I am in the final stages of my first custom build and have a few questions. I started with winchester model 70 in a 270wsm, gun was brand new. I had the gunsmith get a bell and carlson medalist stock with the block. He glassed the block in place and glass bedded the rest. We installed a timney trigger and williams bottom metal. After that was all complete we smoothed the stock and had it duracoated green with black fleck. After it was complete I was shooting .4 three shot at a hundred. Since then I questioned replacing the barrel with aftermarket. He then told me if it shoots to leave it be until it needs to be replaced. So I then had him install the brake on it. I am really second quessing not replacing the barrel even though it shoots great. I have topped it with a Zeiss 6.5-20x50 and am going to have turrets made for it. The gun was built for packing and hunting and If I can shoot consitantly to 800 I will be satisfied. Let me know if you think I screwed up by not replacing the barrel. Thanks
Got a pic? Standard sporter contour barrel?? Sounds like you did just fine to me, but I am new to this game!
If you are shooting .4 it doesn't matter who made the barrel. It shoots great, leave the barrel alone. I put a custom barrel on a 7 wsm that shot 1/2 inch at 100 and the custom shoots worse than the factory. Not by much but I made a mistake by changing a good thing.
100 yd groups don't reall mean much as far as LR goes. It might even shoot better MOA @ 200 or 300. But the real test will be down range, and if it's inconsistent on the long shot it could be the load (if you have good 200-300 yd groups) With a custom barrel and good smith, you "might" have got a .3 shooter. One of the benefits of a custom is that they break-in and clean easier and foul less than factory barrels. I wouldn't worry, sounds like you got a good shooter.
Thanks for the input guys. It is a standard sporter barrel. It is in getting the break put on it now so I will post pics and soon as I get it back which should be shortly. I also have questions on whether or not to get turrets from Kenton or just use an MOA chart. I live in North Dakota but am going to Wyoming this fall for mule deer and will be hunting anywhere from 5000-9000 ft so I would have to have another turret for that which would cost an extra 110.00.
