6 BRA Barrel contour

[ccollier]

I have a question about which barrel contour you have found to work best and most accurate? I plan to use this build for F-open. The two contours I've been looking at are 1.25 straight or Heavy Varmint. I've had some people tell me that they feel that 1.25 straight is too heavy and they think the HV could provide better accuracy. Hoping for some replies from guys that have been down this road and tested them both.

My other components for this build are listed below.

Panda F-class action
McMillan Kestro stock
Bix'nAndy trigger

Thank you in advance for your reply!

 

[Boatschool02]

I would focus less on "heavy" and more on balance.
The guys in the know, who are shooting small at 1000 are likely to tell you 28" HV or HHV for max accuracy, but they're running constrained 17lb light guns.
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I trust someone with a competitive F-class rig will chime in as well.
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FWIW, I not a famous competitor. Just someone who enjoys shooting.
I have a 29" 1.250 straight Brux and don't feel I'm leaving anything on the table.
If I were starting from a blank slate, I would add weight to the middle and rear of the stock so that you could achieve proper balance using a Speedy taper 32" barrel for future 7mm and 30 cal endeavors.
For this 6mm barrel, I might run 30 inches straight with room for one or two set backs. Some VERY good groups have been shot with 26 inch barrels, so I don't think you'll see one clear winner. For F-class specifically, I want to believe that heat management and balance will matter more assuming you're using a quality blank and a good gunsmith.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Ultimately, I think several contours have proven to be competitive. Most shoot a lv in both light and heavy class of short range. Some use hunter class contours and a few, even some Palma contours. I've never heard anyone say that they thought their gun didn't shoot because of contour.

I think they all have pros and cons but I think this is an area for more testing...particularly and specifically for tuners. Jmho.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I prefer a heavy varmint or a heavy palma. Barrel mass is not linear with accuracy.

 

[swd]

For F Open I like them 1" at the muzzle. Builds weight fast without being quite as front heavy.

 

[JBT47]

For F Open I like them 1" at the muzzle. Builds weight fast without being quite as front heavy.

Same here. 1.250” for 5” then straight taper to 1” at muzzle.

 

[Willow]

I'm running a straight 1.25 Krieger, 30". Love it. I may opt for another BRA down the track perhaps, built off a Tikka action but I wouldn't go beyond a HV profile barrel for a Tikka action.

 

[X-Caveman]

@Alex Wheeler I'd like your opinion on this... Say I want a BRA that I'm going to shoot score type matches from 200 yards to 600 yards. Each shot is a different point of aim and probably a discrete wind call. I'd like to find the most accurate single load - shooting the same load at all yardages, seasons, venues, etc. Up to 20 shots in 17 minutes from 35 degrees to 100 degrees. Granted, the load probably won't be the best load for any single distance or day, but the goal is simplicity & let's say 1/4-3/8 MOA at all distances.

Is that a pipe dream? If no, do you think a 1-1/4" straight barrel would have an advantage? What about a slightly shorter barrel? My logic (likely flawed) is less harmonics and more mass to dissipate heat. I have some anecdotal evidence of barrels that seemed to do well in this scenario & they were straight. They were in different chamberings, but one was a straight 6BR, which isn't that different.

Thanks!

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Out to 500 yards your 100 yard tune should hold up pretty well. If your shooting 20 shots I could see where a little heavier barrel would help. I have shot F-open with a dasher HV and that barrel got HOT and I could see it on the target. Look up the aggs the 600 yard guys are shooting. 4, 5 shot targets and aggs are usually high 1s and low 2s when conditions are decent. Mostly they are 28" HV in a 6 br or variant. Its a lot of work to keep a rifle tuned to that level. The straight 1.25 barrels make the gun nose heavy.

 

[X-Caveman]

Out to 500 yards your 100 yard tune should hold up pretty well. If your shooting 20 shots I could see where a little heavier barrel would help. I have shot F-open with a dasher HV and that barrel got HOT and I could see it on the target. Look up the aggs the 600 yard guys are shooting. 4, 5 shot targets and aggs are usually high 1s and low 2s when conditions are decent. Mostly they are 28" HV in a 6 br or variant. Its a lot of work to keep a rifle tuned to that level. The straight 1.25 barrels make the gun nose heavy.

I’m pretty nose heavy myself. Maybe that’s the appeal. Thanks for the response. Work is the key, I guess. Lots of hard work.

 

[ccollier]

I'm thinking I'm going to go with the HV contour 1-7.5 twist 4 groove 28" on this build, just trying to think it through.

Thank all of you for taking the time to reply.

Shane