Sporter vs heavy barrel out to 400 yards?

[wahoowad]

My groundhog gun has been a heavy fluted 24” barrel 243 Savage Predator. It has been amazingly accurate. When I bought it I had fantasies of long range shots, and was influenced to think a heavy barrel was needed for varmint hunting, but after several years realize the vast majority of my shots have come at mostly 100 to 250 yards with a rare 300 to 350 shot. And I often have to walk a lot to find them so that heavy barrel is just dang heavy.

I’d like to buy a standard (sporter?) barrel but again questioning if a heavy barrel is really worth it shooting these little targets at my distances? I feel like I want something with maybe a 20” barrel, threaded so I can add a can to quiet things down. Is a Sporter size barrel going to work for me?

 

[10XSHOOTER]

Depends on how fast you are going to shoot it ( Many rounds in a short time)
I've killed Elk over 600 yds with a sporter weight barrel. (.300 Win Mag)

 

[wahoowad]

When hunting it is one shot every once in awhile. At the range it can be 5 shots spread out over a couple minutes to check zero/loads. So not rapid fire.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I bet places like Bartlein barrels sell a bunch of lighter accurate barrels. You might want to look at a 3 or 3b contour.

 

[WyleWD]

And I often have to walk a lot to find them so that heavy barrel is just dang heavy.

I’d like to buy a standard (sporter?) barrel but again questioning if a heavy barrel is really worth it shooting these little targets at my distances? I feel like I want something with maybe a 20” barrel, threaded so I can add a can to quiet things down. Is a Sporter size barrel going to work for me?

Most of the rifle barrel MFG. make "sporter" weight barrels. I have a couple of heavier weight barrels for short hikes, and several for longer hikes. From my experience I'd suggest you look for a contour that the exit end of the barrel be .625 or .650 (my preference). Shilen, Lilja, Hart, Douglas, and about all the companies that make cut rifling make a contour with those measurements. Those lighter contours can take several pounds off the rifle.

The question I'm still struggling with is "do I want to add a can to replace the weight, or keep the 26" barrel and its speed and balance and use ear protection?"

Good luck on your decision and let us know how it turns out. WD

 

[Treerat-sniper]

For the type of hunting I do in my area, most of the time I grab a sporter weight barrel. I walk a lot of hills & river valleys & don't want or need the extra weight.

 

[RegionRat]

I feel like I want something with maybe a 20” barrel, threaded so I can add a can to quiet things down. Is a Sporter size barrel going to work for me?

Only you can tell us if this works for you.
There are pros and cons to all these things, the only way to know is to try.

Life is too short to sit on the sidelines.
Go grab what makes you happy and give it a try.
Carpe Diem!

 

[Sniper338]

I can hammer stuff way further out than 250 yards with a 16 or 18 inch barrel. Loss of velocity sure, but not accuracy if loads are good. Those barrels are Palma contours.

Barrel thickness lends itself to how fast you shoot and barrel heat. Shorter heats up faster than a straight 1.25.

You need to think on that more than anything.

24 inch barrel or more with a can on it gets too LONG.

It's all only something you can decide.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Just an opinion, but I have rifles in the same caliber with one being a HB, another with a sporter weight barrel. For spending a day in the rat patch shooting up to 100 rounds in say, two hours, the HB rifle gets the nod.

For a walkabout rifle in the same caliber, the sporter contour makes perfect sense, as the rate of fire might be just one or two rounds in an hour. Different rifles, same caliber for different missions. JMO

 

[AckleymanII]

A #5 contour is what I recommend, 26" length, add a muzzle break so you can see your bullet impact. Consider lighter weight stocks, also.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

My 21.75" fluted Rem varmint contour 22-250 with suppressor/Sightron 4-20 stac is 10.5 pounds. Is that to heavy? I'm 65 and snowshoe when needed with it in the winter. I don't think I would notice it in the summer in much lighter clothes and footwear.

 

[209jones]

I like a varmint wt bbl for shooting gophers or at the range, but, outside of that, I agree that I'm not keen on walking around much with one. But, I like a barrel heavy gun for how they settle faster and hold on target, and how they swing for an offhand shot, a whole bunch more. I can put up with a bit extra wt. Guess a person has to decide on which end of the spectrum is more important, carrying a few miles, or the shot. Barrel like on the Tikka TAC A1 or CTR is not a bad compromise, not a full varmint, not a sporter, not too light, not too terribly heavy.

