What do Benchrest shooters do with their old barrels?

BumbleBug · May 27, 2013, 08:35 AM

I've talked to several serious BR shooters & I was surprised at how few rounds they fire before their barrels are a "has-been". Of course they always start with finest of barrels (i.e. expensive!).

Couldn't these shot-out barrels be re-contoured, re-chambered into super hunting rifles?

Just a thought...

...bug

g.willikers · May 27, 2013, 08:53 AM

They're probably ok, as is.
What bench rest guys consider as shot out barrels won't bother most normal folks a bit.

Jim Watson · May 27, 2013, 11:20 AM

I don't see why not, if you have the connections to get the barrels and have them put on hunting rifles.

I recall a couple of old articles.
One guy said he and all his friends had first class .30 caliber hunting rifle barrels that were not adequately accurate with .30-06 military match ammo. They might do great with some other load, but if they did not shoot the standard load, he pulled them after a hundred rounds or less.

C.E. Harris did a lot of shooting with upgraded .22 sporters. He knew a gunsmith who worked on .22 target rifles and they found that you could take a shot out 28" barrel, cut off the breech end to get clean rifling and have a fine 18-20" barrel blank.

Clark · May 27, 2013, 06:21 PM

They used to sell them on Ebay for $50.
I bought a number of them, mostly Shilen, but some Krieger, Lilja, and Hart.

They are short, fat, and 1 in 14" twist.

So far I have used only one.
I put one a an old 1917 Savage 99 take down 250 Sav.
I chambered the barrel for 6mmBR.
I have only fired a few rounds with it.
0.1" at 50 yards, 0.3" at 100 yards, and keyholes with 75 gr Vmax bullets.

If you can think of some uses for short fat 14" twist 6mmPPC barrels, let me know.

Scorch · May 28, 2013, 01:01 AM

Gunsmiths who do a lot of benchrest and target shooters' rebarreling jobs have a pretty good stash of high-quality barrels on hand, but it doesn't take long for them to be gone. I got a 30BR barrel last year, rebarreled a Mauser with it in 30-06, shoots fantastic. Some customers want them back to sell off, others don't care.

BumbleBug · May 29, 2013, 03:00 PM

..that you bought a Savage 99 .250-3000 take-down for $200 as it shows in the picture!...LOL

...bug

eldermike · May 29, 2013, 03:27 PM

They get as much cleaning wear as shooting wear. Back when I was shooting bench rest I had a routine for cleaning after 5 shots that most people would never understand. First, the powder solvent and the brushing, many many strokes, then the dry patches. Next the copper solvent and a different brush, many many strokes. Next the wet patches and dry patches.......then back to the line ------ bang, bang, bang, bang, bang ---- and back to the cleaning bench...

I was never sure if my shot out barrel was shot out or cleaned out....

Clark · May 31, 2013, 12:58 AM

Quote:

BumbleBug

Clark, I find that hard to believe...
..that you bought a Savage 99 .250-3000 take-down for $200 as it shows in the picture!...LOL

...bug

I dickered him down to $175 in 2004.
That price tag seems to have fallen off... no more Minnie Pearl effect.

But I a record of the prices that I paid on some benchrest take off barrels today.

I should have invested in rifles

jglenn · May 31, 2013, 02:24 PM

had a friend give me one of his "tomado stake" Krieger barrel in 30 cal..1 in 14 twist..

turn it down to about a #3 profile cut off the threads and re-chambered it for 300 savage.

shoots 110 and 125 grs bullets like a champ.. made it up for my oldest neice

May 27, 2013, 08:35 AM	#1
BumbleBug Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2013 Location: Near Heart of Texas Posts: 870	What do Benchrest shooters do with their old barrels? I've talked to several serious BR shooters & I was surprised at how few rounds they fire before their barrels are a "has-been". Of course they always start with finest of barrels (i.e. expensive!). Couldn't these shot-out barrels be re-contoured, re-chambered into super hunting rifles? Just a thought... ...bug

May 27, 2013, 08:53 AM	#2
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	They're probably ok, as is. What bench rest guys consider as shot out barrels won't bother most normal folks a bit. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

May 27, 2013, 06:21 PM	#4
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	They used to sell them on Ebay for $50. I bought a number of them, mostly Shilen, but some Krieger, Lilja, and Hart. They are short, fat, and 1 in 14" twist. So far I have used only one. I put one a an old 1917 Savage 99 take down 250 Sav. I chambered the barrel for 6mmBR. I have only fired a few rounds with it. 0.1" at 50 yards, 0.3" at 100 yards, and keyholes with 75 gr Vmax bullets. If you can think of some uses for short fat 14" twist 6mmPPC barrels, let me know. __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?

May 28, 2013, 01:01 AM	#5
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Gunsmiths who do a lot of benchrest and target shooters' rebarreling jobs have a pretty good stash of high-quality barrels on hand, but it doesn't take long for them to be gone. I got a 30BR barrel last year, rebarreled a Mauser with it in 30-06, shoots fantastic. Some customers want them back to sell off, others don't care. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

May 29, 2013, 03:00 PM	#6
BumbleBug Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2013 Location: Near Heart of Texas Posts: 870	Clark, I find that hard to believe... ..that you bought a Savage 99 .250-3000 take-down for $200 as it shows in the picture!...LOL ...bug

May 27, 2013, 11:20 AM	#3
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,584	I don't see why not, if you have the connections to get the barrels and have them put on hunting rifles. I recall a couple of old articles. One guy said he and all his friends had first class .30 caliber hunting rifle barrels that were not adequately accurate with .30-06 military match ammo. They might do great with some other load, but if they did not shoot the standard load, he pulled them after a hundred rounds or less. C.E. Harris did a lot of shooting with upgraded .22 sporters. He knew a gunsmith who worked on .22 target rifles and they found that you could take a shot out 28" barrel, cut off the breech end to get clean rifling and have a fine 18-20" barrel blank.

May 29, 2013, 03:27 PM	#7
eldermike Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2013 Location: NC Posts: 545	They get as much cleaning wear as shooting wear. Back when I was shooting bench rest I had a routine for cleaning after 5 shots that most people would never understand. First, the powder solvent and the brushing, many many strokes, then the dry patches. Next the copper solvent and a different brush, many many strokes. Next the wet patches and dry patches.......then back to the line ------ bang, bang, bang, bang, bang ---- and back to the cleaning bench... I was never sure if my shot out barrel was shot out or cleaned out....

May 31, 2013, 02:24 PM	#9
jglenn Member Join Date: May 22, 2009 Location: Georgia Posts: 56	barrel had a friend give me one of his "tomado stake" Krieger barrel in 30 cal..1 in 14 twist.. turn it down to about a #3 profile cut off the threads and re-chambered it for 300 savage. shoots 110 and 125 grs bullets like a champ.. made it up for my oldest neice