So I've been using these barrels for over a year now and I wanted to share some observations about this little-known rifling by Lothar Walther. I literally haven't seen anyone else talk about these barrels.
Velocity gains:
I shoot Vintage Sniper CMP matches alongside my 15 year old son. He's using a Criterion 22" 308 barrel and I'm using a Lothar Walther 22" ICR 308 barrel. Using identical loads with identical brass, and shooting on the same e-target, I had anywhere from a 70 to 90 FPS velocity gain at the target at 600 yards!
Here are his targets; note average velocity number in the middle box on the right marked "FINAL"...
Now, here are mine:
What's interesting is that as my barrel fouled or warmed up, my velocity gained 20 FPS compared to my first string which was shot maybe 15 minutes earlier. Notice his velocities didn't change at all.
In M14's chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, I compared a 22" Lothar Walther ICR barrel to a conventional 4-groove 22" Bula barrel. My velocity gains were 40 FPS to 60 FPS over the conventional 4-groove (high-low difference). I was shooting factory 147 grain Hornady ELDM ammunition. The 6.5CM ICR barrel shows supersonic capability out to as long as 1,400 yards!
Even an 18.5" scout rifle showed velocity data that takes it out to 1,300 yards. Out of a M14, that's unheard of. I got some chronograph numbers using Hornady 147 grain ELDM ammo. Muzzle velocity was 2528 FPS. That's only 52 FPS slower than a 22" conventional 4-groove 6.5CM barrel.
Copper fouling.
These barrels simply don't have any surface area for copper to adhere to. Aside from carbon deposits, there's minimal copper fouling in this barrel.
Here are images from my LW 308 ICR barrel that I've been shooting for close to a year now. I've probably got about 750 rounds through it and this is after shooting 100 rounds since its last cleaning.
At the throat...
Mid-way through the barrel...
This is the worst fouling spot in the barrel.
At the muzzle...
Cleaning these barrels is a breeze! A few patches with carbon/copper solvent, a few strokes of a bore brush and a few passes with a patch/jag and you're done!
Anyway, I just thought I'd share my experiences for barrels that really aren't talked about.
Tony.
Velocity gains:
I shoot Vintage Sniper CMP matches alongside my 15 year old son. He's using a Criterion 22" 308 barrel and I'm using a Lothar Walther 22" ICR 308 barrel. Using identical loads with identical brass, and shooting on the same e-target, I had anywhere from a 70 to 90 FPS velocity gain at the target at 600 yards!
Here are his targets; note average velocity number in the middle box on the right marked "FINAL"...
Now, here are mine:
What's interesting is that as my barrel fouled or warmed up, my velocity gained 20 FPS compared to my first string which was shot maybe 15 minutes earlier. Notice his velocities didn't change at all.
In M14's chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, I compared a 22" Lothar Walther ICR barrel to a conventional 4-groove 22" Bula barrel. My velocity gains were 40 FPS to 60 FPS over the conventional 4-groove (high-low difference). I was shooting factory 147 grain Hornady ELDM ammunition. The 6.5CM ICR barrel shows supersonic capability out to as long as 1,400 yards!
Even an 18.5" scout rifle showed velocity data that takes it out to 1,300 yards. Out of a M14, that's unheard of. I got some chronograph numbers using Hornady 147 grain ELDM ammo. Muzzle velocity was 2528 FPS. That's only 52 FPS slower than a 22" conventional 4-groove 6.5CM barrel.
Copper fouling.
These barrels simply don't have any surface area for copper to adhere to. Aside from carbon deposits, there's minimal copper fouling in this barrel.
Here are images from my LW 308 ICR barrel that I've been shooting for close to a year now. I've probably got about 750 rounds through it and this is after shooting 100 rounds since its last cleaning.
At the throat...
Mid-way through the barrel...
This is the worst fouling spot in the barrel.
At the muzzle...
Cleaning these barrels is a breeze! A few patches with carbon/copper solvent, a few strokes of a bore brush and a few passes with a patch/jag and you're done!
Anyway, I just thought I'd share my experiences for barrels that really aren't talked about.
Tony.
