Need a barrel recomdation for 223

[cfrazier77]

I need a barrel recommendation a .223. I need to replace the factory barrel, Savage 12 VLP 26" 7 twist, it is burnt up and not shooting as good as it did. It went from .25 MOA to .5+ MOA. It used to shoot 77 grain HPBTs and 80 Amaxs really well.

I have never rebarrelled a centerfire before. I have done so on a Savage muzzle loader which uses barrel nut and headspaces about the same. I used a Pac Nor and am happy with it, but this is the only custom barrel I have ever seen.

So, should I look at a button or a cut rifled barrel? Should I still get a 7 twist and what about rifling, 5R? Who would you recommend for the barrel. I would like to get one that would come chambered so I didn't have to send it to a gunsmith, there is no one close. Pac Nor offers to chamber the barrel so I can install it and headspace it.

One last question, about how much would it cost have a good smith chamber a barrel blank?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Thanks

 

[bozo699]

cfrazier77,
Have you had a bore scope in the barrel? is it shot out for sure or could you have it set back and rechambered for another 1000 or so rounds. If it does need rebarreled I have talked to a few that has good luck with the brux barrel pre chambered for savage. you can look @ them @ www.sharpshootersupply.com
How many rounds do you have down the tube now.
Wayne.

 

[cfrazier77]

Wayne,
I have 2500-3000 rounds through it. I have a cheap $50 Cabelas borescope but I could see in the throat the lands looked like they were "crackled". I thought about having it rechambered, but questioned whether the expense was worth it for a factory barrel.

 

[robbor]

Probably "the barrel man", I sure wish brux made savage prefits though, id like to try one done my them.

 

[bozo699]

Probably "the barrel man", I sure wish brux made savage prefits though, id like to try one done my them.

I am not sure what your saying here. you can buy a barrel threaded for a savage in multiple different chamberings straight from sharp shooters supply starting @ about $405 I think. Or were you saying you wished brux barrel Co. would thread and chamber one for you?

 

[moorepower]

Jim Briggs at Northlanders sells McGowen and Shilen select match barrels that are pre chambered for less $329* shipped last I looked and they are on hand. Keven Rayhill is a great Savage smith and he sells Benchmark barrels. You have a ton of choices out there for your Savage. FYI, both of these guys will talk to you on the phone and give you an honest answer about what you need to know.

 

[Pyscodog]

I would check with Northlander if you need it quick. If you got a year or so to wait, check with Sharp Shooter. JMO

 

[MarkS]

cfrazier77,
I would go with Keven Rayhill. Sharpshooter makes good barrel, BUT they are a PAIN to deal with. I have been there, don't go there. Search them on this site. They take you money up front, and take there sweet time getting your stuff to you. I have to go thru my card co. to get all of my stuff.

Mark Schronce

 

[tarbabi]

We can re-barrel with a Rock Creek barrel in the contour of your choice.

Let us know if we can help:

Tin Star Shooting Range
580-774-0396
sales@tinstarshootingrange.com

 

[jonbearman]

The barrel man has competitive pricing and you will also need the barrel wrench and head space gages and a way to hold the reciever. But once you buy it you have it forever. You can make the savage a switch barrel just by buying other barrels that use the same bolt face.But the savage can put a new bolt head on for 20.00 and now you have infinite choice's.The savage is by far the easiest shooting system out there. Good luck and you can probably find a barrel right here in our classifieds,I did.

 

[bozo699]

cfrazier77,
I would go with Keven Rayhill. Sharpshooter makes good barrel, BUT they are a PAIN to deal with. I have been there, don't go there. Search them on this site. They take you money up front, and take there sweet time getting your stuff to you. I have to go thru my card co. to get all of my stuff.

Mark Schronce

Mark,
That is to bad they treat there customers that way, I had actually herd that elsewhere,but now with a couple of more post with same type of info on them ???
well I may have to reconcider buying a barrel from them. Thanks for the info.
Wayne.

 

[cfrazier77]

I have heard other "stuff" about Sharp Shooter Supply and it was not good. The BBB has given them an F. I have known people who have done buiseness with Kevin Rayhill and were very pleased.

I think that I have narrowed it down to either a Benchmark or a Pac-Nor. I have changed a Savage barrel before and have a wrench. All I need is a headspace gauge and I am good to go.

The only thing that I have not figured out yet is the twist and number of grooves. I have over a 1000 80s left and want to be able to still shoot them well. But, I would like to be able to shoot lighter bullets than I can now if possible. Currently I have a 7 twist. Also, I have no clue as to what number of grooves to get, 3, 4, 5, 6? Any suggestions?

 

[Taildrag15X]

I'd stay, or I should say I WILL STAY with a 1-7", I thnk that you would also be best served with it. I have one throated for 90 gr. Bergers, 90, 80 & 77 gr. Sierra Match Kings, makes shooting FUN!

 

[cmillard]

that is kind of odd. 2000-3000 rounds through the factory tube? something must have been wrong with that barrel because you should have been able to get a lot more rounds down range than that. i wonder if the barrel steel was a little soft. otherwise, get a chamber plug and let some hoppe's sit in the barrel for a couple days. then drain it out and run a kroil soaked patch with jb on it and short stroke it back and forth for about 10 minutes or so. then you could also take some of the superior shooting systems throat maintenance ammo and run through it. if the barrel won't shoot then, well you know what to do.

 

[cfrazier77]

that is kind of odd. 2000-3000 rounds through the factory tube? something must have been wrong with that barrel because you should have been able to get a lot more rounds down range than that. i wonder if the barrel steel was a little soft. otherwise, get a chamber plug and let some hoppe's sit in the barrel for a couple days. then drain it out and run a kroil soaked patch with jb on it and short stroke it back and forth for about 10 minutes or so. then you could also take some of the superior shooting systems throat maintenance ammo and run through it. if the barrel won't shoot then, well you know what to do.

I agree on the round count, but it came from firing way to fast. I have learned to slow down now.

 

[cmillard]

i dont think that firing way too fast is the issue. i have had several ar-15 barrels that had over 4000 rounds through them, and some of the shooting was done a little faster than normal. and those barrels still shot lights out. i would give the barrel a good, real good, cleaning as i said before. then proceed as needed

 

[cfrazier77]

I will try it, I have JB it quite good trying to get it out. I have some Tubbs final finish bullets that I am going to load to see what they can do. On the other hand, it is just a factory barrel and I don't want to put to much effort into it when a real good barrel will shoot much better.

 

[300meter]

Contact Mark Chanlynn at: ROCKY MOUNTAIN RIFLE WORKS, LTD. 931 Stone Canyon Rd., Longmont, CO 80503 (303) 823- 6270

I have had 10-12 of Mark's barrels in various calibers and all are superb. He only makes cut rifle barrels and he is a very meticulous gunsmith. Remember that the installation is just as important as the barrel you choose to buy. There are a lot of "hacks" out there so be careful who you choose.

You can visit his website at bighornarms.com

Good luck with your project.