Barrel blocks?

[Kratos]

It seems like you don't see as many barrel blocks now. Is that because actions have gotten bigger? At what point is a barrel too big for an action like the BAT EX?

 

[Kurz]

From the Accurate Shooter (current) Home Page:

Note the Heavy Class rifle at the top of the page.

Maybe it's just that you aren't as aware of them as you once were? Or, maybe the arenas of barrel block uses has shifted?

I use them with some frequency because they are part of the design which works for my rifles. I can use longer barrels because the barrel block effectively shortens the length of the barrel. A 36" barrel becomes a 28" with an 8" barrel block.

The action can become the weaker link when the both the diameter and length of the barrel exceed the structural strength of the action, bedding and action screws. Action bedding becomes non-existent when bedding blocks are employed. Bedding the block is generally required.

 

[dkhunt14]

It seems like you don't see as many barrel blocks now. Is that because actions have gotten bigger? At what point is a barrel too big for an action like the BAT EX?

I believe the reason for less blocks, is that guys aren't holding as many true heavy guns. They are building 17 pounders and shooting in both classes. It also seems guys are using shorter barrels. Instead of the 32 to 36 inch stuff, I see more 26 to 28 inch. Matt

 

[Jason Boersma]

Most have never shot a true heavy and know the joy of doing so. I wouldn’t be without one myself

 

[Longrange57]

I built this a few years ago. I have several different calibers with 1.25 straight barrels....all Rem 700 actions. Weight at about 19.5 mainly F open class and shoot 5-600 yards off bench! From 6BR TO 7saum....Very accurate!

 

[davidjoe]

This is the era of free floating. Guys would rather synchronize ammo loads with vibrations and/or add a tuner, than virtually eliminate vibrations altogether.

Pressure points in modern stocks are gone. If you don’t buy old target rifles you might think the modern way has always been accepted.

My thought to the OP is that it can’t be a multirole practical rifle if it has a barrel block, they are not an attractive looking feature on a rifle if we are honest and they sure aren’t easier to turn out than a fore end that never touches the barrel unevenly, because it never touched the barrel at all.

Here is mine that converted the most eminently practical 30-06 bolt action ever made into an unusual repeating but barrel-blocked-accurate enormous range clunker.

 

[dkhunt14]

This is the era of free floating. Guys would rather synchronize ammo loads with vibrations and/or add a tuner, than virtually eliminate vibrations altogether.

Pressure points in modern stocks are gone. If you don’t buy old target rifles you might think the modern way has always been accepted.

My thought to the OP is that it can’t be a multirole practical rifle if it has a barrel block, they are not an attractive looking feature on a rifle if we are honest and they sure aren’t easier to put out than a fore end that never touches the barrel unevenly, because it never touched the barrel at all.

Here is mine that converted the most eminently practical 30-06 bolt action ever made into an unusual repeating but barrel-blocked-accurate enormous range clunker.

I can't see a barrel block. I see A sleeved action. Matt

 

[dkhunt14]

Most have never shot a true heavy and know the joy of doing so. I wouldn’t be without one myself

I agree, there is nothing more fun that sitting behind a real accurate blocked heavy gun. Matt

 

[Kratos]

I think what prompted the question was seeing some of the recent ELR builds with barrels that are up to 40 inches long with straight 2 inch contours, wondering what the limit really is.

 

[davidjoe]

I can't see a barrel block. I see A sleeved action. Matt

You might be right about that. The barrel is enclosed though and from firmly rapping my knuckles on it, I had believed it was being clamped, but the action is also screwed into the stock, itself. Two large screws through a thick bottom plate are below the barrel. Perhaps mounting a scope was the main objective. I have never disassembled this rifle that I bought, as is.

 

[Longrange57]

I have owned multiple custom actions and like all of them, however, a barrel block has been slightly more accurate for 5 different calibers that I shoot with 26-30 inch barrels. A second reason I like... is that after 20 shots on a warm summer day I have witnessed that the aluminum block acts like a heat sink and keeps the barrel slightly cooler. From shot 1-20 the block will normally keep the barrel 15 degrees cooler according to my RayTek using H1000 and 7 Saum. I normally only shoot 5 shot strings but it comes in handy for 20.

 

[Matches]

Here is a 375 CheyTac in a barrel block from a guy shooting 2000+ yards