Barrel contour?

[Mooseknuckles]

I am trying to decide on which barrel contour to get. I am looking at either a bartlein #4 bull sporter or a sendero contour. The barrel will be for the 300 win mag I'm building for mule deer hunting. It will be on a Remington trued action with a grayboe renagade stock.
The #4 and sendero look very close weight wise. I am trying to keep the rifle right at 10 pounds. Any advice would be great.
Thanks Brandon

 

[benchracer]

The #4 is nowhere near a Sendero contour in size. The Sendero is much closer to a #7 contour. I have #4 contour barrels on several of my rifles, two of which are chambered for 6.5mm cartridges. I view the #4 as a nice compromise on a carry weight rifle up to about a 7mm bore diameter, perhaps even .30 caliber.

However, the .300 Win Mag is capable of generating enough recoil in a carry weight rifle that you may wish to consider a muzzle brake. If a muzzle brake is a consideration, wall thickness at the muzzle is worth some attention. I currently have a .338 build in progress with a #4 contour barrel and a muzzle brake. Though this is enough for 9/16-24 threads, larger diameter threads would have been better. If I had it to do again, I would have gone with a minimum of a #5 contour. If your chosen barrel manufacturer offers it, going with a fluted barrel can offset some of the weight increase from stepping up in contour.

 

[Hondo64d]

Bartlein contours are heavier than most, so their #4 runs about like others' #5s, which puts it a little lighter than a Sendero contour. A Sendero would be close to a 5 1/2.

John

 

[Mooseknuckles]

I will be running a break on the rifle. I had also looked at a benchmark #6 contour as it was pretty close to the bratlein #4.

 

[benchracer]

For reference purposes, my #4 contour barrels have been Shilen and Krieger barrels. The Bartlein 3b is very close to the Shilen and Krieger #5.

I have referenced the Sendero contour as being close to a #7, based on the similarity of the Remington Varmint contour to a Shilen or Krieger #7 contour. After taking a second look, it appears the Sendero contour would be closer to a Krieger or Shilen #6 or a Bartlein #4.

 

[benchracer]

If you were to go with a Sendero/Rem Varmint contour, fluting and careful selection of scope and mounts would go a long way toward offsetting the weight increase.

 

[cahunter805]

10lbs and sendero contour might be tough. A bartlein 3b or #4 at 26" is what I'd run!

 

[Mooseknuckles]

I thought with a sendero contour 10 pounds would be tough. Looks like I will end up running the bartlein #4 bull sporter. Another question, has anyone ran the Hawkins precision 3 port muzzle brake? Looks like a good design. If no one has experience I will probably go with an apa muzzle brake.

 

[benchracer]

Check out the Lil' Beast brakes from Muzzle Brakes and More. Similar to the aps brakes, but less expensive.

 

[Mooseknuckles]

Check out the Lil' Beast brakes from Muzzle Brakes and More. Similar to the aps brakes, but less expensive.

I have looked at his brakes look like a great design at a great price. Kinda hard to tell what he has in stock on his site. Doesn't seem to update it much. I will have to send him an email and see what he has.

 

[benchracer]

I have looked at his brakes look like a great design at a great price. Kinda hard to tell what he has in stock on his site. Doesn't seem to update it much. I will have to send him an email and see what he has.

I have found Nathan to be very responsive to email communication. I had questions for him and he was patient and helpful. Good guy to deal with. I should add that elkahholic referred me to him.

 

[Mooseknuckles]

That's good to hear. I will send him an email tomorrow. Thanks for your guys help.