jackieschmidt
Gold $$ Contributor
I was sent a 1-18 twist 30 caliber Bartlien made from the new 400 Mod a few weeks ago. I chambered it to my favorite VFS Score Rifle with my own .330 neck 30 BR reamer. I cut it to 23 inches in length and threaded it for my tuner.
I broke it in last week end, Since I spent a lot of time with my Mauser project, so I didn’t have enough time to do any serious testing. Today was different.
We had a beautiful day to shoot. 65 degrees, just a little overcast, a gentile right to left condition. I set up with my usual 4 flag set at 100 yards.
As it turns out, the exact same load that I shot at the Nationals with a 1-17 Bartlien was dead on. 35.7 grns of N-130 behind my own 112 FB. A few tweaks of the Tuner and the rifle was shooting as it should.
I tried some different combinations, but the fore mentioned load was just right, giving an average 3025 fps over my Ohler 35 Chronograph.
here are the groups I shot for record. I took my time, waiting on the condition to be right on every shot. After all, I am testing the barrel, not myself. I am just measuring with calipers, I might be off here in there a little, but the average is pretty darned good.
As you can see, the barrel performed very well. When I broke it in, it cleaned up great after just around five rounds, typical of Bartlien Barrels. My best way of describing the day is…..”the barrel didn’t do anything stupid”
The Mod 400, while lacking the free machining aspects of 416R, presented no problems in performing the various operations to get it installed on the rifle. I do chamber barrels a little different than most, but it’s just my method. Being careful with the surface feet per minute and using a good cutting oil should help with any undue wear on your reamer, but do keep in mind, this is not 416R, so treat it accordingly.
All in all, I had a great day at the range. This barrel performed as well as the Bartliens I am using that are made from 416R.
Of course, this tells us nothing of the major reason for Bartlien offering this material option, that being longer barrel life. In truth, that is a non issue in my chosen Discipline, Varmint for Score.
I broke it in last week end, Since I spent a lot of time with my Mauser project, so I didn’t have enough time to do any serious testing. Today was different.
We had a beautiful day to shoot. 65 degrees, just a little overcast, a gentile right to left condition. I set up with my usual 4 flag set at 100 yards.
As it turns out, the exact same load that I shot at the Nationals with a 1-17 Bartlien was dead on. 35.7 grns of N-130 behind my own 112 FB. A few tweaks of the Tuner and the rifle was shooting as it should.
I tried some different combinations, but the fore mentioned load was just right, giving an average 3025 fps over my Ohler 35 Chronograph.
here are the groups I shot for record. I took my time, waiting on the condition to be right on every shot. After all, I am testing the barrel, not myself. I am just measuring with calipers, I might be off here in there a little, but the average is pretty darned good.
As you can see, the barrel performed very well. When I broke it in, it cleaned up great after just around five rounds, typical of Bartlien Barrels. My best way of describing the day is…..”the barrel didn’t do anything stupid”
The Mod 400, while lacking the free machining aspects of 416R, presented no problems in performing the various operations to get it installed on the rifle. I do chamber barrels a little different than most, but it’s just my method. Being careful with the surface feet per minute and using a good cutting oil should help with any undue wear on your reamer, but do keep in mind, this is not 416R, so treat it accordingly.
All in all, I had a great day at the range. This barrel performed as well as the Bartliens I am using that are made from 416R.
Of course, this tells us nothing of the major reason for Bartlien offering this material option, that being longer barrel life. In truth, that is a non issue in my chosen Discipline, Varmint for Score.
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