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Don't kill me! Do I "need" a Heavy barrel?

KPK

KPK

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 2, 2009
1,105
194
40
Oklahoma
#1
I know it's been asked a million times and I've read it a lot, I just want to know some new opinions.

I'm working on a 260. I plan on it being 26" shooting 139 Lapua Scenars. I have an A5 Sniper Fill with KMW Loggerhead hardware on order (Remington Varmint contour), Surgeon 591, and Surgeon DBM. I also have a Rock MTU barrel, but I'm now thinking the Remington Varmint would be a better choice. Is there "really" a reason for an 18 lb target rifle that isn't for bench rest shooting? I'm figuring on saving 2 lbs or so going with the Varmint. What's your thoughts? It'll be for target, tactical matches (maybe at some point), etc.
 
#3
Re: Don't kill me! Do I "need" a Heavy barrel?

That will be fine, I've seen sporter weight barrels that will out shoot heavy bull barrels, and it seems like you are using a top shelf action/ barrel, and as long as it goes to a good smith you should have a great product regardless of the contour. I don't think anyone will jump on you because you seem to have a plan, and a goal, and are moving towards a build that will accomplish that goal. I personally would save weight in shortening the 26" barrel to 20" or 22" you won't lose that much velocity. You will appreciate the handiness of it. That doesn't make my method correct.

Best of luck to you..
 
#4
Re: Don't kill me! Do I "need" a Heavy barrel?

Medium palma contour is about perfect for tactical style shooting, there is really no need for a truck axel hanging off of your rifle, unless, like you said the rifle will only be used for bench rest shooting or if you think you will be firing follow up shots quickly, like at prairie dog shoots. Having a huge ass barrel does however, reduce recoil and make shooting for long periods of time less brutal on your shoulder. Also having a heavy barrel allows you to shoot faster without as much affect on accuracy loss do too heat. If you are concerned with recoil, which isn't really a problem with a .260, you can get a brake, JMO and I hope I helped you out a little.
 
#5
Re: Don't kill me! Do I "need" a Heavy barrel?

Go with the varmint I had a mtu barrel and hated it, replaced it with a varmint contour and threw the mtu in the river. Two pounds is a lot of weight reduction. Just my thoughts
 
#6
Re: Don't kill me! Do I "need" a Heavy barrel?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: YN*Dotte</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Medium palma contour is about perfect for tactical style shooting </div></div>

+1
 
#7
Re: Don't kill me! Do I "need" a Heavy barrel?

I agree with the above, I too have had a 26" MTU and it was too heavy. I am a big fan of a palma taper like on the 26" AIAW or TRG. I think they give the best of both weight savings and accuracy aid. Remember the contour of the barrel dosent change the inherient accuracy, thats in the quality of manufacture.
 
#9
Re: Don't kill me! Do I "need" a Heavy barrel?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: former naval person</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Damn...Silent runner...wasted that barrel when I need Tomato Stakes. JMHO </div></div>

Or a fancy ass fire poker! Lol
 
#14
Re: Don't kill me! Do I "need" a Heavy barrel?

Thanks for all the help guys. I agree, this thing may be too heavy. I'm not going to be lugging it around, but at some point it gets pointless. It looks like a medium palma and Sendero/RV are pretty much the same thing...? No?
 
#16
Re: Don't kill me! Do I "need" a Heavy barrel?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KPK</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Think I'd be better off with a 22-24" barrel really? i don't want to sell myself short. </div></div>

You won't be selling yourself short with a shorter barrel, it's pretty handy if you do have to lug it around, and you won't be loosing too much with a 22" barrel, however you will begin to notice the loss of velocity if you go too much shorter.
 
#19
Re: Don't kill me! Do I "need" a Heavy barrel?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 19Scout77</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: YN*Dotte</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Medium palma contour is about perfect for tactical style shooting </div></div>

+1 </div></div>

another +1.....
 
#20
Re: Don't kill me! Do I "need" a Heavy barrel?

