I started my build with a 700 sps dm model chambered in .308 with the standard sporter barrel. I changed out the glass for a Bushnell tactical elite 3200, and bought an hs precision stock for it as well. My rifle with the barrel is now shooting less than an inch at 100 yards. I am really happy with this as I am very very new to this. I am questioning whether I should change the barrel out or not to a mike rock m24 profile barrel like I was planning. If this sporter barrel is shooting this good to me then should I still replace it. Will the sporter barrel show its true colors when I get to longer ranges? This is my question. Thanks guys
Should I change my barrel
- Thread starter homedefender83
- Start date
Re: Should I change my barrel
Sound's like you are new to shooting ?
If it were me I would leave it as is less than an inch at 100yd's is very useable .
spend your money on ammo , by the time you shoot your barrel out you will know what you want/need .
as long as you are not shooting long string's of shot's a shorter barrel will work pretty well
Sound's like you are new to shooting ?
If it were me I would leave it as is less than an inch at 100yd's is very useable .
spend your money on ammo , by the time you shoot your barrel out you will know what you want/need .
as long as you are not shooting long string's of shot's a shorter barrel will work pretty well
Re: Should I change my barrel
That would be a good custom barrel to have. Rock Barrels are on top of many folks custom barrel good to go list. Including mine.
What distances are you after? Can you already shoot with precision or accuracy out to 300, 500 or 600 yards already? Do you have access to a longer range?
Your likely better off continuing to using the current barrel. You already know what it can do at 100 yards. It's time to discover (if you haven't already) what it can do at 300 yards and beyond.
You can learn quite a bit with the current barrel and it will take you significant longer distances than one might think. I wouldn't be surprised if it can deliver precision (sub MOA) to at least mid range (somewhere between 600 and 800 yards) or even more.
The barrel you have will give you good use for a long time. I would be patient, take the money saved and buy reloading equipment (to get the very best out of your barrel), a Chrony, and use high quality ammo and have a blast.
Once you've spend the current barrel, by all means get a Rock or other great custom barrel you may want. Then it's like having the best of both worlds. Experience and a new barrel which will give a new life to your stick (and you).
Personally I would stick with the current barrel for now. In time the rifle itself will ask for a new barrel. You will notice your groups opening up - but only after thousands of rounds later.
This is one of strengths of the excellent .308 round, it doesn't burn barrels quickly and it has very good inherent accuracy.
That would be a good custom barrel to have. Rock Barrels are on top of many folks custom barrel good to go list. Including mine.
What distances are you after? Can you already shoot with precision or accuracy out to 300, 500 or 600 yards already? Do you have access to a longer range?
Your likely better off continuing to using the current barrel. You already know what it can do at 100 yards. It's time to discover (if you haven't already) what it can do at 300 yards and beyond.
You can learn quite a bit with the current barrel and it will take you significant longer distances than one might think. I wouldn't be surprised if it can deliver precision (sub MOA) to at least mid range (somewhere between 600 and 800 yards) or even more.
The barrel you have will give you good use for a long time. I would be patient, take the money saved and buy reloading equipment (to get the very best out of your barrel), a Chrony, and use high quality ammo and have a blast.
Once you've spend the current barrel, by all means get a Rock or other great custom barrel you may want. Then it's like having the best of both worlds. Experience and a new barrel which will give a new life to your stick (and you).
Personally I would stick with the current barrel for now. In time the rifle itself will ask for a new barrel. You will notice your groups opening up - but only after thousands of rounds later.
This is one of strengths of the excellent .308 round, it doesn't burn barrels quickly and it has very good inherent accuracy.
Re: Should I change my barrel
Thanks alot guys for the input. 100 yards is all I have ever shot and am planning on heading back out to the range which has a maximum distance set at 300 yards. I agree that I should learn what i can using this sporter barrel. The better optic and stock has really helped I think. Next I will invest in ammo,but first I want to upgrade the trigger gaurd and outfit it for a good box magazine. The rifle looks a little funny riding in a stock that is designed to one day have that rock barrel in it but who cares. I love it.
Thanks alot guys for the input. 100 yards is all I have ever shot and am planning on heading back out to the range which has a maximum distance set at 300 yards. I agree that I should learn what i can using this sporter barrel. The better optic and stock has really helped I think. Next I will invest in ammo,but first I want to upgrade the trigger gaurd and outfit it for a good box magazine. The rifle looks a little funny riding in a stock that is designed to one day have that rock barrel in it but who cares. I love it.
Re: Should I change my barrel
If it ain't broken, don't fix it.
Burn through that barrel and then when you decide to change it you'll have the experience and could perhaps change calibre to something designed for more long-range stuff.
You've just gotta let it cool alot more than a Heavier barrel.
But aiside from that, if it's a shooter, it's a shooter.
