NEW but LAST **UPDATE** on New Bartlein "Hard Steel" barrel.

[FrankG]

I hope your daughter is seeing what a turd she is hanging out with. Being retired and living in Wisconsin, I would love to work part time at Bartlein if I lived close enough to justify the drive.
Cheers

You move closer....give me a call!

We're hoping she comes to her senses or he straightens out!

 

[INTJ]

On that first test barrel....at 1900 rounds it was shooting groups from .4 to .59 range with a light weight bullet. This was at a round count when they normally would pull the barrel from service. I did get regular updates prior to this.

I got updates at just under 2200 rounds, at 2300 rounds, at 2600 rounds, and at 3300+ rounds. At 3300+ rounds is when they seen the shift in pressure and velocity changes but the barrel still shot 140gr bullets into .32" groups but they did officially retire the barrel from any testing work at this time due to the change in the pressure/velocity that they seen. They did consider it done but did shoot it to 3500+ rounds the next week. The barrel is still in they're possession. Time permitting here and there they will keep shooting it to see where accuracy wise it completely gives up the ghost.

But it's not a priority to keep testing it anymore at this time with all the stuff going on in the gun world as we all know. At some point I'll ask for it back so we can cut it in half to look at the inside of it.

Frank,

Have any been used in Long Range Benchrest that you know of?

 

[FrankG]

Frank,

Have any been used in Long Range Benchrest that you know of?

For starters we don't push this or that shooting sport or discipline. They are being used in short and long range BR, On FTR and F Open guns, PRS hunting rifles, varmint guns and ammunition test barrels as well as King of the 2 mile guns. So they are in every shooting discipline I can think of in one form or another.

 

[INTJ]

For starters we don't push this or that shooting sport or discipline. They are being used in short and long range BR, On FTR and F Open guns, PRS hunting rifles, varmint guns and ammunition test barrels as well as King of the 2 mile guns. So they are in every shooting discipline I can think of in one form or another.

I am obviously wondering how long they will maintain BR level accuracy. I am hopeful that instead of pulling a barrel at 900-1200 rounds that these new ones would routinely go 2000.

 

[FrankG]

I am obviously wondering how long they will maintain BR level accuracy. I am hopeful that instead of pulling a barrel at 900-1200 rounds that these new ones would routinely go 2000.

Define BR level of accuracy? What is your requirement?

I know of a barrel being tested as we speak in 300 Norma. They have 2k rounds on it and it's still giving them 1/2moa (box ammo). That being said I'll say 300 Norma barrels run hard....at 1k rounds the long range accuracy is on it's way out. Will still shoot good at short range but long range....your on borrowed time.

They put 1k rounds on that 300 Norma barrel in one months time frame. Same shooter, same gun same lot of ammo. Testing is currently on hold last I was told. Why....shortage of ammo.

I'll say right now...at 2k rounds on that 300 Norma....the barrel is on borrowed time now. Will be interesting to see what they get out of it.

 

[jackieschmidt]

Define BR level of accuracy? What is your requirement?

I know of a barrel being tested as we speak in 300 Norma. They have 2k rounds on it and it's still giving them 1/2moa (box ammo). That being said I'll say 300 Norma barrels run hard....at 1k rounds the long range accuracy is on it's way out. Will still shoot good at short range but long range....your on borrowed time.

They put 1k rounds on that 300 Norma barrel in one months time frame. Same shooter, same gun same lot of ammo. Testing is currently on hold last I was told. Why....shortage of ammo.

I'll say right now...at 2k rounds on that 300 Norma....the barrel is on borrowed time now. Will be interesting to see what they get out of it.

Frank, the poster might be referring to sub .200 agging capability in either Short Range Group or Varmint for Score.

In a 30 cal 1-18 twist for Varmint for Score, it is not uncommon to get 3000 rounds. I have one barrel that has been set back 3 times, and it still shoots at a competitive level. I have no idea how many actual rounds have been down it. 3 to 4 thousand probably.

I would like to try one of your new 30’s on my VFS Rifle, maybe a gain twist ending in 1-18. But it looks like the wait time sort of makes that a moot point.

 

[INTJ]

Define BR level of accuracy? What is your requirement?

I know of a barrel being tested as we speak in 300 Norma. They have 2k rounds on it and it's still giving them 1/2moa (box ammo). That being said I'll say 300 Norma barrels run hard....at 1k rounds the long range accuracy is on it's way out. Will still shoot good at short range but long range....your on borrowed time.

They put 1k rounds on that 300 Norma barrel in one months time frame. Same shooter, same gun same lot of ammo. Testing is currently on hold last I was told. Why....shortage of ammo.

