Advice on barrerl contour for highpower

[woolenmammoth]

Need a bit of advice...

Im having a tube gun built for high power competition, chambering in 6br, have a 28" medium palma on order from krieger. Im new to high power and figured a 28" barrel would balance ok. I handled an AR today with a 26" almost bull barrel, .920 at the muzzle, and it felt really at home, and Im completely reconsidering my outlook... Wondering if I might be better off possibly with a heavy palma cut shorter with maybe an extension tube for the front sight. I have some loose hopes of using the rifle for informal benchrest at my rifle club but Im not sure if I'd make weight with either barrel on that stock with a scope. Anyone have any thoughts on this, Ive thoroughly confused myself and sadly dont have a ton of experience around tube guns to have a good perspective.

thanks!

 

[JabaliHunter]

Its a personal thing but I recall reading an article by David Tubb in Rifleshooter where he said that he was known for shooting 26in barrels.

 

[JabaliHunter]

Found it http://www.rifleshootermag.com/featured_rifles/RS_rollout_200905/index1.html

The barrel profile I'm currently using is essentially the smallest diameter barrel that doesn't shoot any worse than the heaviest barrel. It is about one pound lighter than the old straight-taper profile I used to use. By making the barrel lighter, I could add or remove weight to the fore-end rail, and relocate it, to enhance my position-shooting preferences.

The contour starts at 1.200 inches (like always), then steps to 0.950 and tapers to 0.875 at the muzzle at 25 inches (not withstanding the 0.75-inch parallel section for front sight mounting). I am convinced that a barrel doesn't have to be one bit bigger than this to shoot well.

 

[Mudcat]

For XTC 26 in is the usual culprit. For prone, at least 28, but preferably 30 or a bit longer. medium palma contour is what I use for all of them.

 

[woolenmammoth]

thanks for the feedback guys! Still a bit up in the air, but thats a help for sure.

 

[Rustystud]

If you are going to set back the barrel during its first life you might consider 2 extra inches of length. So you will have enought in the second life.

Nat Lambeth

 

[flatlander]

I used 28" bbls. in Rem sendero or varmint contour on both my R5 (6BR) & RTS (6.5x47) tubeguns. I think they're a bit muzzle heavy in offhand, but I have kind of a slight upper-body build. There wouldn't be enough difference between the sendro and med. Palma bbl. finished at 28" to notice, so when I replace these two bbls. (if I live long enough to shoot either of them out), I'll go with a light Palma contour. Krieger's catalog lists the weights for a 27" sendero & 30" lt. Palma as the same 4.5lbs, so a 28" lt. Palma would weigh a little less, and with its taper, would be less muzzle heavy.

I like the senderos in every position but offhand, and even then, it's not a bad choice, especially for someone with a bit more upper body bulk & strength.