Help a man in need... Barrel questions

[BTGuard]

Well I'm between 22 and 24 inches with the barrel. 95% of my shooting will be with the bipod so balance won't be as big of an issue. Now the only issue is would a 200 dollar barrel actually improve accuracy? I also want a heavier barrel, but that's secondary

[BTGuard]

If you are focused on increasing accuracy, you may want to consider looking at a few other makers.

Have you had personal bad experience with Shaw? I'm at about 50-50 good and bad, and am just trying to figure out if everyone that says it's bad online read that review somewhere or actually used it. Thanks again

[TacticalCowboy]

What kind of groups are you getting now?

[Mike D]

Have you had personal bad experience with Shaw? I'm at about 50-50 good and bad, and am just trying to figure out if everyone that says it's bad online read that review somewhere or actually used it. Thanks again

He's a custom gun builder (if you didn't know that) so I would say that he knows what he is talking about. I'm sure he's seen his fair share of good and bad.

[BTGuard]

He's a custom gun builder (if you didn't know that) so I would say that he knows what he is talking about. I'm sure he's seen his fair share of good and bad.

Dang actually didn't know that lol. So back to the original question, what other maker produces a barrel that it would be with the time and money to put on this? Is looked at a couple really high end ones and don't want to spend 350 dollars on a gun that cost me 320...

[Mike D]

Dang actually didn't know that lol. So back to the original question, what other maker produces a barrel that it would be with the time and money to put on this? Is looked at a couple really high end ones and don't want to spend 350 dollars on a gun that cost me 320...

On that gun I think you will spend a lot of money that you will never recoup.

Not meaning to sound like a jerk but IMO it would be like putting the proverbial lipstick on a pig.

I may have missed it but what groups do you get right now?

[BTGuard]

What kind of groups are you getting now?

Well off the lead sled with a few different brands of 20 dollar a box ammo I'm around 2-3 inches. Cheaper stuff is worse. This is to be expected. My end goal is to get relatively cheap ammo into respectable groups. Eventually I will probably start getting hand loads worked up, but my cousin, who will be helping is fairly busy right now. Honestly the heavier barrel is as much of a reason as the accuracy. This is really the only rifle I shoot at the range, so less downtime from cooling is a major plus.

[BTGuard]

On that gun I think you will spend a lot of money that you will never recoup.

Not meaning to sound like a jerk but IMO it would be like putting the proverbial lipstick on a pig.

I may have missed it but what groups do you get right now?

So on this gun with a new barrel I'd basically have stripped the gun down to the action... Is this action worth the money?

[Mike D]

Help a man in need... Barrel questions

So on this gun with a new barrel I'd basically have stripped the gun down to the action... Is this action worth the money?

I honestly can't answer that. All my experience is based on Remington 700 based actions.

Have you done anything to accurize the gun yet? It's rare that even the cheap factory rifles won't shoot 1" or less.

I think you said the gun was just over $300 new?

[BTGuard]

I honestly can't answer that. All my experience is based on Remington 700 based actions.

Have you done anything to accurize the gun yet? It's rare that even the cheap factory rifles won't shoot 1" or less.

I haven't... Honestly I haven't spent as much time behind this gun as I'd like to. I'm still getting a general feel for it, and am focusing on how i shoot more then the gun. That is mostly why i want a heavier barrel. I figure more time shooting will be helpful. I may just shoot a couple thousand more round through this and see what happens. Then if I need a new barrel I can consider a higher dollsr one, or put a cheapet one on and return it to varmint hunting.

[TacticalCowboy]

You may be better off buying a press and building a load for it.

[Mike D]

I haven't... Honestly I haven't spent as much time behind this gun as I'd like to. I'm still getting a general feel for it, and am focusing on how i shoot more then the gun. That is mostly why i want a heavier barrel. I figure more time shooting will be helpful. I may just shoot a couple thousand more round through this and see what happens. Then if I need a new barrel I can consider a higher dollsr one, or put a cheapet one on and return it to varmint hunting.

Again I'm not 100% up to snuff on the Savage type barrel attachments. I do know that they take less machining since it attaches to the receiver with a barrel nut instead of threads. But you will still have to have it chambered and fitted and they costs money. Assuming you could buy the barrel blank for $200 or so, you will probably need another $100-$150 in machine work for the chambering.

Also, if the barrel channel on your Boyd's stock isn't the right size then you would have to have that opened up too.

Far be it from me to tell a man how to spend his money but for me personally the money invested would not be worth it.

Have you installed the Boyd's stock yet? If so have you checked to see if the barrel is free floated?

[BTGuard]

Again I'm not 100% up to snuff on the Savage type barrel attachments. I do know that they take less machining since it attaches to the receiver with a barrel nut instead of threads. But you will still have to have it chambered and fitted and they costs money. Assuming you could buy the barrel blank for $200 or so, you will probably need another $100-$150 in machine work for the chambering.

Also, if the barrel channel on your Boyd's stock isn't the right size then you would have to have that opened up too.

Far be it from me to tell a man how to spend his money but for me personally the money invested would not be worth it.

Have you installed the Boyd's stock yet? If so have you checked to see if the barrel is free floated?

The stock is installed, and is not free floated. This gun comes from the factory with a pressure point at the end of the forearm, and the Boyds mimics that. I was planning on going through a couple more range sessions before I danced that down. I'm also considering putting aluminum pillars in and glass bedding. Both are fairly cheap and I'd like to give it a shot myself.

[Mike D]

The stock is installed, and is not free floated. This gun comes from the factory with a pressure point at the end of the forearm, and the Boyds mimics that. I was planning on going through a couple more range sessions before I danced that down. I'm also considering putting aluminum pillars in and glass bedding. Both are fairly cheap and I'd like to give it a shot myself.

Man that's a bummer. The problem with the pressure point stocks is getting that pressure point right can be tricky. Not sure why they build them like that. Free float is the way to go as long as that's how the rifle is designed.

Good luck on whatever you decide to do.

[cattlelackranch]

Pressure points are a crutch for manufactures, and a bad one at that IMO.

Weatherby is the biggest offender.

To answer your question on barrel length for the .308 I would go with 18-20".

Mike is right you will see little velocity difference per inch. 20-35 fps in that round. I would rather have a stiffer barrel with less whip with the .308. It's not a "barn burner" round to begin with. You should be able to get around 2600 fps with that length and good accuracy out to 500 yards with the right setup.