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Turning Down Barrel

james

Gold $$ Contributor
I am wanting to participate in some 600 yard Light gun matches with my BAT 6BR with straight 1.25” contour barrel 27 inches finished length and a muzzle brake. My problem is the gun weighs 18 pounds 4 ounces so it won’t make the 17 pound limit. I don’t want to change stocks or scopes and I’m thinking to have someone turn down the barrel to make weight. I’ve researched this online and found very mixed opinions. Some say you can do this and not affect accuracy and others say accuracy will suffer. Thoughts on this are appreciated. Is another possibility to reduce the barrel length i.e. cut it shorter?
 
First question is whether its a cut rifled barrel or button rifled? Putting a taper on your barrel will get the weight down and meet class rules. Cutting it shorter wont- even though itll make weight. Not sure if the class you want to shoot in has a rule on barrel taper or not. So your options are: taper the barrel, flute the barrel, get a new barrel.
 
The barrel is a Brux and I understand all their barrels are cut rifled. IBS 600 yard match rules only involve total weight of gun and scope no concern on taper/contour. I don’t want to invest in a new barrel and I don’t know if fluting could reduce the weight by over a pound.

thanks
 
You are going to get a variety of opinions, but I would take my chances with turning down the barrel as opposed to fluting it. I would keep all the length I could since you are already at 27".
 
Depends on what the turning down will cost you. If it has a low round count and seems to be a shooter, sell it to off-set the price of a new one. But again, that depends on the cost of having it turned down. I have seen it done once and the barrel was still a shooter. But whenever you do anything to a barrel....Things DO change.

Regards
Rick
 
I just went through this with a 6br HV for IBS short range gun, I needed to lose almost a lb.. I spoke with the barrel maker and he told me fluting will not take off enough weight to make a difference and to turn it down would require it to be re stress relieved so the only real option is to cut some off of both ends.
Mine was recut from 26" down to 23 1/4 and it now comes in at 2oz. under with scope and bases, rings on it. 2 inches cut from breach and 3/4 from muzzle then rethreaded and chambered then recrowned.
Gunsmith did not charge extra because it was his mistake ( never weighed it before doing the work).
 
I’ve heard all the arguments against, and have still not ever seen negative results from recontouring a barrel. Hell, button barrels are stress relieved after button rifling BEFORE contouring, yes, and then lapped... on those it would be like taking another few passes in the contour turning. Brux barrels are drilled, contoured, then reamed and rifled but they’ll recontour for you for a minimal fee, no guarantees given, but no real worries either.
 
I'd probably go the fluting route.
You'll gain some surface area which is a plus for cooling in addition to losing weight. Turning it down reduces weight/mass but that also means less ability to absorb heat.
 
I'd probably go the fluting route.
You'll gain some surface area which is a plus for cooling in addition to losing weight. Turning it down reduces weight/mass but that also means less ability to absorb heat.


If you don't mind I'll disagree with the better cooling.
 
Update - I talked to a Brux barrel technical guy and he recommended to shorten the barrel - he stated that accuracy should not be affected however it would lose some velocity.
 
Update - I talked to a Brux barrel technical guy and he recommended to shorten the barrel - he stated that accuracy should not be affected however it would lose some velocity.

Do you know how much you will need to make weight? I humbly disagree with him.
 
I noticed that you didn't specify your stock, scope & rings. You also don't want to change them. All of your options will be expensive but good scopes & mounts don't lose a lot of value in resale. I'd look at cutting off a lb by looking at the whole rifle system. Perhaps a lighter setup & shorter muzzle would get you to code(?)
 
In order to meet light rifle (17 pound) rules, the barrel must be tapered; it is not just a matter of weight. So, it has to be turned down. Performance will probably be unaffected. WH
 

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