Shilen ratchet rifled barrel

[Mark Chesebro]

Which barrel contour?
R0 or 7 standard varmint for benchrest.
It seems like the R0 would respond better to a tuner.

 

[USMCDOC]

Why don't you call them and ask for Pokey and see what he tells ya..

 

[natdscott]

Mark,

I am not a BR50 guy, but I do have some experience with the Shilen tubes you're talking about.

The Ratchet R5 I have on my Prone rifle is almost completely unmodified for the shank and initial taper, except for finishing with 320 emory, and of course crowning. From about 13" forward, it is turned to a parallel 0.750". I think it finished at about 23.7".

The reamer is a JGS Match, which is 0.670 length with 2.0 degree leade.

With a Harrell on the front, and a 16x Weaver behind it, it runs in the 5's to 6's, and has broken the 1/2 Minute line more than once. It will handily clean any of the 50 yard position targets, and I THINK it will clean the metrics...but I'm not hard enough to do it for 5 rounds. Yet. 3/4 Minute 10 ring is a bitch with a 4.8 lb trigger.

It responds quite well to tuning, as you might expect. Not as well as maybe a straight 0.800 might, but pretty well for something with that large a shank.

I know, it's no BR rifle, and I'm a sling shooter, but the mechanics remain much the same.

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

Which barrel contour?
R0 or 7 standard varmint for benchrest.
It seems like the R0 would respond better to a tuner.

I never had a Shilen as I prefer Benchmarks, but I would go with the R5 or .850 straight,
I just had a Benchmark with a contour similar to the R5 done and it can shoot, after only 3 rounds to check extraction, I then put 6-shots in a 0.195 ctc group with no tuner.
however it is finished at 28" and I had the chamber end turned down from 1.200 to 1.00, I put a tuner on it and got 2 sub 0.100 ctc. 5-shot groups. I also use a tuner that is only 4.26-oz. which I feel really helps with tuning.

Lee

 

[Tim s]

The vast majority of Shilen’s fit to BR rifles are .900”. Rarely will you see anything other than straight taper, usually between .875”-.900”.

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

The vast majority of Shilen’s fit to BR rifles are .900”. Rarely will you see anything other than straight taper, usually between .875”-.900”.

I agree most use a .900, Tim would you happen to know what the barrel length seems to be the most popular in use. I know for awhile 24" was the norm.

Lee

 

[Tim s]

I agree most use a .900, Tim would you happen to know what the barrel length seems to be the most popular in use. I know for awhile 24" was the norm.

Lee

I believe .900” are the only ones you can get from Killoughs Shooting.
I would tend to believe, these days, 24” is probably short. Smiths are going longer as blanks allow. My newest gun has a tube a bit over 26”, the longest I have been hearing, about 27”
Plenty of room for a slug to “go to sleep “ as the old timers would say, before exit.

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

I believe .900” are the only ones you can get from Killoughs Shooting.
I would tend to believe, these days, 24” is probably short. Smiths are going longer as blanks allow. My newest gun has a tube a bit over 26”, the longest I have been hearing, about 27”
Plenty of room for a slug to “go to sleep “ as the old timers would say, before exit.

.
Thanks Tim, I currently have a 28" BM this is probably as close to a hummer I have had. from a brand new bore with just 3-shots to check extraction it shot a 6-shot group of .195 ctc with CX no tuner
I don't know if others know that Benchmark does not try and induce a choke when they make a barrel, they do tapper lap. according to the smith who did the barrel it had a very consistent smooth feel when slugged.

with a tuner

I am one very happy camper

Lee

 

[Tim s]

They have made good barrels over the years. I won the IR 50 sporter nationals with a BM 2 groove and set a new record a few years back.
I’ve shot 2’s and 6’s up to 17 3/4” twist.
Unfortunately they went through a period where Ron was pushing then down to about .215” in the bore and at one point they had something like five guys lapping.
I have heard they’ve been turning out some nice blanks lately.
Looks like you have a nice shooter. Did Kevin chamber it or just his reamer spec ?
Good Luck

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

They have made good barrels over the years. I won the IR 50 sporter nationals with a BM 2 groove and set a new record a few years back.
I’ve shot 2’s and 6’s up to 17 3/4” twist.
Unfortunately they went through a period where Ron was pushing then down to about .215” in the bore and at one point they had something like five guys lapping.
I have heard they’ve been turning out some nice blanks lately.
Looks like you have a nice shooter. Did Kevin chamber it or just his reamer spec ?
Good Luck

Tim,

This is my 3rd 3G with one 2G in 5-6 years all have been very good shooters, with this one by far the best right now.
local smith did the barrel, he only does local work. reamer was a JGS Nevius Kevin's reamer they make.
I am a firm believer in Kevin's chamber as I only shoot Lapua.

Lee