#1, #2, #3?

I was thinking #2.

2

What barrel manufacture? Their contours are not the same at the midsection. The muzzle diameters are the same but the tapers are different giving a different midsection diameter.

lothar Walther contours.
Contour Name ØD1 ØD2 ØD3 L1 L2 L3
#1100 Feather Weight Sporter 0.550" 0.690" 1.200" 3.0" 7.0" 24" or 26"
#1200 Light Weight Sporter 0.575" 0.760" 1.200" 3.0" 7.0" 26" or 28"
#1300 Standard Sporter 0.625" 0.780" 1.200" 3.0" 7.0" 26" or 28"
#1400 Heavy Weight Sporter 0.650" 0.835" 1.200" 3.0" 7.0" 26" or 28"
#1450 Super-Magnum Sporter 0.700" 0.875" 1.230" 3.0" 7.0" 2

Shilen

Dimensions (inches)
Contour # A B C D E F G Weight at
G length
1 Featherweight 1.200 .700 .550 2.5 6 20 22 2 lbs 10oz.
2 Lightweight 1.200 .765 .575 2.5 6 24 26 3 lbs 3oz.
3 Sporter 1.200 .815 .625 2.5 6 24 26 3 lbs 7oz.
4 Magnum Sporter 1.200 .860 .650 3.0 6 26 28 3 lbs 14oz.
5 Lightweight Varmint 1.200 .910 .700 3.0 6 26 28 4 lbs 8oz.
5-1/2 Medium Weight Varmint 1.200 .960 .750 3.0 6 26 28 4 lbs 14oz.

That question has been asked for the last 100 years.

Brno's and Rugers have lightweight barrels. They are easy to carry, but heat up quickly. Shooters often complain about vertical stringing.

CZ's have heavy barrels (and wood). Everyone raves about their MOA accuracy.

Original Mannlicher-Schoenauers and the Remington 7MS use medium weight barrels, and offer ease of carry as well as decent accuracy.

I suggest the heaviest barrel that will fit in your stock, that you are willing to carry.

**Sako's also used heavy barrels, and were highly regarded for their accuracy.

In my opinion, you can't get the barrel light enough. I happen to be working on two mannlichers right now. I am building a 6.5x55 with a 20" barrel, and picked up a used one in 8x57 with an 18-1/2" barrel. The used one is a small ring mauser that was fitted years ago (probably in the fifties) to, of all things, an original Mannlicher stock. Someone literally cut and fitted pieces of color matched walnut into the inletting to fill in all the gaps (nine in all). They did it so well that it takes a close look to see them. The outside finish and checkering is intact. The inletting wasn't a good fit, and the stock had a couple of internal cracks, which I repaired. Anyway, the mauser barrel was turned down to fit the very thin forend.

The one I am building is also a mauser with a new surplus Swedish carbine barrel fitted. The difference between the two is striking. The 8x57 barrel is literally a pencil. I have planed and rasped on the new stock until I have removed half its original contoured weight (actually measured on a scale) and it is still much "heftier" than the old stock. The new gun has the look and feel of, say, the CZ full stock. The old one has that magic feel that only the old mannlichers had, in my mind. Chances are the new one may shoot better than the old, but that's not what mannlichers are about. That full stock, coupled with a lightweight, muzzle light feel is what made them so endearing.

Shilen #5.

Thanks - went with a Douglas #2 Sporter,

http://www.douglasbarrels.net/dimensions/

quote:

Originally posted by Austin Hunter:
Thanks - went with a Douglas #2 Sporter,

http://www.douglasbarrels.net/dimensions/