Barrel Questions

[Rooks]

Ok. So done a bit more research and I think I'm leaning towards a .243. I could go something on the cheap and go with a Savage Axis, but in talking with some people, for doing target shooting, I've been told the barrel quality might degrade quite fast if I'm shooting 5 to 20 round bursts. What should I be looking for to get a quality barrel? Is it unreal to think that a barrel could survive 1000 rounds?

Would I be better of going with a Winchester Model 70 Ultimate Shadow? Obviously a bit more, but would the quality of the gun as a whole be better? Or would I be better of getting the Savage Axis, shooting it until it needs a new barrel, and then just get a barrel that is better and fits the Axis stock?

Or, on the crazy side (I think), should I try and do a custom rifle right off the bat? What price would I be looking at for just buying random parts and putting them together and ending up with a very solid target shooting rifle that could be used for some deer hunting.

 

[joemax]

I wouldn't go with the Axis because there are no aftermarket parts that I know of. But I think a new or used Savage/Stevens is a good action to start a persons foray into target shooting and customizing a gun.

 

[Glenn Powell]

Custom action $1000+/-
Barrel $350+/-
Stock $100-$1000+
Trigger $125-$325
Gunsmith $500+/-

The barrels can take from 4 months to a year to get, Hart takes 4 months. The stock if McMillan will be 6 months or so. I have a Stiller Predator on order since February and no idea how much longer it will be before I get it. My smith took 3 months to do my last barrel job. You can look around and find parts in stock, but I like to stretch it out so I don't get hit in the wallet so hard all at once.

 

[jonbearman]

Go over on benchrest central and try to pick up a finished gun with a low round count,that way you get all the good parts and maybe only need a newer barrel.

 

[its only light]

I like the benchrest central idea, the win 70 shadow is definitely a step up. I wouldn't be afraid to get a savage model 12 or the lrpv in 243 if you want to spend that much. It basically depends what you plan to do with it. The axis is a fine hunting rifle. If you looking at target shooting or long range varmint you wouldn't be happy with the axis. My opinion anyways. I would look for a used savage lrp or lrpv. CZ and Tikka also make some damn nice factory varmint rigs that won't kill you on price.

 

[Rooks]

Custom action $1000+/-
Barrel $350+/-
Stock $100-$1000+
Trigger $125-$325
Gunsmith $500+/-

The barrels can take from 4 months to a year to get, Hart takes 4 months. The stock if McMillan will be 6 months or so. I have a Stiller Predator on order since February and no idea how much longer it will be before I get it. My smith took 3 months to do my last barrel job. You can look around and find parts in stock, but I like to stretch it out so I don't get hit in the wallet so hard all at once.

Good to know. Given the budget, I won't be going with this method.

Go over on benchrest central and try to pick up a finished gun with a low round count,that way you get all the good parts and maybe only need a newer barrel.

I like the benchrest central idea, the win 70 shadow is definitely a step up. I wouldn't be afraid to get a savage model 12 or the lrpv in 243 if you want to spend that much. It basically depends what you plan to do with it. The axis is a fine hunting rifle. If you looking at target shooting or long range varmint you wouldn't be happy with the axis. My opinion anyways. I would look for a used savage lrp or lrpv. CZ and Tikka also make some damn nice factory varmint rigs that won't kill you on price.

I'll check out that site.

I guess more what I'm looking for is what makes a good barrel versus one that is going to be toast in 500 rounds? Is it just the wall thickness (i.e. the ability to absorb and dissipate the heat)? Are there ratios or things of that nature that people can look into that tell us how many rounds could be fired through a barrel in X amount of time (similar to duty cycle in welders, i.e. I can weld 5 minutes out of every 10 if a welders has a 50% duty cycle).

Or are there more factors then just rounds fired through barrel to consider? I mean I suppose the bullet composition would drastically change the amount of heat per bullet. I'm probably starting to get into some in-depth details and maybe I'm jumping in too far considering I don't even have a gun yet, but just trying to make sure I know what I'm getting before I get it.

 

[articmp]

Douglas can build you a barrel in about 4 weeks. Look around for a savage target accutrigger, hard to beat for the money. Look into a 6mmbr, it will run with a 243 with alot less powder and barrel wear. A regular accutrigger model can be built into a nice rig also. I picked up a used target accutrigger, kelby glass stock, ken ferrell 20moa base, burris posi rings with inserts, burris 8-32 signature scope, douglas barrel and harrel brake for less than $1400. Chambered it in 6.5-284 and it has already shot a 7.686 inch group at 1k yards. Great things can be had used if you shop around. I have a accutrigger 284 shehame that I built for 630 minus rings and scope. With a nikko sterling scope and bipod it will shot an inch at 300 with the factory plastic stock. Only new parts I.have bought are the barrels and muzzle brake.

 

[22BRGUY]

Please also take a close look at the Tikkas....out of the box they are terrific shooters, very smooth actions and a variety of configurations. I and my son have three of them and they all shoot extremely well. Up from there are customs. Savages also shoot extremely well but they seem rough compared to the Tikkas. Go and work the actions in the stores you shop and see what you think.
Best to you whatever you do

 

[BoydAllen]

The capacity of the cartridge, size of the bore, pressure, and rate of fire are the determining factors as far as barrel wear goes. Expensive barrels are made of the same stuff as cheaper ones. You wrote of 5-20 round bursts. I found your choice of words curious. It implies a high rate of fire, shooting fast. Is that what you meant to say? The most important factors are caliber selection and rate of fire. The .243 is not known for long barrel life, but if you watch barrel heat closely, it should allow a 1,000 round barrel life and then some. Other than shooting at the range, what do you plan on using the rifle for?

 

[LawrenceHanson]

Hey Rooks,

You and I are on the same path. I too want a 243 Winchester hunting rifle and am now in the process of having one built to my specifications.

Several years ago I started out with a factory Savage model 16 in 22/250 that I used exclusively for coyote hunting and target shooting at the range. It served its purpose well until I bought a bore scope. I don't know how many rounds I put down that barrel but it was definitely shot out and I replaced it with a varmint weight Krieger barrel chambered for the 243 Ackley. It wasn't long before I recognized features of the rifle I did not care for. First of all the heavy barrel spoiled the field handling qualities of the rifle. The cartridges did not feed smoothly. The bore erroded at a shocking pace. And the factory stock was a little too flimsy for my liking. I sold the rifle while it still had some life in the barrel. Now I needed to find another coyote rifle. After learning from my past experience with the Savage rifle I was able to clearly define what I wanted in my next rifle. I wanted a dedicated coyote/wolf hunting rifle. The 243 Winchester cartridge was chosen. I bought a new Remington Model 700 BDL sporter and a Leupold 4.5-14X CDS scope. Before firing a shot I turned the rifle and scope over to my gunsmith to have the action glass bedded, install a Jewell trigger, and mount the scope. I also placed orders for a McMillan stock and a Krieger 6mm 5R sporter barrel. The rifle will be used in its current configuration until my upgrade parts show up about this time next year. My gunsmith will then transform the rifle into my idea of the ultimate coyote/wolf hunting rifle.

As you can see I am proceeding slowly, learning from my mistakes, and planning carefully before jumping into the final product. It may take some time and cost some money but I think this is a good approach to ending up with a rifle that you will be happy with.

LE Hanson