Bartlein 5R barrel??

[SQ Stalker]

I'm thinking about sending my Rem 700 in .270 Win to GA Precision to get the action blue printed and a new 26" .270 Win. barrel. Carrie at GA Precision said they normally use Bartlein 5R barrels. He said I could go w/ a 26" tube in the same contuor of the Sendero with flutes and maybe add around 1 LB of steel to the gun.

(A) What is the general opinion of Barlein barrels? Seems they're a lot of magazine articles covering their rifles with those barrels shooting some pretty good groups. (B) Would I be better off sending them a Kreiger or another brand of barrel? (They also offer Schneider and Obermeyer, I've just read a lot of praise about Kreigers)

My current load is 60 grains of H4831SC w/ 215M primer and 150gr VLD seated .050" off the lands. It averages 3000fps out of my factory 24" tube. He told me they could also cut the chamber for the 150 gr Bergers. (C) Is there any disadvantage to cutting the chamber to a specific bullet?

(D) Can somebody with QUICKLOAD or similar software tell me the optimum twist for such a barrel? GA Precision told me I might gain 150 FPS from the extra 2" (so 3150 FPS). This seems a bit much to me?

Also they quoted $820 for a Bartlein barrel, installed (including fluting, cut, crown, ect.), and to blue print the action. Is this a decent price for such a job?

Thanks for the wealth of knowledge of this site

Stalker

 

[zuba]

I'd go with the bartlein. they are very nice barrels!

 

[cinch]

Bartlein is an awesome barrel. Also anything that comes from GAP is going to shoot little groups. I think you will have a nice rig when its done.

 

[Jeff In TX]

George at GAP does excellent work and normally has Bartlein barrels in stock which gives him a quick turn-around.

However before jumping in and getting your work done quickly, consider this. For all intents and purposes you're building a custom gun minus the stock. Bartlein can build you any profile and barrel configuration you want. This ranges from SS or chrome-moly, barrel contour, length, bore diameter, custom rifling and any twist rate you can imagine.

When I ordered my Barlein barrel for my LH .300 WSM Winchester featherweight, I chose the featherweight contour, 22" length, .298 barrel diameter, 5R rifling in an 11.27" twist. I had to wait 5 months for the barrel, but it was what I wanted and how I wanted it.

There is no doubt your Bartlein barrel will shoot as they are top of the line and GAP will build it right. Do some research on the optimal barrel setup for a .270 and the grain bullet you're going to shoot and have George order and install that barrel. Call Bartlein or call and talk specifically with George or any other top g-smiths in the country and ask them what's the optimal barrel set up for a .270, not just what they have in stock.

If you're going through the process of specking our your gun, take the time and do it right the first time. Go to Bartlein's website, what they're capable of building is mind boggling.

Hope it helps,

Jeff

 

[Jamie6.5]

I would have to ask why? Do you just want a custom rifle?
Having shot primarily a .270 win for 20+ years, I would say you are getting great performance out of it, but that load sounds pretty hot. How's your brass life? You are just about to 7mag performance with a 150gr projectile.

This of course is assuming (<-may be bad on my part) that you chose this load for accuracy/velocity compromise. Does it group well? <MOA? 1/2MOA?
If it does, what are you looking to get for your $800+? .1-.2-.3 MOA?
I agree that an additional 150fps sounds pretty optimistic out of 2 more inches. Plus if you don't make the barrel with a larger OD, I find it doubtful that it will maintain accuracy, it will probably get worse due to more whip. There goes the 1 lb weight gain if you go to a much larger contour for stiffness.

If the accuracy is good-great, but you still want another 150fps I would have the chamber cut to Ackley specs, and work up a new load, and put the other $700 into reloading supplies.

But that's just me.

 

[SQ Stalker]

Thanks for the great replies.

Jamie6.5> The load is on the hot side. I'm eager to see the terminal ballistics of this load. In 8 years of shooting hogs in the boiler room w/ Hornady LT MAG 130gr @ 3200FPS . . I've NEVER dropped a hog. Even a .50 Cal Muzzle Loader at 7 yards (a double lung shot that blew lung and rib chunks on the ground) the hog still ran 60 yards.

I'm not sure on the brass life but no failures yet. Some of the brass has 4 loads on it so far. As far as why to get a custom barrel I hope to improve in a couple areas.

