Rifle Barrels

The nice thing about bead blast though is you just hit it again if it gets too dirty or ratty looking. I found brake clean cleans up bead blast finish like a dream on stainless. The other thing I found is to bead blast and then knock it down with 600 grit. Don't take it to a polish obviously, but take all the little sharp points off and it stays much cleaner and doesn't gather lint and stuff.
 
chuck nelson said:
Bead blast to a satin finish instead of a dull matte finish and problem solved. Paint is useless in any real application unless you are constantly re applying.
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x2. The factory beadblast on my .375 Ruger Alaskan marks up easily but the beadblast on the custom stainless barrel on my .35 Whelen, not so much. Neither is the one on my stainless Remingtons, Winchesters and Kimber.
 
JIMMY 808 said:
The bead blasts I had were very poorly done.

I consider Cerakote paint do you?

Bluing comes off as well but you know that.

SS still can rust but that isn’t news to you either.

Use anything and it will get damage stuff takes a beating just going in and out of a gun cases or being 25 miles from nearest light bulb.
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Such hostility.

Yes, any finish will wear. I have not had experience with cerekote (that is about to change) but I have used Teflon and powder coat. None of which I would call paint.
 
LittleBoyLefty said:
Nice. It's great to have more Canadian choices. One of my buds has a .284 blank from JC. Not fitted yet, Im curious.
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I have had a JC savage prefit barrel in 308 for over a year. I did not get a chance to try it until recently.
So far this barrel will comfortably put 5 or 6 rounds into a sub 1.2inch group at 200 yards.
I have been working up loads with varget but today I tried a few charges of IMR XBR 8208. I loaded up 7 rounds of 44 grains 8208 behind 155 Berger FBs. Five rounds covered less than 0.6 inches and all 7 rounds measured 1.25inches, again @ 200 yards. I think JC makes a really good barrel.
 
chuck nelson said:
Such hostility.

Yes, any finish will wear. I have not had experience with cerekote (that is about to change) but I have used Teflon and powder coat. None of which I would call paint.
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Hostility no? Sorry if I scare you but that’s not my intent.

You should like the cerekote hope it works out for you.
 
remington jim said:
Rifle Barrels

Thoughts on Rifle barrels for Custom Builds : Prefer FACTS not just Me Thinks ! :d LOL Thx RJ

#1 Chrome Moly ?
#2 Stainless Steel ?
#3 5r Rifling vs 4 or 6 ?
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Greetings RJ,

I put a Pac Nor SS barrel on my 338wm build. IIRC it is 26", 5 groove, 1 in 10 twist, in a #4 weight sporter contour. It is what Pac Nor refers to as their Super Match Grade. I had it fluted to reduce weight and it has kind of a satin finish that has been very easy to live with over the years.

That rifle has been a shooter since day one. If I was to do it again I would probably skip the fluting it is such a PITA to keep clean and maybe have gone with a #3 weight. I went on the heavier side of contours because I thought it may make it a better shooter. While not what I would call heavy, at 8.8 lbs it is not an ultra light. I have hunted and shot it from -25C to 30C, FME temperature doesn't seem to effect it much. Anyway I hope this helps in your deliberation.

I've got an older 3006 Parker Hale that I am starting to think about a 280Remington build on so I'll watch this thread with interest.
 
remington jim said:
Ultra light Mountain Rifle 5 Lbs :d RJ
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I have a shilen match ss that shoots awesome. I bought it as a fat #7 and Bill Leeper whittled it down to a #1 and chambered to .260...

Just finishing another custom with a JC #2 barrel, but havent fired it yet...
 
I see that some posters have mentioned that lightweight SS contour barrels are finicky and won't shoot..........nothing could be further from the truth as I'm on about barrel number 20 of Benchmark #1 contour SS barrels for custom builds and I also have one that was custom ordered and its a lighter contour than a Benchmark #1 and it will constantly shoot 1/4" groups at 100 yards, I haven't had one that won't shoot 1/2" or less with factory ammo at 100 yards,

As far as grooves go ? the 5R type rifling seems to be gaining in popularity for a reason but not to say a 4 or 6 groove won't shoot but the 5R seems to be more forgiving for cleaning and in the accuracy dept with a broader range of bullets according to a Cpl barrel makers,

with that being said I did order a JC Custom barrel for my 6mm Creedmoor build, Rem Varmint/Sendero Contour, 1-8 twist, 4 groove, 26" finish length so I'm looking forward to trying out one of JCs barrels !
 
Weatherby Fan said:
I see that some posters have mentioned that lightweight SS contour barrels are finicky and won't shoot..........nothing could be further from the truth as I'm on about barrel number 20 of Benchmark #1 contour SS barrels for custom builds and I also have one that was custom ordered and its a lighter contour than a Benchmark #1 and it will constantly shoot 1/4" groups at 100 yards, I haven't had one that won't shoot 1/2" or less with factory ammo at 100 yards,
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Wow .... You've bought 20 or so Benchmarks ( all #1 contour ) and they all shot .500" or less. That's out of this world fantastic!!

Who is your gunsmith? What were they chambered in?
 
SuperCub said:
Wow .... You've bought 20 or so Benchmarks ( all #1 contour ) and they all shot .500" or less. That's out of this world fantastic!!

Who is your gunsmith? What were they chambered in?
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Ok just went and counted of the 20 barrels to be exact 2 were #3 2 were #2 and the other 16 were #1, Mitch Kendal (Kamloops) has built 2 for me and Gary Flach in Langley the rest of them, we did have one #1 barrel that was so out of true when we got it and it had to be sent back.

Mostly 280 Ackley Improved(9), 4x 7mm-08, 6.5-284, 28 Nosler, 2x 6.5 CM, 6.5PRC, 270 win, 243, 7mm Wby, I have another 2 on the way from Bighorn Sales for builds ones a #2 fluted and #3 fluted, so when it comes to Benchmark Barrels I can tell you they are out standing.

I did have one Benchmark chambered in 270 win, that when I first shot it everything was between 1.5-2" , for some reason it was fouling really bad so after a Cpl overnight cleanings and a good scrubbing with a brush it finally tightened up.

Im having a 6.5CM built right now with a #3 Bartlein barrel so it will be interesting to see how it stacks up against the Benchmark barrels.
 
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RJ -
Did you ever get that 6.5 Creedmoor built?​

I built a Ultra-light 6.5CM on a brand new trued Rem 700 with a McGowan barrel (#1 or #2 contour - cant remember). Has a Wildcat
stock, ADL bottom metal, etc.

Had fun building it but haven't ever shot it. Been in the safe since.

Not sure if you have any interest in it.
 
When stainless barrels are showing signs of rusting on the surface, it is usually due to contamination of the blasting media (sand or glass beads). I remember Bob Forslund telling me he didn't worry too much about CM rusting since he was pretty sure he could wear it out on the inside before it rusted through from thee outside.
 
Mad_Mikee said:
RJ -
Did you ever get that 6.5 Creedmoor built?​

I built a Ultra-light 6.5CM on a brand new trued Rem 700 with a McGowan barrel (#1 or #2 contour - cant remember). Has a Wildcat
stock, ADL bottom metal, etc.

Had fun building it but haven't ever shot it. Been in the safe since.

Not sure if you have any interest in it.
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JC Custom Barrels is making a Barrel for me as we speak - The action is slabbed and the bolt fluted - Action is squared etc ready for the new barrel :d RJ
 
Ive been going 5R, mainly because it's fun to say. Benchmarks have been working well, see no reason to change. Prior to that it was Pacnor, no accuracy issues there either

I like a 3 contour for most applications, good blend for what I do
 
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