Barrel weights

[TK 1985]

Building a lightweight rifle. Obviously a featherweight barrel would be the lightest, but what would be a good barrel contour, that if fluted, would come close to the 2-2.5 pound mark? I know that's probably pushing it and 3 lbs. is probably more realistic. But would say, a #3 come close if fluted? A #4 or 5#?

 

[Rich Coyle]

Building a lightweight rifle. Obviously a featherweight barrel would be the lightest, but what would be a good barrel contour, that if fluted, would come close to the 2-2.5 pound mark? I know that's probably pushing it and 3 lbs. is probably more realistic. But would say, a #3 come close if fluted? A #4 or 5#?

I purchased a Pac-Nor 6.5mm barrel that matches the Weatherby Mark V six lug ultralight. The muzzle is about .550". It is 26" and weighed forty ounces before it was fluted by Twisted Barrel. They took another seven ounces out of it. It has a Terminator T2 brake. It weighs five pounds seven ounces without the scope.

The first time at the range was last Friday. I loaded up six rounds to discover the maximum load so each round contained one grain more than the previous one. I fired them at 300 yards. If the first one had not been high, the group would have been about 1 1/2" as it was shots #2, 3, 4, and 5 measured 1/3/8". When I include the first one the group opened to 2 7/8".

Before this one I had Pac-Nor make one exactly the same except it was .257 caliber. While testing primers I decided to fire three three shot groups at 100 yards. Then I decided to put them all on one target. The group was 7/8" across.

Light barrels can be fairly accurate.

 

[TK 1985]

See a couple places have said they will not flute a featherweight.

 

[Prieto9000]

My Proof research sendero lite weights 2lb @24" it is a 6.5mm

 

[TK 1985]

The senders lite is one of the carbon fiber wrapped barrels?

 

[Rich Coyle]

See a couple places have said they will not flute a featherweight.

Everywhere I called, except Pac-Nor would not even make a barrel the weight I wanted. Twisted Barrel doesn't seem to care what barrel you send them. Despite mine being so small in diameter it is a mid-length magnum case.

 

[TK 1985]

Which type of fluting did you get?

 

[Rich Coyle]

Which type of fluting did you get?

I asked for the one the reduced the most weight. They are straight about 21" long, about .200" across, and about .065 - .070" deep.

 

[Prieto9000]

The senders lite is one of the carbon fiber wrapped barrels?

Yes, it´s carbon wrapped. It´s at the smith´s shop right now getting chambered. I´ll let you know how much does the barreled action weights.

 

[TK 1985]

I was wondering which design would reduce weight the most. The carbon fiber wrapped barrels are neat but for a mountain rifle I just don't think they would be very durable.

 

[Prieto9000]

I was wondering which design would reduce weight the most. The carbon fiber wrapped barrels are neat but for a mountain rifle I just don't think they would be very durable.

I think you should watch this and say that again.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MXtee3ipsW8

 

[TK 1985]

Well I stand corrected haha

 

[BountyHunter]

**** $900 barrel and throws the second shot "twice" out an inch to the 7 o'clock position and over MOA groups. Pretty sure I will pass on that one.

 

[TK 1985]

Well to be fair they did say it was only hand tightened, not torqued and indexed, just so they could take it on and off for the demonstration