Best tactical/target contour

[favload]

I am researching different barrel contours for a possible project gun and am looking for ideas.

I am thinking about building a rifle primarily used for target F-class shooting betwen 300 and 1000 yds. However, I want the gun to be light and handy enough to be able to be be used in the field as a tactical/hunting rig if needed. To me this means able to be carried long distances and still remain accurate (1/3 moa or better @100) for multiple shots. For F-class we shoot strings of 15rds every 20-30 minutes or so for 3 strings. I would like a contour that will not shift POI due to heat or barrel whip.
My curent contenders are
LV, Heavy or medium palma. I was going to go even smaller but think accuracy on paper may suffer?? Could be wrong?
Thinking it will be a 6.5x47 or possibly a 6BR on a BAT VR action or similar.
Any experience with similar setups would be appreciated.

 

[uncleduke]

Found myself with the same problem. I shoot F-TR but still wanted to go out in the field. The medium palma taper serves me well. Bartlien now turns what's called a Warner palma taper that is between a med. and a heavy. That contour will be my next bbl. Or get two bbl's and change them out. The good thing about choosing a 6-6.5 cartridge is you have more metal to dissipate heat compared to a .308.

 

[Rtheurer]

Favload (name?)
Great to have you on the line shooting F class!!! I have found over the years that dual purpose rifles are at best a compramise of two important aspects of either sport. In F-O class I would want a rifle with a pretty heavy barrel for two reasons. Disapate heat and the increase weight of the rifle so that it reduces recoil and returns or tracks on the rest better. ( 6.5X47 shouldnt be bad though) This, i believe flies directly in the face of a good carry rifle that would be easy to hunt with and still be accurate enough. Duke pretty much hit it on the head with atleast a switch barrel gun. I guess the question is how much are you willing to carry all day. Are you going to sit in a tree stand? Or are you our stalking sage brush and mountain sides? I carried a Sendero for about 5 or 6 years before building a light weight hunting rifle. That is about as much weight as I think I could carry around all day. Understand that money is not always there so you use what you have and if this is the case then a switch barrel would be the best route.
Very Best of luck
RussT

 

[favload]

Thanks guys for your input so far, keep in comming. I currently shoot F-open 6BR with a shillen select match bull barrel on my Savage target action. I have no real complaints at all other than it is a beast to carry. I am looking for something lighter but without giving up much accuracy. Point taken on recoil vs. weight.
One could always shorten barrel length to save weight on a carry gun but I do not want to do this if possible. I would like to keep a 26" tube for velocity reasons.
I'm just not sure how much a 15 rd string would effect a med. palma or heavy palma barrel compared to a LV or HV etc. The new contour inbetween described above is interesting.
thanks
jer

 

[BoydAllen]

What do you think?
http://www.lothar-walther.de/396.php

 

[Taildrag15X]

Jer,

All you need to do is cut about 9" off that yellow beast, that should lighten it up! Plus it would help out the rest of us shooting against ya!

But serious now...I think you'lll be fine with the above mentioned Med. Palma contour, you do get 1 min. per round, so you could take more time for your shots, we won't hurry you.

I'm in the other end, gotta .308 Win. barrel that weighs in at 8.578 lbs. without the lug!!!

 

[dreever]

favload

look here http://www.gaprecision.net/ga-precision-2010-custom-rifles.html at GA Precisions rifles. You'll note that they don't put on anything heavier than a M24/M40 contour.
I asked Mr Gardner what he thought of going up to an MTU contour and his immediate response was to heavy to lug around. Since he not only builds them but competes with them I'd say he knows what he's talking about.
My Hospitaller with a loaded magazine, NF NXS in Badger rings with a bipod comes in at tad over 16 pounds which is all I'd want to lug around and then some.

Danny

 

[favload]

All good advice folks! Those ultra light LW barrels on the link above look neat. Has anyone used them here? I also agree that the MTU contour and HV are way too heavy for this build. My family has a few even cut down to 22-24" they are beasts, but very accurate and stiff as Mike above can testify to.
Mike, about my yellow gun there, I could never harm a hair on her head by cutting her down. She needs all the extra velocity she can get for those ultra long shots at Forbes.
Jer

 

[Scott Harris]

I use a light palma contour on my f-class and tacticool rifles: works great for extended strings and is light enough to carry hunting. I do have a sporter barrel for hunting though....no use for even a light palma profile when you are shooting 2 or 3 shots maximum.

 

[kemen4]

What do you think?
http://www.lothar-walther.de/396.php

Pete Lincoln at Roedale Precision in Germany has been using one of these ... he seems quite impressed... especially when someone picks one up expecting a hernia!!