Barrel Contours

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I'm having a "heavy gun" built in 338 Edge.
Blueprinted Rem 700 in a McMillan A-5.
Completed (with Nightforce and mounts) the gun will weigh 16-18 pounds.


My contour of choice was the NBRSA heavy Varmint (1.25 cylinder for 5" inches tapered to .925 or so) but I started looking at most of the "Tactical looking" heavy guns being built and discovered that most use a bull barrel with a short 2.75 cylinder tapered to .925-1.00"?

Both weigh about the same (7Lbs) with the only differences being the center of balance (slightly forward on the bull) and that the varmint is a bit stiffer.

Anyone know why?


Cheers.
 
Barrel length might be more of a consideration. BR tends to favour shorter, thicker barrels while staying under the weight limit. You do not have to meet an arbitrary weight limit. A longer barrel will boost your velocity, which does no harm for longer range shooting.
 
My competition tactical rifle has a heavy varmint contour. Its finished at 25 inches and weighs 7.5 pounds, .975 at the muzzle. The whole rifle finished is 18.8 pounds. For the bench and prone its good, but for transitions and carry...what a beast.
 
tiriaq,
One of the reasons that I chose the HBR was that I was concerned that a 28-30 inch bull barrel would situate the rifle's center of balance too far forward. Given the light action and the fairly light stock I thought that the butt end could start floating around under recoil.
Am I missing something or am I out to lunch?

Barks,
The thing will be a beast to pack but it should be as stable as a rock!
I have never had a gun built this heavy before and want to make sure I get it right.
 
my Tacticool rifle is getting a 28" barrel 1.61 at the shank straight taper to .935 at the muzzel. its defintly not aregular hunter LOL
 
Have you considered the "heavy palma" contour? These rifles have to balance well enough to shoot off the elbows.
 
Those that are build "Tac-Rifles" for use in precision/sniper matches should check with their Provincial rifle associations (or whoever runs these matches) to see what the maximum barrel allowed is.

The BCRA Precision/Snipermatch had 27" limit for "Tac-Rifles".Those that do not mee the requirements for the Tac-Rifle class are put in the open class.

I run a 26.5" Stainless McPhee 1 in 11.3" twist barrel in the AMTU contour (First five inches is 1.250" and then tapers to .950" at the muzzle). It is a heavy barrel!!!;)

F-Class & Target Rifle classes are known to run 28" to 30" barrels.

SKBY.
 
X-fan said:
I'm having a "heavy gun" built in 338 Edge.
Blueprinted Rem 700 in a McMillan A-5.
Completed (with Nightforce and mounts) the gun will weigh 16-18 pounds.


My contour of choice was the NBRSA heavy Varmint (1.25 cylinder for 5" inches tapered to .925 or so) but I started looking at most of the "Tactical looking" heavy guns being built and discovered that most use a bull barrel with a short 2.75 cylinder tapered to .925-1.00"?

Both weigh about the same (7Lbs) with the only differences being the center of balance (slightly forward on the bull) and that the varmint is a bit stiffer.

Anyone know why?


Cheers.
Click to expand...


Take a peak at Lilja's site on barrels. Skullboy pretty much hit the nail on the head. If your looking for a bit more horsepower for long range keep the length in the 28" to 30". Playing with powders will help a bit. You can't add barrel length but you can take it away...
 
Skullboy said:
The BCRA Precision/Snipermatch had 27" limit for "Tac-Rifles".Those that do not mee the requirements for the Tac-Rifle class are put in the open class.

SKBY.
Click to expand...
does that 27" count a brake or is that a seperate item.

yes i know i aint in BC but just in case i decide to head out there to show you guys how crappy a gimpy ont brat can do LOL:p
 
barrel contours

On my F-Class (open) rifles I use a 1.25" straight tube for 30". They both weigh in @ 21 lbs stocked, scopes and Bi-pod. I just built a 308 for tactical purposes, it is 1.25 for 5" and tapered to .975 @ the muzzle, 24 inches in length.

In BC no muzzle brakes allowed in standard matches, and I believe that in the sniper matches it must be a factory installed brake or nothing. If I am wrong about the tactical stuff sorry, I am just starting down this road.
 
SignGuy said:
does that 27" count a brake or is that a seperate item.

yes i know i aint in BC but just in case i decide to head out there to show you guys how crappy a gimpy ont brat can do LOL:p
Click to expand...

Dennis, here are the Equipment requirements for the BCRA PRecision/Sniper matches:

1. EQUIPMENT RULES:
General:
Rifle Rests -limited to slings, bipods, rucksack, dragbag, glove or sandbag. No tripods, shooting cradles, Monopods or rear rests of any kind, other than your hand or a fist sized sandsock(Don't show up with a 10 lb sandsock, I will be bringing replacement socks for people who are pushing the envelope).
Flash suppressors - limited to AR-15 and M-14 style rifles
Muzzle brakes - limited to factory production rifles with non-removable muzzle brakes.
Slings - no limitations on type or style.

Division #1 - Tactical Rifle:
Rifles - current issue Police, Military or Military surplus type sniper rifles
Calibers - .223 / 5.56, 308 / 7.62, .303, 30-06, 7.62x54
Bolt action or Semi-Auto
Barrel length - 27 in. maximum
Optics - no restrictions
Weight - 17.5 lbs maximum***********
Rifles - must have internal or external magazine.
Minimum trigger pull - 2.5 lbs. *

Division #2 – OPEN:
Rifles - Any safe rifle and equipment not meeting Division #1 Tactical Rifle equipment rules.
Caliber – any caliber up to 8mm.Wildcat calibers allowed, Magnums not allowed due to range license restriction.
Click to expand...

AFAIK the 27" maximum length is overall length. As stated above you can not use removable muzzle breaks.You would have to shoot with the brake off.

With the brake removed your barrel can not be longer then 27".

Parker Hale Mike is the fellow to ask and confirm on this as he is running the match out here.

SKBY.
 
Those rules are a current rough draft as we explore the possibility of making this a class alongside F-Class. We may be adopting rules close, if not the same as the National service conditions to standardize things nationwide. I will also be passing out a questionnaire after the match at Vokes looking for input from competitors. On the note of muzzlebrakes, I am 100% positive they will never see acceptance in our class, who wants to shoot near someone with one of those noisy P.O.S.'s hanging off the front of their rifle. Besides, there isn't a calibre you can fire at Vokes or Nanaimo that makes it worthwhile putting one on.
 
Thanks for all the quick replies!

Current plans have my barrel finished at 28" plus brake.
I suppose that I could shorten it to 27" but shooting an 18 plus pound rifle prone in an A-5 is not my idea of fun.
I have better rifles in smaller calibers (more forgiving and less abusive) for extended prone work.

Even though the A-5 isn't perfect for the application, I would like to try it in F-Class. Does F-Class have the same barrel length restrictions?


The rifle will be geared toward 1500-2500 yard shooting as well as performing as a long range hunter. JGS is building me a long neck reamer suited to single feeding the 300 grain SMK's.Others using this combo are reporting 2970 fps plus or minus with the bullets going sub sonic right around the 2000 yard mark.

Supposedly the 300 SMK stays accurate when sub sonic.....We shall see!

At this point my biggest concern is getting the gun balanced right to shoot accurately off of packs and pods from a field position.
Any further input would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance!
 
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