 

[Benchrest Braxton]

go with a proof or bartlein carbon. weight savings you want + the muzzle od you need for a proper shoulder with a suppressor.

my 16.5" proof 8 twist 22 dasher is very accurate

 

[wahoowad]

the muzzle od you need for a proper shoulder with a suppressor.

Hadn’t thought of this. How much shoulder is needed?

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

You will need 0.10 shoulder over the outside thread diameter.

 

[K22]

I am an avid eastern groundhog hunter. My system consists of both types of rifles depending on the type of hunt, terrain, and preference that day.

For setup on a tree line or field where I intend not to move a lot, I have heavy barrel varmint rifles, each capable of sub 1/2 moa accuracy with tailored reloads.

My second type of rifles are my stalking rifles, Rem Model 7's with aftermarket match barrels and B&C Medalists stocks. These barrels are 20" in length, with one contour heavier than the factory barrels but still quite portable for stalking.

Since I hunt off cross sticks, the heavier rifles are more stable which aids in increase performance at longer range. Typically, for where I hunt, most shot opportunities are under 300 yards or so.

My approximate limit with my lightweight stalking rifles is about 225 yards at best off the sticks. But these are ideal for short fields, walking around which I found extremely enjoyable when I was capable physically. Some of my most successful hunts have been with these lightweight rifles while stalking.

I have one rifle that is a hybrid of the two, a Browning A Bolt Varmint Stalker, 24" barrel. This rifle has a medium heavy contour barrel and has the best of both worlds, light enough for stalking, stable off the sticks, and extremely accurate for longer range shooting.

 

[wahoowad]

@K22 we’ve enjoyed some similar rifles. I had a Model 7 in 17 Fireball. Great rifle, was fairly light. Sold after years of not hunting. Ammo availability was also an issue for this one. Also still have a sweet A-bolt Hunter in 22 Hornet and it will get some use this year, just doesn’t have the full reach I’m looking for. What is your A Bolt chambered in?

 

[K22]

@K22 we’ve enjoyed some similar rifles. I had a Model 7 in 17 Fireball. Great rifle, was fairly light. Sold after years of not hunting. Ammo availability was also an issue for this one. Also still have a sweet A-bolt Hunter in 22 Hornet and it will get some use this year, just doesn’t have the full reach I’m looking for. What is your A Bolt chambered in?

Mine is chambered in 223 Rem, 12" twist purchased in the 2007-time frame. It is one of the most accurate rifles I own. Mine is the Varmint Stalker, 24" barrel, with a medium heavy contour barrel. I've taken a bunch of groundhogs with it. My only complaint is that the trigger is not great but adequate.

 

[Hondo64d]

My groundhog gun has been a heavy fluted 24” barrel 243 Savage Predator. It has been amazingly accurate. When I bought it I had fantasies of long range shots, and was influenced to think a heavy barrel was needed for varmint hunting, but after several years realize the vast majority of my shots have come at mostly 100 to 250 yards with a rare 300 to 350 shot. And I often have to walk a lot to find them so that heavy barrel is just dang heavy.

I’d like to buy a standard (sporter?) barrel but again questioning if a heavy barrel is really worth it shooting these little targets at my distances? I feel like I want something with maybe a 20” barrel, threaded so I can add a can to quiet things down. Is a Sporter size barrel going to work for me?

The lightest contour barrels I have gotten to group to my satisfaction have been the Bartlein 3Bs. They are the best compromise I have found between shootability and portability, and mine have shot VERY well. I run 20” for suppressor use, and while a different topic, are absolute game changers.

John

 

[alf]

Personally, I don't consider anything #5 and above a sporter barrel.

My last build I wanted a #4, but none in stock, so I went with a #5, & still regret it for a packing/carrying coyote calling gun. It's a shooting SOB though.

A fluted #4 is the cat's ass for a lighter build and suppressor use.

Of course you can flute the shit out of a Remington Varmint barrel and come out pretty light as well: