FTR barrel contour for remington 700SA action

[Ilya S.]

Hello guys !

Im dicided to order new blank for my budget FTR project based on remmy 700SA Action.
I need to choose between 32in heavy palma or 30in heavy varmint contour. Barrel must be in 10 twist for 200.20x. May be someone can take recomendations ? Is the 0.7 lb heavier thick "heavy varmint" contour absolutely better than thin "heavy palma", especially for 200 grn bullets ?

Best regards.

 

[GenePoole]

Either should be fine for FTR. I think the limiting factor would be your stock. The heavy palma may fit a standard Rem barrel channel, but I don't think the heavy varmint will. How "budget" is this project?

 

[Ilya S.]

I have a HS PST025 stock, previus owner put a Krieger 28 heavy varmint in it. So barrel channel is ok for both contours. My gunsmith charged 2K $ include barrel, custom chamber, bedding and paper work. I believe, that `32 barrel is better for pushing 200 hybrids to 2630-2650fps than `30. More brass life. I cannot take 32 haevy varmint couse will have оverweight - 18.5 LB. With 32 heavy palma it will be 17.5.

 

[mahalan]

I would think the heavy varmint would be the better choice. It'd have more mass near the chamber of the barrel where it will heat up the most and the give up in velocity between 32" and 30" should be minimal. That said, I'm one of the least qualified people here to have an opinion on this.

 

[Caleb85]

Did I read that right?, your smith charges $2,000 to chamber a barrel and bed it in the stock? I'm half asleep...

 

[sfldiver]

I just put together my first custom FTR rifle and was faced with the same question as you - heavy palma or heavy varmint. My build has a GRS Precision X-Eater stock, Kelbly Stolle Panda F Class action, Kelbly double rings, Bix N'Andy trigger and a Sightron 10-50 X 60 SIII scope. The rifle is used with a Seb Joy Pod bipod.

I went with a 31" Bartlien barrel, which ended up being closer to 29" after my gunsmith chambered it.Because all my components are light weight, my rifle ended up being approximately 15 1/2 pounds, and that includes the bipod. In hindsight, I should've gone with the heavy varmint contour, because I had the extra weight available.

Fortunately, the rifle is shooting 1/2 MOA or less consistently with the Berger 200.20x's - so I'm happy with my barrel choice, but next time I'll go with the heavy varmint contour.

 

[Ilya S.]

Did I read that right?, your smith charges $2,000 to chamber a barrel and bed it in the stock? I'm half asleep...

Yep, you are right. I'm half asleep too. Often. And 30$ for a 3 hour on 1000m(1093y) range on weekends with my targets and gongs. Living in my country is "hardcore" for modern shooting society. Only tons of AK's, SKS and other... Any staff(reloading tools, bullets etc.) costs x2 or x3 more than in U.S.

I just put together my first custom FTR

10x for info dude. Your rifle looks nice.