Gunsmithing Bartlein Palma Contour

[rware91]

Would it be a good idea to use a palma contour barrel for a tactical rifle build. I am thinking of getting it finished off at 22 inches and threaded for a brake. I like the idea of the palma contour saving some weight but do not know how it will stand up to strings of prolonged fire. What is your opinion of this?
Ryan

 

[rcw3]

Re: Bartlein Palma Contour

There is nothing wrong with using a Palma contour for a tactical build - Palma and high power shooters use it all the time for longer sustained strings of fire with no issues (example, in high power rapid sitting is 10 shots in 60 seconds then 10 more in another 60 seconds a couple minutes later). I would stay with a heavy Palma myself because I like a barrel with a little more meat on it, but you can also run with a medium Palma. Bartlein will make whatever contour you specify so that's a non-issue.

 

[hewlett260]

Re: Bartlein Palma Contour

The higher end tactical rifles like the non-magnum Accuracy International come with Palma contours. My AW 260 Rem came from AI with a Bartlein heavy Palma and it seems to do anything i could ever wish, so i dont see how it could be a bad choice to use one on a tactical setup

 

[glock24]

Re: Bartlein Palma Contour

A Palma fan here. No issues with sustained fire (10-20 rounds per string)


Bartlein medium Palma finished @ 24" (6.5x47 Lapua)

Bartlein light Palma finished @ 18" (223 Remington)

 

[rware91]

Re: Bartlein Palma Contour

Thanks for the responses. I will be getting the barrel and action to a smith soon.

 

[sobrbiker883]

Re: Bartlein Palma Contour

From looking at the builds around here (SW USA) I think Med Palma is about the most popular contour for those shooting precision comps. I think M40/MTU is still a favorite for tactical safe queens...

My last build was a Bartlein in a Tubb contour, and I like it so much that the 6XC I just got is back at Bartlein as I type getting its HV straight taper redone into a Tubb.

Tubb is pretty much a split between a medium Palma and a Remington Varmint.

 

[sobrbiker883]

Re: Bartlein Palma Contour

27" Tubb contour (nice bottom metal Glock24!):

 

[Adam B]

Re: Bartlein Palma Contour

I am a medium palma or rem var fan all the way, I have never seen the need for anything heavier.

 

[MinorDamage]

Re: Bartlein Palma Contour

I think they are the best compromise of rigidity and weight out there. TRGs like mine come with what amounts to a medium palma taper and I have never had any issues with accuracy.

Josh

 

[Cegorach]

Re: Bartlein Palma Contour

Medium palma is definetely my favorite contour for a practical tactical style rifle. I have one on my .243 and will be using one for any similair build in the future. They are heavy enough to be stable, balance well, and not string, but not too heavy to be overly cumbersome and tiresome.

 

[Lowe Left]

Re: Bartlein Palma Contour

Question for you medium palma contour guys. Why do you choose the pricier ($20 more) palma contour over the RV, when you cut it 26" or less? Just wonderin...

 

[Graham]

Re: Bartlein Palma Contour

A Bartlein Heavy Palma finished at 22"-25" is the shit!

A Heavy Palma at 25" is on my new .284 match rifle.

 

[mavrick]

Re: Bartlein Palma Contour

My 591 260 is at LAPR right not getting a med palma 308 barrel fitted up at 18in for a lighter weight set up that I can switch them up my self. The 260 is a m24/40 and its a litle on the heavy side.

Dustin

 

[glock24]

Re: Bartlein Palma Contour

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rosie Palma</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Question for you medium palma contour guys. Why do you choose the pricier ($20 more) palma contour over the RV, when you cut it 26" or less? Just wonderin... </div></div>

The result is a lighter barrel than the RV.

Notice how the RV and medium Palma are very close to the same weight on Bartlein's website? But also notice this weight comes from 26" of steel with the RV, but it takes 30" of steel on the medium Palma. Therefore, cutting the medium Palma to 26" results in a slightly lighter barrel than a 26" RV. Make sense?

Also know that when you order a shorter Palma contour, Bartlein doesn't just make a 30" Palma barrel and then cut it shorter. Instead they make a shorter-length Palma barrel to the specificed shorter length the first time. This means the slope of the contour is actually more aggressive (lighter) on these shorter Palma barrels (because Bartlein makes the muzzle diameter the same, no matter the length). In other words, a Bartlein medium Palma contour made to 24" the first time will be lighter than a Bartlein medium Palma contour made to 30", and then cut to 24". It is a subtle difference, but it can add up on a rifle that you're trying to keep on the lighter side.

 

[Lowe Left]

Re: Bartlein Palma Contour

Thanks Glock24, that makes sense.

 

[Frank Green]

Re: Bartlein Palma Contour

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rosie Palma</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Question for you medium palma contour guys. Why do you choose the pricier ($20 more) palma contour over the RV, when you cut it 26" or less? Just wonderin... </div></div>

Guys if you don't need a 30" finish length palma just tell us that when you order the barrel. Then you don't get charged the extra $20 like was stated earlier. If you call us up and just say a #12 palma we think you want a 30"finish/31" blank. If you're going to finish it at 26" will send you a 27" blank or what ever finish length you wand then just tell us that.

Same with contour dimensions. We do the Tubb contour or Rem. Varmint contour or Palma contours with different dimensions. If you want a heavy palma but with a .875 muzzle at 28" then that's what will make you.

Palma/Rem. Varm. contours will help keep the weight down for a position shooter and shoot just as good as a str. taper barrel. It's what I recommend for a someone building a gun and is worried about the weight. My prone gun with a med. palma in 6x47 Lapua will shoot in the flat .2xx's at a 100 yards and has shot like that out to a 1000 and even 1200. The 2009 F-Class champs I had many compliments that the gun was shooting sub 1/3moa at a 1000.

The straighter the barrel, the more uniform the bore and groove sizes and the more uniform the twist the more forgiving the barrel is going to be and it doesn't matter if it's a Palma, Str. taper or straight blank etc...

Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels

 

[Lowe Left]

Re: Bartlein Palma Contour

Thanks Frank, that answers my question completely.

 

[sobrbiker883]

Re: Bartlein Palma Contour

So is a Med Palma with it's angular transitions "straighter" than it's svelte curvy cousin the Tubb (not that I could shoot the difference

)?