Bartlein 400MODBB barrels in overbore cartridges.

[Sgt. Brumbaugh]

Bartlein advertises / talks about an approximate gain of around 50%-barrel life with the 400MODBB barrels, but I have talked to a couple of well-known ELR guys who have had disastrous results with these barrels in .338 caliber and larger- overbore cartridges.

Anyone have any personal experience with these barrels in the described scenario?

Thanks,
John Brumbaugh
Team Lead: USMC Scout Sniper Association ELR Team.

 

[ELR LVR]

Bartlein advertises / talks about an approximate gain of around 50%-barrel life with the 400MODBB barrels, but I have talked to a couple of well-known ELR guys who have had disastrous results with these barrels in .338 caliber and larger- overbore cartridges.

Anyone have any personal experience with these barrels in the described scenario?

Thanks,
John Brumbaugh
Team Lead: USMC Scout Sniper Association ELR Team.

Frank Green (Aka: FrankG) would be the man to talk with about this
One of the founders of Bartlein and knows much about the 400Mod steel, if not everything about it
He is a shooter so would have experimented with it himself and I find he is honest with the results he finds
Honest enough to not just want to sell barrels.
Another avenue of similar steel is Lothar Walthers proprietary LW-50 SS
From what I've gathered from Frank, the 400 Mod would be easier to machine than the Lothar Walther
--------
Frank pops up on here from time to time and is always willing to answer questions

 

[CA48]

There has been several discussions in other places about this new steel and barrel burners. Frank said himself barrel burners are barrel burners. With all the discussions I’ve followed on it with Franks input. Ive gathered that it’s a waste of money for hot rods. And you probably won’t get the extra barrel life like you do with the less overbore cartridges.

 

[Orr89rocz]

Discussed a couple months ago

Thread 'Bartlien MOD 400, experiences?'

Jul 4, 2025

Anyone have any real-world experience with them as far as wear / durability?

I am one of those guys who measures throat erosion every 100 rounds or so and then bumps the OAL forward by the mount of throat death that has occurred.

I have a couple of barrel burners (.0065 per 100 rounds of throat death) that might stay in tune longer if the juice is worth the squeeze with these barrels.

• Sgt. Brumbaugh
• Replies: 46
• Forum: Big Stuff--7mm, 30 Cal, .338+

• 

 

[ELR LVR]

Here is some more info for you Frank started over on "The Hide" as we call it when they first came out with the 400MOD steel.
I'm sure you're familiar with that site.

Bartlein New Barrel Material 400MODBB

Yeah. But people remember the bright light. Not the old light. Especially when it goes dark

www.snipershide.com