I'll say right now...at 2k rounds on that 300 Norma....the barrel is on borrowed time now. Will be interesting to see what they get out of it.

It needs to be able to shoot five shot groups in the 2" range at 1000 yds in good conditions. I short three consecutive sub 2" 3-shot groups a couple years ago with one of your regular barrels the day before the match. If these new barrels will do that for 1800-2000 rounds (6BRA) then they will become dominant.

Make no mistake, I am a huge fan on what you guys are doing and can see many applications for this barrel even if it doesn't pan out for BR.

 

[FrankG]

It needs to be able to shoot five shot groups in the 2" range at 1000 yds in good conditions. I short three consecutive sub 2" 3-shot groups a couple years ago with one of your regular barrels the day before the match. If these new barrels will do that for 1800-2000 rounds (6BRA) then they will become dominant.

Make no mistake, I am a huge fan on what you guys are doing and can see many applications for this barrel even if it doesn't pan out for BR.

Accuracy is no different due to the material.

 

[FrankG]

Frank, the poster might be referring to sub .200 agging capability in either Short Range Group or Varmint for Score.

In a 30 cal 1-18 twist for Varmint for Score, it is not uncommon to get 3000 rounds. I have one barrel that has been set back 3 times, and it still shoots at a competitive level. I have no idea how many actual rounds have been down it. 3 to 4 thousand probably.

I would like to try one of your new 30’s on my VFS Rifle, maybe a gain twist ending in 1-18. But it looks like the wait time sort of makes that a moot point.

I can get one ordered up for ya if you want.

I'll do what I can for you on the delivery time...but yes the gun industry is upside down and it's effecting us as well.

I know what the short range BR guys are all about accuracy wise etc....long range guys are a little different.

We made Mark two CFW barrels for testing on his BR guns in 6PPC of course last year. Took both guns out....he shot left over ammo he had sitting around. So no tuning, no break in etc...targets attached. These are also in the new material.

Later, Frank

 

[BoydAllen]

Wow!

 

[DiffEQ]

spot on!

I know of warehouse jobs here locally...not hard work but they are starting people at $20 an hour and a $2000 signing bonus....can't get anyone.

I know a stock maker told me a week ago....they could hire 12-14 people right now. They've run 3 different ad's. Only people that have shown up to put in a application was so they could turn it into unemployment for the benefits. He said the last add they took out...offered a $700 signing bonus....not one response to the ad.

Our daughters boyfriend....got fired last Nov. and not even making an effort to look for a job. We've been all over him about it. He started sweating the unemployment checks not coming....so he got a job...worked one day....next day his first unemployment check came and he got $4200. He quit the job the same day. He was getting just over $600 a week and now with the last stimulus....think he is at $900 a week. Sits at home and plays video games.

I offered him part time work back in October...said no it's o.k.......offered him a full time job when he got fired....no it's o.k...... then when he started sweating it he asked if we could hire him. I said, I'll call you tomorrow and you have to come down and sit down with 3-4 of us. He said ok. I called him 3x. Never picked up the phone. So we hired someone else.

He said the lady at the unemployment agency told him to go back to school and not to worry about looking for a job!

I hope your daughter is seeing what a turd she is hanging out with. Being retired and living in Wisconsin, I would love to work part time at Bartlein if I lived close enough to justify the drive.
Cheers

Rather than trying to help the lout, work on your daughter's "picker".

 

[ShootDots]

****UPDATE****
I just finished cleaning the barrel "to the bone" again! There is now 500 rounds on the barrel and the bore STILL LOOKS NEW! I believe this thing is going to T-Totally amaze me! I hope this keeps going!!!

 

[Sandstorm]

I like what your say'in Ben. I may have to Order one now since I just spun a new one on.
By the time it ships ill be done with my barrels anyway.

 

[ShootDots]

I like what your say'in Ben. I may have to Order one now since I just spun a new one on.
By the time it ships ill be done with my barrels anyway.

Yes Sir! The lead times now are getting pretty long!

 

[Djfergus]

