Light Barrel Accuracy

[Terry]

Is anyone getting great accuracy from a lightweight barrel?

Deer hunting calibers, 1/2 MOA or better.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Absolutely.

 

[Intheshop]

Yup.

The balance (ha) gets swung to the gun "handling" side of things which turns a complicated issue into a complex issue. You can reverse engineer the former,and get durn close between shooters.... once it becomes complex,it gets harder to put your finger on the problem. Roundabout way to say skinny barrel sporters,do jump around.

 

[DaveTooley]

For a hunting rifle finding a 1/2 MOA hunting bullet can be challenging.

 

[Larryh128]

I use a #2 barrel (22 in)on one of my hunting rifles in 6.5 GAP. I shoot strictly Barnes 127 gr LRX bullets over a stiff charge of RL-17. Also running a Dead Air can which definitely helps (in my mind) barrel whip. It will consistently group 1.5 in or better at 515 yds which is the longest I have available. Don't be afraid of lightweight barrels, I've free floated them (which this one is) which is considered a no no by many with nothing but improved performance.

 

[Larryh128]

I also use the Barnes LRX in 7mm & 30 cal with excellent accuracy, in my mind the best hunting bullet available. There are others with a better BC but for terminal performance they can only be matched by other copper bullets.

 

[jackieschmidt]

For a hunting rifle finding a 1/2 MOA hunting bullet can be challenging.

^^^^^^^

 

[ringer]

Lilja #2 for my 280 Rem, sub half moa for both 120 ttsx and 140 hvlds.

AnTi action, McMillan KS stock, Jewell trigger.

My MG Arms .300 win mag is 1/4-1/2 moa rifle with 178eldx

 

[JB10]

6.5 prc 3 shots cold bore. Pencil barrel. Factory Christiansen arms mesa. 100 yards. Now i will test 200 yards and see if it stays tight.

 

[Fuj]

For a hunting rifle finding a 1/2 MOA hunting bullet can be challenging.

In a 7/08. the Berger 140 VLD Hunter can do it. My brother's Browning
X-Bolt Medallion shoots them tight at mag length and AA-4064.

 

[jackieschmidt]

I think the real question might be exactly what constitutes a true “hunting bullet”.

 

[LVLAaron]

Not a hunter... but Berger Elite Hunter and Nosler ballistic tip bullets are pretty impressive.

 

[Tesoro]

I think the real question might be exactly what constitutes a true “hunting bullet”.

I think the real question might be exactly what type of deer hunting requires that kind of accuracy in the rifle?!

 

[ridgeway]

1/4 moa on my sporter 6.5x47. Wears a Brux 8T.

 

[Larryh128]

Most hunting applications don't BUT I like tiny groups which gives me a bit of wiggle room on a critter. Most of my shots are taken 200-350 yds on animals that are moving along runways and you have a short amount of time to acquire and fire with many times less that optimal rests.

 

[jackieschmidt]

Randy Selbly can be preachy, but he does know a lot about terminal ballistics.

 

[JFrank]

We have a factory savage chambered in 270 wsm that shoots just outside a dime at 200 yards using 140AB and 4831 sc.
maybe lucky once sure, but it’s been shooting like that for awhile now.

 

[mikecr]

Is anyone getting great accuracy from a lightweight barrel?

Careful to separate precision from accuracy.
JB10 result earlier shows great precision, terrible accuracy.

https://forum.accurateshooter.com/attachments/20230827_081146-jpg.1473346/

So with that clear, why wouldn't a light barrel shoot as accurately as anything else?

 

[Larryh128]

Careful to separate precision from accuracy.
JB10 result earlier shows great precision, terrible accuracy.

https://forum.accurateshooter.com/attachments/20230827_081146-jpg.1473346/

So with that clear, why wouldn't a light barrel shoot as accurately as anything else?

The common thought is it has more barrel whip than a heavier barrel that can lead to inaccuracy and also heats up faster which can change the point of impact. Once you have a load tuned, they shoot very well, just don't get them smokin hot. BUT custom stress relieved barrels don't shift like factory barrels.

 

[NorCalMikie]

As long as the barrel stays cool!! If you can't hit what you're aiming at with one shot, you need help.