Long range with a sporter barrel ?

[Overkill338]

Is it possible to shoot 500+ yards with a .650 barrel ? My .300 Win Mag, shoots great with it's stock .655" barrel, best group being a 0.66" 3 shot group, with a warm barrel. Just wondering if it can be accurate further out, or if I do need to replace the barrel. Been talking to Ed Harren about doing a rebarrel to a #6 contour 26" Shilen. Just hate to change it while it is shooting so good.

 

[AJ Peacock]

Skinny barrels can be just as accurate as fat ones. Especially for hunting, where the barrel can cool completely between shots. I wouldn't swap it out just because it's thin. If it's shooting well, keep using it until it dies.

I have a sporter weight 7mm RM that is scary accurate.

AJ

 

[Overkill338]

I just ordered some 208gr A-Max's for this thing. It loves the 200gr Gamekings, and 180gr Interlocks.

 

[trebark]

Your barrel can certainly shoot accurately out to 1k. One of my rifles has a 24" #4 douglas taper barrel. It is .655 at the muzzle and it shoots very well beyond 500....http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f53/my-280-a-32771/

 

[Overkill338]

Here is my Ruger .300 in a Hogue stock

The .300 and .338 Win Mag twins.

 

[soren]

I see nothing wrong with using your rifle for a long shot. Your first shot is what counts. Your not shooting a long string of shots. A heavy rifle will set still better than a light one; but if your steady on the shot it's GTG.

 

[Ernie]

Is it possible to shoot 500+ yards with a .650 barrel ? My .300 Win Mag, shoots great with it's stock .655" barrel, best group being a 0.66" 3 shot group, with a warm barrel. Just wondering if it can be accurate further out, or if I do need to replace the barrel. Been talking to Ed Harren about doing a rebarrel to a #6 contour 26" Shilen. Just hate to change it while it is shooting so good.

Yes, very possible!
Have you tried shooting 2-shot groups with it @ 500 + yards on steel yet?

 

[Derek M.]

Heck yes you can use a sporter bbl. I've had equal luck with repeatable accuracy. Here's my 100 and 200 yard targets with a 270 measuring 0.630 at the muzzle. 150 VLDs and IMR4350. Can't shoot any further than that until I get permission on another place. Rifle, scoped and loaded might way 6.5 pounds.

 

[Overkill338]

Derek, that is some great shooting !

 

[Ernie]

400 yards, 7.82 Patriot XP-100, 180 grain SGK's-Elk load

 

[Derek M.]

Derek, that is some great shooting !

Thanks. It's not as good as a lot of other guys of course but this rifle happens to be my favorite. It's a 270 built by Greg Richards, former owner of Broughton barrels. Blueprinted 700 with a Jim Borden Rimrock stock, which I like equally if not more than a McMillan. Scope is a Leupold 4.5x14x40 After I repeated both 100 and 200 yrd targets on different days, I decided to take a picture. You know what they say, it "lasts longer."

I have 3 more pounds of this lot of IMR4350 and 110 more bullets from same lot number.

I bump the shoulder back .001 or not at all if sized case will still chamber. I seat every bullet and check them in an RCBS precision mic and seat them all to the exact same thousandth, even if it means backing the microseating adjustment back out a few thou.

100 yard group measured 0.137 center to center.

 

[davewilson]

Derek, that is one great shootin hunting gun!

i just received a 28" Bartlein that's only .600 out toward the end, it has a reverse taper making it .72 at the muzzle to install a brake. i sure hope a smaller barrel can shoot good!

 

[ol mike]

Yes, very possible!
Have you tried shooting 2-shot groups with it @ 500 + yards on steel yet?

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I practice shooting w/ two and three shot groups [couples and trio's] .

I place my three steel targets at different ranges and walk to an unknown distance then range and dial the scope -then shoot two shots.
I'm a walking hunter so sporterweight rifles are the best choice and they can be very accurate.

 

[Derek M.]

Derek, that is one great shootin hunting gun!

i just received a 28" Bartlein that's only .600 out toward the end, it has a reverse taper making it .72 at the muzzle to install a brake. i sure hope a smaller barrel can shoot good!

Unfortunately Greg stopped building rifles. However, Dave Bruno has built 2 for my friend who's going on the wolf hunt, and will be building 2 for me shortly as soon as all parts come in. Dave knows how to build a rifle too.