Rifle barrel upgrade

[Briansm785]

I have a Remington 700 in .223 that I am considering rebarreling to get better accuracy. I want to stay with a .223 so not interested in anything besides .223 remington. I’m going to coyote hunt and deer hunt with the rifle so it needs to have a twist rate that will be optimal for 50-55 grain bullets and still handle 60 grainers for deer. I want a barrel with a contour That will be handy for carrying around. I do not want a heavy contour or bull barrel. This will be a hunting rifle that will be carried all over the place. I am hoping to achieve somewhere between dime and quarter size groups at 100 yards. I realize I may have to play with different loads to get the results I’m hoping for even with a precision barrel. So give me some good ideas for custom barrel manufacturers that make the barrel in looking for.

 

[std7mag]

All of them...

 

[DirtySteve]

Any premium barrel is a huge step above a factory barrel. Douglas, , Rock Creek, Brux, Bartlien, Kreiger, Shilen, McGowen, Mueller Works or Hawk Hill...

I would get a 1-8... With a Wylde Chamber, But that is just me...

 

[jelenko]

All of them.

This.

I personally prefer mfg's that provide barrels in the $300 - $400 range - especially if your round count is going to be lowish - like for hunting.

The ones I'm current getting barrels from are Shilen, X Caliber, McGowen.

You will need to decide the length and which contour and twist rate are right for your application.

 

[Briansm785]

I’m hoping someone or many of you guys can tell me what twist rate I need for 50-55 grain bullets up to 60 grainers

 

[DirtySteve]

Better to go faster than need over slower.. 1-8..Twist

 

[Deleted outa08]

I’m hoping someone or many of you guys can tell me what twist rate I need for 50-55 grain bullets up to 60 grainers

Brain,I shoot a Rem. 700 HB .223. Twist rate is 1:12. I can load 32-62 grain bullets and have great results with all. Best results are 40- 50-55 grn. Vmax. Hope this helps. Jeff

 

[Tommie]

Minimum 1-12” twist

 

[Oso]

There are a number of custom barrel makers, all of which will be significant improvement over your factory barrel. All things being equal a barrel manufactured by either Krieger or Bartlein are gold. Buy whichever one you find that is available in contour you want. If you are wanting a light, handy rifle then it sounds like a Remington Varmint/Sendro contour or something comparable is the heaviest, and maybe too heavy, for what you want. The only other consideration for barrel contour is barrel diameter at the muzzle. If you plan to have it threaded for a muzzle break or suppressor then you need to make certain there is enough steel to cut the threads.

https://bartleinbarrels.com/contours/
https://www.kriegerbarrels.com/contours#show-bolt-all

Keep in mind that there are two factors affecting the weight, (1) barrel contour and (2) barrel length. You may also want to consider keeping the barrel in the 20" range to reduce weight and make it more maneuverable/handy.

As far as barrel twist rate then 1:9 will cover 50gr - 70gr. However, a faster twist rate will also work and also allow you to consider the heavier 70gr - 80gr bullets.

 

[Bill K]

Email or talk to the fellows at Ragged Hole barrels in Sparks, NV. Wilson barrels and others they have. Decent prices also.

 

[WyleWD]

I have a Remington 700 in .223 that I am considering rebarreling to get better accuracy. I want to stay with a .223 so not interested in anything besides .223 remington. I’m going to coyote hunt and deer hunt with the rifle so it needs to have a twist rate that will be optimal for 50-55 grain bullets and still handle 60 grainers for deer. I want a barrel with a contour That will be handy for carrying around. I do not want a heavy contour or bull barrel. This will be a hunting rifle that will be carried all over the place. I am hoping to achieve somewhere between dime and quarter size groups at 100 yards. I realize I may have to play with different loads to get the results I’m hoping for even with a precision barrel. So give me some good ideas for custom barrel manufacturers that make the barrel in looking for.

For a hunting rifle like you're describing I'd contact Stan Taylor at Douglas barrels. I believe that they can duplicate your contour and twist barrel and perhaps chamber it for you. I think Hart and a few other barrel makers may offer the same. I'm thinking a 1-12 twist is what you're after for the bullets you describe by weight. JMHO. WD

 

[jepp2]

I want a barrel with a contour That will be handy for carrying around. I do not want a heavy contour or bull barrel.

You are a bit vague on what barrel contour you want. Here are the standard contours Krieger offers for sporter weight barrels. Measure your barrel at location "C" on the attached page, and you will be very clear on what you want.

 

[Briansm785]

Yeah there’s a lot of choices in barrel contour. I’ll have to see what the factory measures and see what I think I want. I might go just a fuzz heavier than the stock barrel.

 

[edwardware]

I just did this, and bought a .223AI, Palma Contour, 1:8, SS, from Northland Shooter, the Criterion Prefit dealer.

As others have said. . . wow. I don't think I'll buy a factory barrel, ever again.

 

[cjames]

A buddy of mine built a rifle just almost exactly what you are describing. He took a 700 action, Benchmark #4 6 groove 9 twist barrel @ 22" long. HS stock and a Timney trigger with a 10 power VX3. This thing will burn a hole at 100 yrds. with lots of differant loads. The rifle shoots anything from 52 - 69 grn bullets. I am thinking about doing something similar except with a #3 instead of #4 barrel and I'll probably keep it a 9 twist.

 

[wedgy]

So give me some good ideas for custom barrel manufacturers that make the barrel in looking for.

All the info you seek is readily available; look at the bullets you want to shoot and it will tell you the MINIMUM barrel twist needed. Then look at a barrel makers site to see the profile and weights of barrels. Then pick one.
Also consider a prefit Remage type setup that you can install yourself, no gunsmith needed. I'm not going to give you a link to that one, you will have to youtube it by yourself.

https://bergerbullets.com/product-category/bullets/?caliber=22-caliber

https://bartleinbarrels.com/contours/

 

[Stan Taylor]

For a hunting rifle like you're describing I'd contact Stan Taylor at Douglas barrels. I believe that they can duplicate your contour and twist barrel and perhaps chamber it for you. I think Hart and a few other barrel makers may offer the same. I'm thinking a 1-12 twist is what you're after for the bullets you describe by weight. JMHO. WD

Thanks I probably have anything he needs a phone call away.
P.S. an about a 2 week turnaround.

 

[jelenko]

I just did this, and bought a .223AI, Palma Contour, 1:8, SS, from Northland Shooter, the Criterion Prefit dealer.

As others have said. . . wow. I don't think I'll buy a factory barrel, ever again.

+1 on CBI.
I would add CBI/Northland Shooters Supply to the list of $300 - $400 barrels.
Remage is very cool, but you do have to spend ~ $100 on tools/gauges and need a solid bench vise or barrel vise - either of which is around $50 +/-.

 

[jkohler]

Thanks I probably have anything he needs a phone call away.
P.S. an about a 2 week turnaround.

There’s your best answer. Give Stan a call.

 

[Rich S]

I built a few with 1-8 twist. My reamer is similar to the Wylde chamber. This has worked well for 50 to 80 grn. We used them mainly for prairie dogs but my brother has been also doing well shooting FTR with his. I like 24-26" length but that may be more than you want for a carry gun. The Remington Sendero is probably a good choice for the countour.