If it ain't broken, don't fix it.
Burn through that barrel and then when you decide to change it you'll have the experience and could perhaps change calibre to something designed for more long-range stuff.
You've just gotta let it cool alot more than a Heavier barrel.
But aiside from that, if it's a shooter, it's a shooter.
Re: Should I change my barrel
I would retain and use the original barrel for as long as it displays adequate performance. As long as no obvious flaws present themselves, there's no really good reason to fix what isn't broken.
A sporter barrel can shoot as well as any other as long as one understands that it will heat up quicker than a heavier barrel, which can (but doesn't necessarily) affect accuracy. On the plus side, it will also cool off quicker.
Sometimes the zero will walk as the barrel gets significantly hotter, and sometimes that can be relieved by the use of a stock/barrel pressure point out near the front end in the barrel channel. There's no tried and true, cut and dried lore on this; but it's usually worth a try if the problem arises.
As your experience accumulates, you'll obtain a better grasp on what makes you and your rifle shoot better. Generally, a better barrel will only improve <span style="font-style: italic">your</span> performance once <span style="font-style: italic">your</span> skills reach a more respectable level.
Save your equipment upgrade money for the time when it can be more effective, and meanwhile, put your primary investment in better ammo, and maybe get off the ground on the handloading front.
Skills come from repetition. You will probably be able to do that just as well with a .22 as with any other rifle, but you can do it cheaper, and without needing to shoot as far.
Greg
I would retain and use the original barrel for as long as it displays adequate performance. As long as no obvious flaws present themselves, there's no really good reason to fix what isn't broken.
A sporter barrel can shoot as well as any other as long as one understands that it will heat up quicker than a heavier barrel, which can (but doesn't necessarily) affect accuracy. On the plus side, it will also cool off quicker.
Sometimes the zero will walk as the barrel gets significantly hotter, and sometimes that can be relieved by the use of a stock/barrel pressure point out near the front end in the barrel channel. There's no tried and true, cut and dried lore on this; but it's usually worth a try if the problem arises.
As your experience accumulates, you'll obtain a better grasp on what makes you and your rifle shoot better. Generally, a better barrel will only improve <span style="font-style: italic">your</span> performance once <span style="font-style: italic">your</span> skills reach a more respectable level.
Save your equipment upgrade money for the time when it can be more effective, and meanwhile, put your primary investment in better ammo, and maybe get off the ground on the handloading front.
Skills come from repetition. You will probably be able to do that just as well with a .22 as with any other rifle, but you can do it cheaper, and without needing to shoot as far.
Greg
Re: Should I change my barrel
Great advise given already; your current setup will give you much trigger time and you can start reloading and trying various weight bullets. Start saving some money and same time next year you can move up to another rifle. Then you can swap your furniture to the new rifle and set up the sporter as a hunting rifle.
Great advise given already; your current setup will give you much trigger time and you can start reloading and trying various weight bullets. Start saving some money and same time next year you can move up to another rifle. Then you can swap your furniture to the new rifle and set up the sporter as a hunting rifle.
Re: Should I change my barrel
If I were asked by a family member how to get into LR shooting. And they happened to ask _before_ they made any purchase at all, I would suggest the same as Greg above did. I would tell them to start with a 22 long rifle.
The 22LR provides a great opportunity to learn great habits. It's here that good habits are formed and easier to correct. It's here that they can learn to read the wind and estimate distances, all at affordable prices. They can become quite the marksman/women by learning the basics with this little rifle and challenge themselves.
But since you already have the .308, I stay stick with it and it will provide you hours and hours of fun. And you'll learn to reload with a good round to boot.
Although I have run into folks, that I strongly encourage to leave their .308's or 300's at home and go get a good 22LR. I don't want to insult them, but seeing them in the range is painful. They never took the time to ask, never read a book, never joined an excellent forum as the Hide, and got themselves into some dangerous habits that I don't want to be around when they're out there.
A $300 rifle and a few dollars on good 22LR ammo and reading all you can on the Hide plus putting some thought into this sport, will bring you and those around you years of enjoyment.
Heck, I got myself a 22LR a few weeks ago, just to be sure I cover the basics with myself again. And...I'm good with my .223's, .243's, .260's and my .308. Plus...the 22 is totally fun to shoot! I hadn't shot a 22LR in a long time. Everyone should have one in their collection, IMHO.
- Joe
If I were asked by a family member how to get into LR shooting. And they happened to ask _before_ they made any purchase at all, I would suggest the same as Greg above did. I would tell them to start with a 22 long rifle.
The 22LR provides a great opportunity to learn great habits. It's here that good habits are formed and easier to correct. It's here that they can learn to read the wind and estimate distances, all at affordable prices. They can become quite the marksman/women by learning the basics with this little rifle and challenge themselves.
