Barrel options

[mrtoyz]

Looking to get my feet wet with long range shooting and considering the pros and cons of a custom vs. factory. Looking into building off of Surgeon RSR action and a Rock 5R or buying Remington 5R (or possibly SPS, LTR).

The part that has me stumped is in regards to which barrel to choose. While researching the factory options I became a fan of the claimed benefits of the 5R rifling (50-75 extra fps, cleaner shooting) however this is new to me so I am unsure if for roughly the same cost if I should look at other options from quality barrel makers such as Krieger, Broughton, and Obermeyer etc. Just need some help understanding the pros and cons of a single point cut rifled barrel vs. the 5R which I understand to be button cut. If 5R is as good as I keep being told then why are the majority of custom builds not using them?

If it matters I intend to shoot primarily from 100-600 yds (occasionally out to 1000) and would like a 20” fluted barrel, also I plan to stick with 175gr SMK’s.

 

[Bugholes]

Re: Barrel options

The 5R rifling can be made with pull button or cut rifling, it is not specific to button rifling. Many premium manufacturers are using a radiused rifling profile, they just call them different names like radiused (obermeyer, rock, bartlein), canted (broughton), polygonal (schneider), ratchet (shilen), etc. Broughton and Shilen are doing button barrels, I think most of the others making radiused rifling are cut rifled barrels.
Do you want a button rifled barrel?? The interrior finish can be superb; you might not find too many guys swearing by button rifling but there are lots of guys that say cut rifling is the only way to go. Feedback that I have gathered favors cut barrels, thats why all my custom guns wear cut rifled barrrels.
I assume with a 20" barrel shooting 175 SMK you are looking for a .308. You wont be dissappointed with Rock or Obermeyer 30 cal tubes.
Remington Milspec 5R is a fantasticlly accurate factory gun for $1000. You might consider paying more and building yourself EXACTLY what you want. Besides you should see the accuracy benifits at the further end of the range which you intend to shoot.

 

[mrtoyz]

Re: Barrel options

Yes 308.

I honestly don’t know if I want cut or button. Do you know if Rock 5R barrels are cut or button?

The Surgeon RSR/Rock Creek 5R fluted 1/11.25" cut to 20" has at the top of my list. Just not sure about laying out that much $ up front vs build a stock Remington up. Rock creek barrels were recommended because they built 5R barrels, then the question arouse why Rock vs other manufacturers barrels?

 

[Bugholes]

Re: Barrel options

Rock creek offers cut and buttoned barrels. Cut barrels are their premium line but the button barrels are for OEM contracts
Why Rock vs others?
Personal preference. Guys like Patriot arms and GA precision choose these barrels for their own reasons, and many in the same shooting discipline will follow suit, a follow the leader of sorts. You wont go wrong with any premium barrel manufacturers. Rock is deeply embedded in the tactical community, but you wont see many (if any) of his barrels at williamsport or in the short range benchrest groups. Lots of benchresters use Krieger and broughton, lots of rimfire guys like Lilja, and so on.

I still believe in the "buy once, cry once" spending theory...

 

[Jerry m]

Re: Barrel options

i would suggest you buy a factory Remington and spend the extra money on the scope, training and ammunition. I will assume from your question that you are not an experienced shooter or rich.

You can learn the basics from going to a rifle range and by shooting in F-class matches. You can learn more by taking formal training in precision shooting. Either way, unless you are a prodigy it will take you a year of more to learn to 'read the wind' and other aspects of precision shooting that go beyond the basics. The factory barrel will out shoot most people in this regard. You can then decide to spend money on a custom build, at a later date. If, for instance you don't like precision shooting or don't have time, selling a factory low millage factory rifle should be quicker then selling an expensive custom. IMHO YMMV

Good luck

Jerry

 

[chad3]

Re: Barrel options

I'd second the above, get a factory one and burn out the barrel. Go from there. Even better if you can find a used LTR or 5R on here.
Chad