any experience with .338 5R Rock Creek barrels?

[Idaho Sawyer]

My EDGE is due for a new tube. I told my smith that and he mentioned he had a sendero tapered Rock Cr., 5R, fluted and could finish it at 28" at his shop. My current barrel is a hart and I was leaning towards a Kreiger. Does any body have any experience or thoughts with the 338 5r rock?

 

[sdeviation]

i will rebarrel with another Rock 5R when mine goes south..
338 Edge
doesnt matter what u go with at this stage there all good and shoot excellent

 

[MudRunner2005]

Mike Rock (Rock Creek) 5R barrels are excellent barrels. I wouldn't hesitate if it were mine.

If he has any Rock Creek 5R .284 caliber 1:9 twist stainless fluted barrel blanks sitting around, let me know...I need one for my .280 Ackley Improved build.

 

[sinarms]

I have chambered a few in 338 Edge, they were all good. I mainly use Brux though

 

[jmden]

I've had a 29" finished .338 Rock Creek barrel for several years. 338AX made by Kirby Allen. Unless I had a discussion with Rock Creek about the width of their lands first, I probably wouldn't get another. We found that the lands in my barrel were extremely wide, giving something on the order of 40% compression to the bullet. As I recall, Kirby like barrels more in the 21-24% compression range. I don't know if my barrel was unusual in that regard, and it's accurate enough, but the larger bullet compression has got to up pressures/reduce potential fps. Just a thought. Might have your 'smith measure the width of the lands and compute the bullet compression first.

 

[Idaho Sawyer]

I appreciate the feedback. I will do some homework on the lands, I realize it is a ford, chevy question.
Jmden,
Does your rock 5r meet your standards for fps or did you pressure out before ideal velocity? Thanks fellas, brent

 

[Augustus]

Yep, I have one and it's good, I've had another one ordered for going on three yrs. So many stories it has become a joke.

 

[sinarms]

Yep, I have one and it's good, I've had another one ordered for going on three yrs. So many stories it has become a joke.

You wouldn't be the first

 

[MudRunner2005]

You've had a barrel on order for 3 years???

SCREW THAT! I'd go find a Shilen, Douglas, Hart, Krieger, Criterion, or someone else to make me a blank...

 

[jmden]

I appreciate the feedback. I will do some homework on the lands, I realize it is a ford, chevy question.
Jmden,
Does your rock 5r meet your standards for fps or did you pressure out before ideal velocity? Thanks fellas, brent

Both Kirby and I felt that it would be faster were it not for the considerable amount of bullet compression due to the wide lands. That said, it does OK, if not a little below average in the fps department, I think, although if I had the $ right now, I'd be likely to have it rebarreled, likely with a Krieger or Benchmark. But with either of them, I'd be checking on land width. Nothing like spending $6K, in part to get top fps out of a tube, and then realize there may be mechanical cause, that really shouldn't be there, keeping you from getting that velocity. I have put down 8 big game critters in the past 4 seasons, from 350 to 741 yds with accurate one shot hits, only one of which is from this year so far. As you know, those big 300g bullets really do a number.

 

[Idaho Sawyer]

You've had a barrel on order for 3 years???

SCREW THAT! I'd go find a Shilen, Douglas, Hart, Krieger, Criterion, or someone else to make me a blank...

That is actually why this specific barrel is available, the original guy ordered it forever and a moon ago, got tired of waiting and ordered something else. I talked with my
Smith tonight and I am gonna go with a kreiger.

 

[Augustus]

Mud runner, I have bought barrels from Lilja and Krieger since ordering the ones from Rock. I haven't cancelled the Rock barrels because I enjoy calling them up on slow days for the amusement provided by their BS stories. They even told me they would send them to me for free since it had been so long. That was over a yr ago.

I also ordred a 375 barrel over a yr ago. They told me It would only be a week or two turnout because they were cutting a big run of 375s and they would through mine in the mix. I reakon it got consumed in the mix because I haven't seen hide nor hair of it.