28" or 30" for .243 AI

[Luhrs]

Looking at getting a Bartlien 1 in 8 twist for the AI. Go with a 28" or 30"? I plan on using 105 A-Max's and Bergers and maybe some 115 grain pills. The rifle is not going to be a bench gun. I will be using it for hunting and banging steel.

It is a Rem. Model 700 VS. Currently it sports a 26" factory barrel that was reamed to AI. It loves 75 Gr. V-Max's and 85 grain Sie HPBT Game Kings. It took a deer this last season at 404 yards.( I know, That isnt very far)

Thanks.

 

[1000yardstare]

I shoot a MacLennon 30 inch 8 twist 6AI for F Class. Have done well with it. One reason MacLennon gives for starting with a 30 inch is that when the throat is shot out, you can set it back 2 inches and rechamber. Still have a 28 inch barrel.

 

[SS427]

I don't know about you, but I hate a muzzle heavy hunting rifle. I have a Savage LRPV with a 1 inch diameter, 26 inch long bull barrel that I bought for varmint hunting. It always gets left behind when I'm hunting. Even with a Harris bi-pod, it is ackward to use. It is a nice bench rifle though, so if I have a rest it gets used, but I won't pack it aorund.

So my vote would be a 28 inch barrel given your choices. I would go even shorter if I had to pack it around.

404 yards is a long deer shot for 95% of the hunting population in my opinion. I like to show off shooting varmints and paper at distance. I don't like to run the risk with deer, even though I'm pretty sure I could make the shot. Just too many variables.

 

[Luhrs]

I don't know about you, but I hate a muzzle heavy hunting rifle. I have a Savage LRPV with a 1 inch diameter, 26 inch long bull barrel that I bought for varmint hunting. It always gets left behind when I'm hunting. Even with a Harris bi-pod, it is ackward to use. It is a nice bench rifle though, so if I have a rest it gets used, but I won't pack it aorund.

So my vote would be a 28 inch barrel given your choices. I would go even shorter if I had to pack it around.

404 yards is a long deer shot for 95% of the hunting population in my opinion. I like to show off shooting varmints and paper at distance. I don't like to run the risk with deer, even though I'm pretty sure I could make the shot. Just too many variables.

In its current trim the rifle doesnt get packed around. I call it my "landing" rifle. I have the model 70 Featherweight for packing.

If it is too muzzle heavy I will just load up the stock pack I have on it with some weight to counter act the heavy muzzle. As it is now the rifle is pretty muzzle heavy with the ugly ass HUGE brake that sticks off the end.

 

[Steve Blair]

I have two 6mm Remingtons, one with a 25.5" H-S barrel and one with a 27" Hart. Both are approximately HV profiles but the H-S is fluted and handles much better than the Hart. I have done a bit of fiddling in QuickLOAD while planning rebarrels for both and a new 6mm. The conclusion that I reached is that I will go with 26" for the first two and 30" for the new one. The new rifle will have a 7.5" twist, shoot 115 grain Bergers and weigh around 18 pounds. The others are both long-range varmint rifles and I am more concerned about weight. QuickLOAD says that a top load of H4831SC with 105s will only gain about 110 fps from the additional 4 inches. If not shooting in competition, that is not too important.

The other point is that the 8" twist may be marginal with the 115s. I have heard it both ways but one of my 6mms is 8" and it shoots the Bergers poorly, even in warm weather. Groups open dramatically at 300. Just my 2¢.

 

[Luhrs]

How well does a 7.5 twist shoot the lighter stuff? I have a ton of 75 Gr V-max and 85 gr. Sierra HPBT's laying around.

 

[Steve Blair]

I have not tried lighter bullets but there is only about a 6% difference between 7.5 and 8. It should not make a big difference. Modern bullets are good enough to handle a little more twist.

 

[Octopus]

There is an additional advantage to the longer barrels. LESS MUZZLE BLAST.

The lower the muzzle pressure when the bullet leaves the muzzle the less destabilization of the bullet as the gases pass the bullets.

This becomes even more important with the longer low drag bullets with lots of boat tail.

If your bullet destabilized by muzzle blast and is coning for the first 100 to 200 yards the wind impact, and velocity drop, will be more than expected.

 

[cahunter805]

Luhrs Is the 26" factory barrel still good? Would you want to get rid of it? What contour/finish is it? PM sent