Modifying a 6BR that already is a great shooter..

[privateer]

I recently acquired a very nice 6BR from a member here.

It is a Stiller Tac 30 single shot action with Krieger 8 twist barrel. My first semi-custom rifle and an absolute tack driver. I shot it in my first ever match (informal local F class) and did a lot better than I expected (2nd). I really credit the rifle more than me.

Anyway, my issue is that it has a 32" barrel. It makes the rifle very heavy and especially front heavy. It takes me longer to get everything set up and I just feel that with the front heavy balance, I could do even better if it was more even.

I bought the rifle with the intent of cutting it down, but decided to shoot it a while first. Now that I have the same question comes up. Should I cut it down?

The PO owner built it to shoot long distance. I would like to do that "one day" but it won't be anytime in the immediate future.

Recommendations? Should I cut it down to say 26" - 30"? Any downsides to that other than velocity? Will it really limit me if I ever to get a chance to go long?

If I do cut it down, what length do you recommend?

Would I be starting from scratch as far as load development goes? What should I expect?

I am currently shooting Berger 108gr BTs over 30.3 gr of Varget with Lapua brass.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[expiper]

If the gun shoots good I wuld leave it alone and add wt to the butt ....if you are muzzle hvy your gun prolly only weighs around 15 lbs ..(you didnt say what the wt was or how long the forearm) and you can go up a lil...(you are allowed 22 lb in F-class.) cutting the bbl 3-4in will only reduce wt 8oz (ooo yea I know it is way out ther) ...Roger

 

[12man]

I am with Roger don't mess with it if it is shooting good, an option is buy a second barrel and set it up as a switch barrel using a shorter or different twist as needed. Say a 1-12 for 100yd shooting. Good Luck

 

[NorCalMikie]

Don't fix it if it ain't broke!! Load the butt end to get it to balance.

 

[privateer]

OK guys. Good advice. I'll try adding weight to the butt.

Thanks.

 

[alf]

Most barrels are finish lapped with a small choke in the muzzle end. Cutting back the barrel several inches may get you back away from the constriction and affect the present accuracy.

While cutting it back won't hurt your velocity much, I wouldn't touch a good shooter.

 

[LHSmith]

Most barrels are finish lapped with a small choke in the muzzle end.

If this is true, then all the thingy's ( barrel stubs with the reamer run in mimicing the chamber for the purpose of checking seating depth) are giving us false info.

 

[alf]

We're only talking a couple of tenths or so.

The seat and neck gauges are only good for measuring shoulder bump after some amount of rounds are down the bore anyway. It's just a reference point, not an absolute.

 

[expiper]

my views on "thingys"...they are cute,but not exact...you gotta make the rounds fit the chamber they are being fired in...the bbl wears every time you pull the triger and the thingy is not wearing layin in the tool box....they are just a reference point ...IMHO...bak to the original ??,,,the rifles I have shot over the past are usually muzzle hvy. because I take a short range benchrest rifle and put a 28-30" bbl on it for long range shooting....and have had good results doing so...you just have to learn how to keep the bak end of the gun from jumping up outa the rear bag....practice-practice...and you will get to Carnegie (sp-haha) hall.....a good rifle is like a good woman,,,dont change a thing....just enjoy it...Roger

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Don't fix what isn't broken!

 

[7x57]

Dont cut it, yet. With that much barrel, you could rechamber after shooting a few thousand rounds to get some fresher barrel throat, and cut and recrown the muzzle end and still end up with a 26" tube.

 

[camac]

Most barrels are finish lapped with a small choke in the muzzle end. Cutting back the barrel several inches may get you back away from the constriction and affect the present accuracy.

While cutting it back won't hurt your velocity much, I wouldn't touch a good shooter.

I agreee 100% with ALF. Although a 6BR probably doesn't need all this barrel for good velocity, most manufactureres (not all though) do indeed leave a smaller diameter in last bit of barrel. They are progressively lapped towards the end (ie breach lapped a little more than muzzle. Those of you with bushings, try it out. you will find a few ten thousands of an inch difference in most good barrels. The first barrel I reamed I chose the bushing on the muzzle and then went to start and noticed some movement. I went up two bushing sizes. I did some inquiring and found the same answer AlF gave. This is particluarly popular in good .308 Palma barrels shooting 155gr shorter bullets, the tighter bore at the end helps with the shorter bearing surface of bullet.

Don't panic about it though, It is a progressive thing so won't really effect you for some inches but as everyone said - don't fix what ain't broke and leave it there for when you need to cut it back. You will probably want to cut several crowns in the life of the barrel. (the weighting in butt is IMHO the best tip to help).

 

[liseo]

Privateer

Right now, I have one 6 BR 1/8 tw krieger HV 28 ", TAC 30 action, Jewel trigger and McM stock with the gunsmith.
Hope it will be ready soon. At 100 yards, what accuracy can i expect , based in your experience with your rifle?

Thanks

 

[privateer]

I've only had a chance to shoot around 300 rounds through the rifle. I am still getting used to shooting it, but I easily average <0.5" and quite a few .3s and .4s (5 shot groups).