Abolt upgrades

[Abolt]

I have a browning a bolt medallion left hand in 300 wsm. i now have about 300 rounds down it and have not found a load it really likes. i know they are not the most popular rifle to upgrade but i like them as thats what i grew up with.

here is what im thinkng about doing

bartlein #4 bull sporter barrel 26" long in 300 wsm
1-11 twist (for 150-180grain bullets)
threaded 5/8-24 (for tbac ultra 9 suppressor)

true action and bolt.

stock?
can the factory stock be opened up enough to take this barrel or should i look at something like the mcmillian a-2 stock? tanks for help on this

 

[RockyMtnMT]

I know this is not your question, but I think you should not go slower than 10" twist. I am assuming that you will be hunting with it. If you are just punching paper with it you will be fine.

Steve

 

[MudRunner2005]

I agree with Steve, I wouldn't go any slower than a 1:10 twist. Also, Bartlien barrels are excellent blanks. And a custom A-Bolt rifle is a work of art. If properly built, they are super-smooth and very accurate shooters. I built one out of mine a couple years ago, because the barrel was shot-out.

Some internet BS I once read, said that pulling the factory barrels were nearly impossible, but that is just internet conjecture. My smith said the barrel was on there pretty good, and had something akin to threadlock on it, but said he heated up the action and the barrel spun on off without any issues. Once you get that factory barrel off and break that factory "seal" of the threadlock and chase the threads, your action can easily be rebarreled from there, on out and should not cause any problems.

 

[Anschutz]

I agree with Steve, I wouldn't go any slower than a 1:10 twist. Also, Bartlien barrels are excellent blanks. And a custom A-Bolt rifle is a work of art. If properly built, they are super-smooth and very accurate shooters. I built one out of mine a couple years ago, because the barrel was shot-out.

Some internet BS I once read, said that pulling the factory barrels were nearly impossible, but that is just internet conjecture. My smith said the barrel was on there pretty good, and had something akin to threadlock on it, but said he heated up the action and the barrel spun on off without any issues. Once you get that factory barrel off and break that factory "seal" of the threadlock and chase the threads, your action can easily be rebarreled from there, on out and should not cause any problems.

I think the Internet BS came from people running into gunsmiths not wanting to hear the action for to break the threadlock. I've never had or shot an a bolt but they sure look nice.

 

[MudRunner2005]

I think the Internet BS came from people running into gunsmiths not wanting to hear the action for to break the threadlock. I've never had or shot an a bolt but they sure look nice.

Most likely. It was a few years ago, but I think I remember my smith saying that he put the heat on the barrel shank and not directly on the action. He just let the heat conduct from the shank down to the threaded tennon and let it melt that threadlock junk so it was pliable and the barrel would move. He said once he put the heat to it, it spun right off just as easily as a factory Remington 700 barrel.

 

[Abolt]

Thank you for the help, switching to 1-10 is not a problem. does anyone know if the factory stock can be opened up enough to take a bartlein #4 bull sporter barrel?

 

[adam32]

Thank you for the help, switching to 1-10 is not a problem. does anyone know if the factory stock can be opened up enough to take a bartlein #4 bull sporter barrel?

Just get a McMillan Hunter and go hunting

 

[Team Roper]

Thank you for the help, switching to 1-10 is not a problem. does anyone know if the factory stock can be opened up enough to take a bartlein #4 bull sporter barrel?

Yes you can open them up enough I have done several

 

[Abolt]

Yes you can open them up enough I have done several

Thank you, I would like to keep this factory stock, the A-bolt medallion stocks have a very nice look to them.

I talked to Bartlein today and will probably send the rifle off shortly and have them install it and true everything up. They estimated it to be 6 months so might as well send it off now.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Thank you for the help, switching to 1-10 is not a problem. does anyone know if the factory stock can be opened up enough to take a bartlein #4 bull sporter barrel?

It can. Back around 2000, Browning offered rifles in the factory composite stock, with a Christensen Arms full-bull carbon fiber barrel. So, in-short, yes, it can be.

 

[Abolt]

Any thoughts on barrel length? 22,24 ,26? Keep in mind it will wear a 9" suppressor all the time.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

I have never packed a rifle with a suppressor so I can't answer from experience. I carry 30" barrel rifle all the time and am used to that. Not sure how much length your suppressor will add but I would not go less than 26". So I think if suppressor doesn't take you past 32" total it is packable.

Steve

 

[MudRunner2005]

Any thoughts on barrel length? 22,24 ,26? Keep in mind it will wear a 9" suppressor all the time.

A good rule of thumb, if it's a magnum cartridge, I'd start at 26" and go up from there, based on cartridge capacity. But with the suppressor factor, I'd still say 26" barrel. Personally, all my rifles are 26" or longer, with the exception of rimfires, and my .308 Win (24").

I have never packed a rifle with a suppressor so I can't answer from experience. I carry 30" barrel rifle all the time and am used to that. Not sure how much length your suppressor will add but I would not go less than 26". So I think if suppressor doesn't take you past 32" total it is packable.

Steve

He could always pack it in with a thread protector on it, then screw the suppressor on when he finds his vantage point. They usually only take 20-30 seconds to screw on the barrel with a direct-thread setup...And 5-10 seconds with a QD mount.

 

[Abolt]

I have never packed a rifle with a suppressor so I can't answer from experience. I carry 30" barrel rifle all the time and am used to that. Not sure how much length your suppressor will add but I would not go less than 26". So I think if suppressor doesn't take you past 32" total it is packable.

Steve

I can drive to my shooting bench so no problems carrying it there. For deer/hog hunting I typically walk between 1/2 to 1-1/2 miles at most to my stand on flat ground so weight is no big deal there also.