I had two (2) 7mm Sherman Short Mag barrels about a year and 1/2 ago. They shot GREAT, however, they ate up my 2 Krieger barrels like a kid on Halloween night eats candy! It kind of "hacked me off" and I gave up on the cartridge. I missed the Sherman and wanted one again. Sooooo I ordered a 8.75T, 4 groove conventional barrel made out of Bartlein's "new" barrel steel offering. I had it chambered up and started to break it in, while creating some initial load development. I started with the first rounds down the barrel at 100 yards. I started by shooting 10 round groups and almost all of them stayed in the .200s! Well this may very well be a shooter. ZOOM up to today... I took it to a 500 yard match at Rio Salado in Arizona. My friend John Farraggio (Cognac Jack) on this forum, shot the rifle today for me, as I needed to shoot a .300WSM that has not been shot in months. I wanted John to keep a close eye on the vertical dispersion. Well John won the match with my rifle and said that the vertical was so close to the waterline, making a gesture using his thumb and index finger, indicating barely over an inch of vertical dispersion. So now we KNOW the barrel will shoot>>> but I wanted to see how the throat was holding up. I scrubbed it to the bone and ran a bore scope in there. WOW! Low and behold there was not even a "HINT" of the preliminary steel discoloration that shows up prior to firecracking raising it's ugly head! To me, this is an excellent indicator that the "special steel" Bartlein uses may very well be what their claim / intent is! Their barrel is a bit on the "pricey" side. However, if it proves to have the longevity it is supposed to have, it will actually be a MONEY SAVER! The cost of 1 less barrel to chamber, about $100.00 cheaper than 2 full priced barrels and no components to break in and do load development with in a second barrel! It is still very early to draw any conclusions, however, ZERO barrel discoloration with over 400 rounds on an "over bore magnum" is quite promising!

Off topic but how many rounds do you think you had on each krieger? Just curious cause I have a benchmark chambered in 7 SS that hasn't been shot. I wonder how many rounds I can expect out of it.

 

[ShootDots]

Off topic but how many rounds do you think you had on each krieger? Just curious cause I have a benchmark chambered in 7 SS that hasn't been shot. I wonder how many rounds I can expect out of it.

I had right at 900 rounds on each before they went really south. Now having said that, my friend John Farraggio aka Cognac Jack on this forum, has his own "creation" of a 7mm mag that is very near identical to the Sherman. He is getting 15-1600 out of it BUT he uses Brux barrels. There is a real possibility I simply got hold of a couple of barrels from Krieger that would not hold up. Be that as it may, I believe I will go sailing past 2000 rounds on this barrel, possibly A LOT more if it continues to exhibit the resiliency it is now doing!

 

[rardoin]

Off topic but how many rounds do you think you had on each krieger? Just curious cause I have a benchmark chambered in 7 SS that hasn't been shot. I wonder how many rounds I can expect out of it.

pm sent

 

[ShootDots]

***LAST UPDATE*** This will be the last update till the barrel goes south. There is now 600 rounds down the bore. The "discoloration" has showed up and even some very mild firecracking. The firecracking is about 1" long and is only on 1 groove, right up against only 1 land. If you were not looking for some firecracking you may have gone right past it and not noticed. Now that the firecracking has begun, let's see just how long it will take for the barrel to end. Hopefully, somewhere past 2000-2500.. That would be great!

 

[46and2]

***LAST UPDATE*** This will be the last update till the barrel goes south. There is now 600 rounds down the bore. The "discoloration" has showed up and even some very mild firecracking. The firecracking is about 1" long and is only on 1 groove, right up against only 1 land. If you were not looking for some firecracking you may have gone right past it and not noticed. Now that the firecracking has begun, let's see just how long it will take for the barrel to end. Hopefully, somewhere past 2000-2500.. That would be great!

Great thread Ben, I'm fascinated.
So this barrel is a 7mm Sherman Short right?
If you don't mind me asking...

Are you shooting 180gr bullets?

What specific powder are you using?

What velocity are you at with what length barrel?

I'm thinking this barrel is used in competition so it is rapidly fired in 10 shot strings?

Sorry for the interrogation. I weigh these things in my mind, just so I have perspective.

Thanks.

 

[ShootDots]

Great thread Ben, I'm fascinated.
So this barrel is a 7mm Sherman Short right?
If you don't mind me asking...

Are you shooting 180gr bullets?

What specific powder are you using?

What velocity are you at with what length barrel?

I'm thinking this barrel is used in competition so it is rapidly fired in 10 shot strings?

Sorry for the interrogation. I weigh these things in my mind, just so I have perspective.

Thanks.

NO problem with the 3rd degree! LOL!! Yes it is a 7mm Sherman Short Mag. I use either the Berger 180 Hybrid or Berger 180 VLD (depending on availability).. With the 180 VLDs, I use 56.5grs of RL-23 and CCI-BR2 primers for a velocity of 2895-2905. With the 180 Hybrids, I use 56.2grs of RL-23 with the BR-2s for a velocity of 2905-2915 (in that vicinity).. It is used in F-Open competition where L-O-N-G shot strings fired quickly are the norm. The barrel is 32" long. I am figuring that with the savings of NOT having to pay for a second chamber job on a new barrel nor burning up our "hard to find" components breaking in a new barrel and finding a GREAT load will pay dividends for spending more money for the hard steel barrel.