during shipping. Already got another from Mile High. Now where the heck did I put that thing?

structured 4.jpg


Close-up of the cooling dimples over the chamber/throat/pressure area. And you can see the recoil lug installed between barrel and receiver.
structured 5.jpg


This was one that John Mills took before his range trip out in Bellingham.
structured.jpg



More pictures and groups from the range. And more when I get some 'proper' ammo loaded. Need at least 100 cases fireformed. They are already waiting! Let's see... it's 3-shot groups here, right?

Cheers,

Sirhr

PS. Really impressed with the W-3 Chassis from KRG! I have an early Bravo, as I mentioned. It's got my .14 Eichelberger Tikka in it. And I love that stock. But this one has so much more going on! It's not a folder, but I didn't think I need one for this rifle. It's not going tactical... it's for the range. But this stock has all kinds of cool features and every time I look at it going "I wonder if they thought to put in a... Hey, they did!!!" It's a great piece of work.

Last... I forgot to mention that it has a TriggerTech Diamond in it. The same one that went through a 'fiasco' with shipping from Canada last year. And then two showed up, which led to our fundraiser for the Scout Sniper Assn. I met the TriggerTech folks down at Blakely last fall, BTW. Very nice guys and they really stand up for their product. Installed on the 700 action, the trigger is smooth -- two stage. Dead clean break. The safety is positive and feels good. Very, very pleased with it and with the company! I can't remember who it is on here who is a TriggerTech rep, but you guys rock! Cheers!
 

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