But since you already have the .308, I stay stick with it and it will provide you hours and hours of fun. And you'll learn to reload with a good round to boot.
Although I have run into folks, that I strongly encourage to leave their .308's or 300's at home and go get a good 22LR. I don't want to insult them, but seeing them in the range is painful. They never took the time to ask, never read a book, never joined an excellent forum as the Hide, and got themselves into some dangerous habits that I don't want to be around when they're out there.
A $300 rifle and a few dollars on good 22LR ammo and reading all you can on the Hide plus putting some thought into this sport, will bring you and those around you years of enjoyment.
Heck, I got myself a 22LR a few weeks ago, just to be sure I cover the basics with myself again. And...I'm good with my .223's, .243's, .260's and my .308. Plus...the 22 is totally fun to shoot! I hadn't shot a 22LR in a long time. Everyone should have one in their collection, IMHO.
- Joe
Re: Should I change my barrel
I run Kriegers on my bolt guns, but my reasons for "upgrading" had nothing to do with accuracy. My stock SPS-T would shoot sub MOA all of the time.
The reasons that I upgraded were:
-I wanted the rifle to be a bit heavier so that it would plant better and I wanted to be able to shoot the barrel hot and still maintain accuracy and POI.
-I wanted a tighter chamber with a shorter throat for higher velocites and longer brass life.
-I wanted to be able to shoot more between cleanings. This is where I really saw the benefits to a really good barrel. I usually clean around 300 rounds or so with the Krieger and get almost no copper fouling out. With the stock barrel, copper fouling was a constant concern. With one of my particular rifles, I saw appreciable decreases in accuracy after 60 rounds due to copper fouling.
I helped a friend of mine break in his new rifle yesterday. It's sporting a 24" Rock barrel. Very nice. All it took was five rounds of shooting once and cleaning to have it broken in. It was the same with my Kriegers. It shot very well too. He was shooting MOA at 100 his first time with the rifle. I was doing a lot better than he was, even shot a five round group that was nearly a zero, but I have around 2K rounds under my belt with the rifle I was shooting and I was shooting Berger VLDs, so I had a bit of an advantage.
I run Kriegers on my bolt guns, but my reasons for "upgrading" had nothing to do with accuracy. My stock SPS-T would shoot sub MOA all of the time.
The reasons that I upgraded were:
-I wanted the rifle to be a bit heavier so that it would plant better and I wanted to be able to shoot the barrel hot and still maintain accuracy and POI.
-I wanted a tighter chamber with a shorter throat for higher velocites and longer brass life.
-I wanted to be able to shoot more between cleanings. This is where I really saw the benefits to a really good barrel. I usually clean around 300 rounds or so with the Krieger and get almost no copper fouling out. With the stock barrel, copper fouling was a constant concern. With one of my particular rifles, I saw appreciable decreases in accuracy after 60 rounds due to copper fouling.
I helped a friend of mine break in his new rifle yesterday. It's sporting a 24" Rock barrel. Very nice. All it took was five rounds of shooting once and cleaning to have it broken in. It was the same with my Kriegers. It shot very well too. He was shooting MOA at 100 his first time with the rifle. I was doing a lot better than he was, even shot a five round group that was nearly a zero, but I have around 2K rounds under my belt with the rifle I was shooting and I was shooting Berger VLDs, so I had a bit of an advantage.
Re: Should I change my barrel
I will have to say the same thing as everyone else. Keep the barrel and figure out exacty what you want for the future. I personaly did over 20 hrs of research before I started my build. Some things to think about.
-barrel size (bigger barrels can shoot longer strings without heating up and damaging the barrel)
-spin rate (figure out what bullet weight you want to shoot (and get the optimal spin for it)
-barrel length (longer barrel can give you faster speeds if you load your own)
In addition if your new at this your gunna make mistakes. If you clean your barrel wrong you can mess up your barrel in no time, the same with if you shoot to many rounds without your letting your gun cool down. And be sure to avoid cleaning your gun from the muzzle.
At any rate enjoy the gun and try not to get addicted.
I will have to say the same thing as everyone else. Keep the barrel and figure out exacty what you want for the future. I personaly did over 20 hrs of research before I started my build. Some things to think about.
-barrel size (bigger barrels can shoot longer strings without heating up and damaging the barrel)
-spin rate (figure out what bullet weight you want to shoot (and get the optimal spin for it)
-barrel length (longer barrel can give you faster speeds if you load your own)
In addition if your new at this your gunna make mistakes. If you clean your barrel wrong you can mess up your barrel in no time, the same with if you shoot to many rounds without your letting your gun cool down. And be sure to avoid cleaning your gun from the muzzle.
At any rate enjoy the gun and try not to get addicted.
