Accurizing a factory barrel

[tdv75098]

I recently purchased a Remington 700 BDL SS in a 300 RUM. I wanted it for a longe range beanfield deer hunting rifle to hunt in NW Oklahoma the panhandle of Texas where the shots are loooong! Problem is that it doesn't like the Scirroco 150's (2in.@100). Is there a technique to accurize the factory barrel to shoot factory ammo w/out pouring lots of money in to it and avoiding burning out the barrel?

[kmassaro]

What makes you think the problem is the barrel?

[tdv75098]

k2, My Remington 700 BDL 30-06 will shoot the 150 gr. Scirroco into .4in. I just expect about the same from the 300 RUM.

[BountyHunter]

TomVan

You can do the things that fiftydriver discussed to help, but each gun is a beast unto its own. Variances in chambers and barrel harmonics are the keys usually.

Bed, recrown and try different loads.

If you are dead set on 150 Siroccos then add a barrel tuner like the Browning/Win Boss system. That will allow you to "tune" your barrel to a specific load. Normally we tune our loads to the barrel!

See the link below on barrel harmonics and tuning. It was originally posted on 12-12-02 in bullets barrels and ballistics.

here is a link to the most detailed discussion of the ladder/audette method of load development. the article is very long with pictures etc but well worth copying to word file and saving. Got more details than I knew. For example they discuss shooting a ladder (20 rds) to find seating optimum seating depth. Never thought of that. http://home.snafu.de/l.moeller/Ladde...htm#Laddertest

BH

[Fiftydriver]

Tom,

Light bullets on top of big cases always can lead to finicky rifles, especially factory rifles.

You may want to consider trying a bit heavier bullet and see if things settle down for you.

I am not questioning your marksmenship in any way but have you shot a rifle with the recoil intensity of the 300 RUM before? It is a quantum leap in power and recoil compared to the 30-06.

To answer your question about tuning up your barrel for cheap. I would say the short answer is no.

In my shop when customer comes in asking me to make their factory rifle shoot better for little money I do three things:

1. Recut the crown to a true match quality cut.

2. Tune the trigger to a clean 3 lb let off.

3. Bed the rifle is the stock will allow it. Factory "plastic" stocks will not allow the bedding compound to permanently bond to the stock and eventually it will break free.

Other then these three steps, it is either a matter of finding a load your rifle likes or doing some major surgery.

I have seen many times guys thinking that machining will cure all ailments with a factory barrel. This is simply not true. If a factory barrel does not shoot well with quality handloads, no machining will save the barrel except perhaps to cut the threads off, accurize the receiver and refit the barrel with a quality fit and rechamber. Still you are limited by the factory bore and this is hardly cheap to do.

I highly recommend spendign the $250 to $290 on a top quality barrel and then have it fitted to your action. Again this is not cheap but it will surely cure many headaches that you will have to deal with in the future.

First off, try some different bullets. If your shooting factory stuff, try the partition or Ultra Core lokt loads as the generally are pretty accurate, generally more so then the factory Scirroco loadings.

Good Shooting!!

Kirby Allen(50)

[Aussie]

Bountyhunter ,
Thanks for that great link to the laddertest . Reckon you will have saved me $hundreds and a whole lot of frustration. Should be compulsory reading for handloaders [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[rost495]

Without looking, ladder test sounds like the Audette test. And we should have it posted as permanent link. I can't believe how many folks don' t know about it or use it. I've used it since 1991.

Anyway for long range, dump the 150s and go 180 or 200. They don't bleed off like the light ones and are very accurate.

No one mentioned Tubb's firelapping method and that is worth a try before you spend bucks on a new barrel. It usually helps.

But a custom barrel and chamber are a sure fix as Kirby mentions.

Jeff