Barrel Contours

[NWBlacktail]

I don't have any experience with barrel replacements, so I'm trying to figure out what people like in terms of contours.

I measured my Ruger M77 300 win mag. The start of the taper is 0.9", and the end of the 24" barrel is 0.625 (roughly). It's a heavy rifle anyway with the laminate stock, but I like about that amount of beefiness in the barrel.

The rifle I'm wanting the barrel job is a Rem 700 with a standard sportster barrel. I want to go heavier (and a different caliber), but I don't want it to be a tank either. It's still going to be a hunting rifle.

Pac-Nor is who I'm wanting to use. I'm thinking in the range of #3 or #4. #4 starts the taper at 0.850 and ends at 0.650. #3 starts at 0.825 and ends at 0.625". So they are not apples-to-apples with my magnum contour on the other rifle I've been comparing it too. But I'm just trying to get an idea of what they feel like.

Anyway, what do you guys like in a hunting rifle (hunting rifle, but also a range tinker toy :mrgreen: ))

Thx!

 

[DrMike]

Because I don't shoot long strings in my hunting rifles, I'm quite comfortable with thinner barrels. If you tend to shoot longer strings, you may want a more beefy barrel. You might be well advised to speak with Pac-Nor to see what they recommend since you are having them do the work. If you are wanting to maintain the present contour, send them the barrel and have them turn it to specs.

 

[257 Ackley]

You can use most barrel manufacturers contours to get an idea of what the barrel and weight will be for the given length you want. They will show you the measurements at points along the barrel and give you weights for a finished barrel. http://www.bartleinbarrels.com/contours.htm, https://kriegerbarrels.com/contours#bolt.

The last barrel I put on a 6.5 WSM was a Bartlein heavy sporter (#3) finished at 26 inches. It required a small amount of work in the barrel channel of a Winchester featherweight stock to fit properly with pillars and bedding. It is a rifle you can still carry all day, but has the stiffness and mass to allow you to shoot 5 shots without bullets 'walking". You need to decide what the main purpose of the rifle is. If it is for hunting, #3 is plenty for a stalking rifle. If it is for banging steel all day or creating chunks in a p-dog town, go at least sendero/light varmint. The other option would be to go with a heavier contour and flute it, but most manufacturers will have a minimum contour (light varmint or similar verbiage) to do the fluting.

 

[gerry]

This is a really cool resource to figure out the weight of a barrel and I have found it to be quite accurate, it showed that a #4 contour 35 cal barrel would actually be lighter in weight than a #3 contour 6.5mm barrel.

http://pac-nor.com/cgi-bin/bweight.cgi

 

[nvbroncrider]

They can do all the factory contours and if you want a special one they will make it and charge you extra.

They did a pair of 700 Mtn Rifle SS barrels in 280AI for me. They do awesome work.

Jake

 

[NWBlacktail]

Thanks guys!

This is a really cool resource to figure out the weight of a barrel and I have found it to be quite accurate, it showed that a #4 contour 35 cal barrel would actually be lighter in weight than a #3 contour 6.5mm barrel.

http://pac-nor.com/cgi-bin/bweight.cgi

I do look at that site. for what I'm looking for, the difference in weight between a #3 and #4 24" barrel is only 2.72 oz. (in a .284"). But there still seems to be a strong leaning towards #3 for hunting rifles.

The difference between a #1 and a #5 is a full pound. So I get that.

 

[gerry]

My 264 Win Mag is a Pac Nor #3 and is a really nice weight, balances quite nicely at 24". If you like a gun a bit more nose heavy than a #4 might be what you want. It sounds like you want a .284 cal barrel but what chambering are you looking at?

 

[NWBlacktail]

a 280AI. It's been a long road, and last weekend it cost me $900 in camera lenses for my wife. :roll:

I think it's my turn :mrgreen: , but I'm waiting till after next fall hunting season.

 

[gerry]

Looking at your first post a Pac Nor #3 is definitely heavier than a standard Remington sporter but not excessively though, I happen to have both here. For a 280 AI I would do a #3, the Rem 700 264 WM I mentioned weighed 7 lbs 14 oz with a Mcmillan Edge, Talley mounts and a 3.5-10x40 Leupold.

 

[DrMike]

a 280AI. It's been a long road, and last weekend it cost me $900 in camera lenses for my wife. :roll:

A bargain, my friend. Keep your good lady happy and you'll never be without a good rifle.

 

[nvbroncrider]

Order the barrel early takes 3-6 months!!

 

[muleman]

NWBT,
I used a Rem mag contour barrel for my 280AI. At 26" the rifle weighed 9.5lbs scoped with a VX3 4.5x14. It's still light enough to carry all day but heavy enough to be stable when shooting of the back pack or a bipod. Make sure you post up picts when you get it done.

Scott

 

[SJB358]

Sounds like a great build. Alot to like about a 8-8.5lb all up 280 Ackley.. I could see a rifle like that getting alot of time in the woods.

 

[tjen]

I have a 700 in 221 rem being rebarreled by Pacnor as we speak, this was a limited run rifle bought used that never produced for me. I went with a factory contour just to keep it looking as it did form the factory. That remington factory contiour is used from .221 rem to .35 whelen. And the 35 weigths less.

In general #1's are light weight, #2 standard cartridge, and #3's magnum cartridge. I used a #3 magnum contour shilen barrel on my 700/358win worked great on the 358win or a whelen.

What cartridge are you thinking of?

 

[JD338]

My 280AI is a Hart #5 24" fluted barrel.

JD338

 

[Guy Miner]

As others have stated, it's easy to order the standard factory contours instead of a particular barrel maker's interpretation (no, they're not all the same) of a Number 5, or a Light Palma contour, or a Bull Barrel, or whatever...

The factory contours have the advantage of fitting an existing stock too...

I've had custom barrels in the Remington Varmint/Sendero contour, Palma contour, and a heavy varmint contour that was almost a bull barrel. It can make a HUGE difference in how your rifle carries. A heavy contour is not your friend if you intend to hike with the rifle, or if you need to get it into action in a hurry, say firing swiftly, from the standing position, when you'd been carrying it.

On the other hand, I don't usually shoot "ultra-light" barrel contours very well either. I like a little mass out there, but am not fond of too light, or too heavy contours. Kind of like Goldilocks... Have to find the one that's "just right." :mrgreen: