How do you choose contours?

[Jackomason]

I'm ordering my first barrel from a Smith. I'm just curious how you guys zero in on a specific contour? I know that there isn't much difference between all the heavies so is it just a case of pick one and keep using it?

I'm thinking of trying a M24 for a 224 valk, it's going to be %80 target and a little coyote and prairie dog hunting. It seems excessive but I guess there's only one way to find out what I like, unless you guys have some good input? Is the M24 stupid heavy compared to like a medium Palma?

 

[DAVETOOLEY]

You reach a point of diminishing returns with barrel weight. The smaller the caliber the less weight required to get to an acceptable level of accuracy. Unless you just like to hump extra weight around I would go much smaller. For 308 and smaller cartridges you really don't need anything bigger than a medium Palma. Heavy Palma tops. Weight does make the make the package handle better but....
Everything is a compromise.

 

[generalzip]

Totally depends what you're using the gun for. My rule of thumb is to go as heavy as I can for the intended use. For hunting that's probably a #5 to medium palma. For PRS MTU, heavy varmint or straight taper even. For a coyote gun that you have to carry far I wouldnt go more than probably medium palma or remington varmint contour. For prairie dogs where you don't have to walk at all and long strings of fire the heavier the better (M24/MTU). Allows you to shoot more rounds before heat starts to open groups up.

 

[Niles Coyote]

You reach a point of diminishing returns with barrel weight. The smaller the caliber the less weight required to get to an acceptable level of accuracy. Unless you just like to hump extra weight around I would go much smaller. For 308 and smaller cartridges you really don't need anything bigger than a medium Palma. Heavy Palma tops. Weight does make the make the package handle better but....
Everything is a compromise.

Dave, any truth or scientific reasoning behind using bore size as a judge? Such as .308 using a barrel with a muzzle no smaller than .9" or .223 no smaller than .66" and so on?

 

[Steel head]

Totally depends what you're using the gun for. My rule of thumb is to go as heavy as I can for the intended use. For hunting that's probably a #5 to medium palma. For PRS MTU, heavy varmint or straight taper even. For a coyote gun that you have to carry far I wouldnt go more than probably medium palma or remington varmint contour. For prairie dogs where you don't have to walk at all and long strings of fire the heavier the better (M24/MTU). Allows you to shoot more rounds before heat starts to open groups up.

Pretty good rule.

In something like a Valkyrie I’d probably look at a medium Palma.
It’s not like recoil is an issue.

Weight is for gamer guns and recoil mitigation.
No reason to make it really heavy unless you need it heavy

 

[generalzip]

It's just a wall thickness thing. For a given contour you will have less wall thickness, weight, material for strength and add heat capacity with increasing bore size.

 

[FUNCTIONAL]

really unless you need an ultra light for true scouting/hunting a medium palma/marksman profile or a MTU/M24/Heavy Palma/Heavy Varmint (all of these are the same in my opinion) should really be the two main "classes" needed.

The 3 main drivers are
1) are you lugging this around often/far? No - Go heavy, Yes - Go lighter
2) are you planning to do heavy volumes of rapid fire? No - Go lighter, Yes - Go heavy
3) do you need forward weight? No - go lighter, Yes - Go heavy

if one checks off light twice I go light and same goes for heavy.

 

[DAVETOOLEY]

Dave, any truth or scientific reasoning behind using bore size as a judge? Such as .308 using a barrel with a muzzle no smaller than .9" or .223 no smaller than .66" and so on?

I've never been able to make that connection. I used to build a lot of hunting rifles. Many with small barrels. Some would be amazingly accurate. Many .600+" diameter magnums that I put muzzle breaks on with no problems. Obviously weight helps offset recoil and inconsistent gun handling but in a short action using 473" diameter cases you don't need big barrels. Just good barrels.

 

[Jackomason]

These are all great answers. Thanks guys. I tend to trust what Dave says, the only reason I'd go for the M24/MTU is for the sake of trying. But maybe I'll reserve that for another barrel down the road.

Is there any added protection against rifling stress when it comes to a button barrel?

 

[generalzip]

No, button and cut will shoot the same if they are made well. cut may last *slightly* longer but that's about it. Shilen makes button rifled barrels and have set all sorts of record. Bart and Kriegers are cut. All barrels go through a stress relieving heat treatment process.

 

[DAVETOOLEY]

These are all great answers. Thanks guys. I tend to trust what Dave says, the only reason I'd go for the M24/MTU is for the sake of trying. But maybe I'll reserve that for another barrel down the road.

Is there any added protection against rifling stress when it comes to a button barrel?

I've used Hart's, lilja's , Shilen's, Broughton's , Schneider's and a few others , never had a problem. A good barrel is a good barrel regardless of whether it's cut or buttoned. Of course you can also make not so good barrels with either process.

 

[Jackomason]

I guess that answers all my questions. Thanks guys. I'm sure shooting this at comps will give me lots of hands on in all departments.

 

[spife7980]

Get the heavy barrel. All my early builds I thought I’d use for hunting so I compromised on contour for weight now have heavy contours. I might lug it 800 yards and shoot one critter a year with it while I put 1k rounds on steel.

 

[Ledzep]

I usually get the lightest contour that will finish at .750" at the muzzle.

Heaviest I've gone by my own decision is medium Palma.

 

[Jackomason]

Get the heavy barrel. All my early builds I thought I’d use for hunting so I compromised on contour for weight now have heavy contours. I might lug it 800 yards and shoot one critter a year with it while I put 1k rounds on steel.

Yeah that's pretty likely, but I think there is a lot of merit to going with a medium Palma. .820" is pretty close to what's on the rifle now. I think if I get a dedicated match caliber I'll try a M24 but most my shooting is field shooting and I'm not going to free recoil.

 

[Jackomason]

Another thought is that I'm getting the 224v because I want to get my daughter into shooting a bit in the next couple years (which might be optimistic) and I thought zero recoil might be nice for her. But I'd think even the medium Palma would do fine.

 

[Backspace]

I started with heavy palma and liked it a lot on my customs at 26". Now im shooting an AI AX and have gone heavier and heavier to try to get the balance point where i want it. For me, balance is more important than weight for a rifle that will be used for stuff like barricade work.