I'm looking at a M40/M24 contour barrel, you might take a look at that, if you want something thicker than a med. palma, but slight thinner than a MTU. So you don't get quite the extreme heaviness of the MTU but you still have a heavy barrel. Sry i have the letters spaced out but when i post the reply it has em spaced closely.

Straightgif.gif


Bartlein M40/M24

A B C D
1.200 3.000 .900 26"

Barlein MTU

A B C D
1.250 2.750 .930 26"
 
#22
Re: Don't kill me! Do I "need" a Heavy barrel?

The MTU is a great contour and has its place to be sure but is way to heavy on a hunting rifle that you are going to carry. For the range, they work well but they are no fun to hump up/down the canyon country that I hunt.
 
#23
Re: Don't kill me! Do I "need" a Heavy barrel?

Trying to decide the same thing for a 7wsm build right now, only between a krieger #18 Light varmint and a Rem varmint contour. Anyone have any rifles with this countour on it to comment on likes and dislikes? Manily going to be for shooting paper or steel long distance but will get lugged around some, not for hunting in the mountains by any means though. Looking for a 27 inch finished length with a break added to it. Not opposed to fluting to reduce some weight if need arrises.

Rest of rifle build will be a Mcmillan A-5 standard fill, Big horn actions Short action reciever with mag bolt, surgeon bottom metal, 20 moa rail and nightforce nxs 5.5-22x50. I figure about 9-9.25 pounds without barrel weight, does this sound about right?
 
#24
Re: Don't kill me! Do I "need" a Heavy barrel?

OK, so you're saying that you have a Rock MTU profile barrel. You referenced the other barrel as being a Remington Varmint barrel. Are you referring to the brand of the barrel or just the contour? If you are choosing between a Rock MTU barrel and a lighter Remington barrel, I'd go with the quality and suffer with the side effects. If you are talking about two barrels of like quality, then go with the one that fits your needs.

My "take along" bolt gun has a 22" Krieger MTU profile barrel on it. Yeah, it's thick and relatively heavy, but I don't find it too heavy for short humps or for taking along on the back of a four wheeler. It is not off hand fire friendly though. I only fire this rifle from a bipod.

A barrel does not need to be heavy to be accurate, but I would argue that a short lighter profile barrel will be more accurate than a long lighter profile barrel of like quality. I'll tell you this, dealing with a 26" barrel is a PITA too. Of course, a heavier barrel will take longer to heat up and will offer a greater degree of stability, simply by virtue of the weight.

This may be apples and oranges, but when I had my first rifle put together, my gunsmith recommended a barrel length of 20-22" for my .308. He said that the only way he'd go longer is if I had a specific reason for NEEDING to do so.

With my 22" barrel, getting a 175gr SMK to 2600 fps is really easy with lots of head room left.

I wouldn't worry so much about losing much velocity with a shorter barrel. I found that I gained a bunch of velocity just by going to a custom barrel with a tighter chamber.
 
#25
Re: Don't kill me! Do I "need" a Heavy barrel?

I have a MTU Broughton 5R on a APA 300 mag. Heavy but appropriate for the caliber.

You might want to conisder a no. 7 taper. I have one on a GAP 260 which I like. Heavy, but not too much. I'd be curious to compare the no. 7 to the M40 taper described above.

Next rifle may have a no. 6 taper or the Varmit taper. As I get older, the tapers get lighter.

Good luck.
 
#26
Re: Don't kill me! Do I "need" a Heavy barrel?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nfoley</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well this explains why GAP just told me they have a surplus of MTU bartlein barrels right now! </div></div>

Odd, last week they told me that they always have Bartlein M40/M24 contour in stock but a Bartlein MTU was special order - 3 months.
 
#27
Re: Don't kill me! Do I "need" a Heavy barrel?

You can make anything within reason work just fine, all a matter of preference. I hung a 26" heavy palma on mine and after handling an identical rifle with the medium palma that will be the route on the next barrel.
 
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