1. More consistant groups, w/ less fliers. Today I had 3 shots in .321, 4th=.950, 5th=1.769. Max wind today was 6 MPH, a 10 MPH should only drift .6 in. @ 100yd. So its not the wind. Also barrel temp is kept consistant w/ a laser thermometer. Cleaned bore every 10 rounds or less.
I just ordered a sinclair concentricity gauge and a Holland ball mic to try to cut down on fliers.

2. Also I'd like to get a thicker barrel with flutes to keep the barrel from getting hot so quick.

3. With the extra velocity gained from 2" (maybe 100fps?) I can back the powder off some to let the brass/rifle live a little longer and also help w/ the barrel getting so hot.

4. Another small benefit will be that with the extra weight (1LB, may go thicker to gain 2LB) the felt recoil will be less.

5. And I just love to tinker and enjoy precision equipment of any kind

I've thought of going to a .270 AI but I'd rather not fool with having to fire-form brass. Also I've found better consistantcy with FL sizing (RCBS Gold Die) where the die sets the shoulder back .0015" (from chamber) and neck sizes .250" down the neck. Now I prep all my brass this way. I was getting worst consistantcy on head space from fire-formed brass than the die could deliver. This means I'd have to invest in a new die.

I guess I'll give Bartlein a call and see what they recommend on barrel twist for my load and contour recommendations.

Stalker

 

[Jamie6.5]

Okee doke! A couple things though.
I doubt you'll only gain 1-lbs over a sporter contour barrel.
I have found the time i have spent Ackley fireforming to be well worth it, especially when done with the pistol powder/cormeal method. (no barrel wear)

You might consider stepping up in caliber to .280 (AI again), or the venerable '06!

 

[Jamie6.5]

BTW, the only Hog I ever shot was in No. California years ago. He was on the run at 120~yds and I hit him high in the shoulder with a .270/150gr sierra SPBT elk load. Approx 2900@muzzle.
He rolled and tried to get up, but I don't think he went 10 feet. He was only about 150 lbs though, so not very big.

 

[Jeff In TX]

Thanks for the great replies.

Jamie6.5> The load is on the hot side. I'm eager to see the terminal ballistics of this load. In 8 years of shooting hogs in the boiler room w/ Hornady LT MAG 130gr @ 3200FPS . . I've NEVER dropped a hog. Even a .50 Cal Muzzle Loader at 7 yards (a double lung shot that blew lung and rib chunks on the ground) the hog still ran 60 yards.


Stalker

We only head shoot our hogs. Just below the ear, they drop like a rock and we don't ruin any meat. Forget the lungs when it comes to hogs, if there looking straight at you we shoot for an eye, if broad side just under the base of the ear.

Hope it helps

 

[rc2125]

Recently got a bartlein barrel installed on a stiller action based build......very nice barrel, very straight .0001 per gunsmith. Doesn't foul and couldn't shoot any better!

 

[xdeano]

I have an Bartlein R5 on my 308 that was sent off to GAP, and it is a shooter i'll tell you that.

If you haven't sent it off, what the heck are you waiting for. Send it, you won't be disappointed.

The price is comparable to other companies also.

xdeano

 

[SQ Stalker]

xdeano:

I'm leaning towards waiting until after deer season (Jan.). I only have one deer rifle and I'd atleast like to put this summer's worth of work (150 rds) of load developement to work. GAP quoted me 6 months turn around

I'm guessing that with the new barrel, blue printed action and new stock (bedded), that I'll have to go back and tweak the load? I'm assuming I've satisfied the harmonics of the rifle (best I can) and not just perfected the settings that the load likes. Meaning I'll have to tweak it to the new rifle?

That'll be a good project for next spring or summer when I get the rifle back. Funny, today the gunsmith that owns the private range I shoot at told me I'd have to stop comming so much or pay more!!! (I pay annually) If that tells you how much I've been enjoy'n my summergun)

P.S. I'll also need the school loan check for spring semester to further my negative hog roll

Does anybody know of any negative side effects to recessing the crown? So my hunting rifle's crown stays the way it's suppose to be.

Stalker

 

[FRANK21]

I have a 1/7.7twist, Bartlien 5R on my 243WIN. Excellent tube.

 

[walter351]

I also have a bartline that is being installed on a .338 edge. The gunsmith said it was one of the cleanest barrels he has ever seen. In fact he ordered himself one.