I was wondering are the heavy varmit barrels more accurate? My stock sporter barrel is shooting arounf 3/4" at 100yd with reloads & I am haveing no luck improveing it. I do think this is ok for a stock gun but was wondering if heavy barrels are usely a little better or is it luck of the draw you get a good shooter or you don't.

There are two primary advantages to the heavy barreled rifle: It will heat more slowly, and remain accurate for a longer string of sustained fire. And it is more rigid, and therefore has a tighter "harmonic whip vibration," which means that its muzzle doesn't oscillate as far away from the static position during fire.

For a prarie dog rifle, or one that will be called on to make several (5 or more) shots without a cooling off period, the heavy barrel would be the better choice.

However, for a "walking varminter," or a groundhog or crow rifle, I like sporter weight barrels. They can shoot just as accurately as a heavy if all else is equal. Look at the OCW target in the reloading thread "The Beauty of an OCW Load." I shot those 9 shots at 100 yards with a sporter barreled Savage 110.

Is your rifle glass bedded with free-floated barrel? I float the barrels on all of my sporters, and have excellent results.

What cartridge are you shooting?

Dan

I have a Marlin bolt action 30-06 and am wondering if it is possible/advisable/expensive etc. to get a heavier barrel. I would like to get into varmit shooting but was thinking that I would be better off with a 250, Swift, or 22-250 but may reconsider. Thanks for the help!!

Hunter333, nice to see you over here. I'd keep the '06 for deer and pick up a Savage with a sport weight barrel for varmints. With the exception of spending time at the range developing a load there is no real need for a heavy barrel in MI. They are heavy and awkward in the field. Considering a good day around here is a half dozen pops at 'chucks and with any luck a crack at a 'yote there seems to be no need for the heavier barrel. Savages are very accurate out of the box. Own a Savage 22-250 (heavy barrel) myself and it throws any load that goes in it at .75 moa and less. Friend has a 243 (sport)that's the same way.

[ 02-05-2003, 02:39: Message edited by: Cobra ]

Good advice from Cobra there...

And who says you can't groundhog hunt with the aught-six while you're waiting for the Savage to come around?

Better than half of my groundhogs hunts find me using my old Remington ADL 30-06... Zero for 300 yards and hold under for closer shots--no problem.

Take care,

Dan

Thanks Cobra and Green. Looks like the best route is to buy another gun I want one that I can varmit hunt as well as target shoot with. I dont have a place to shoot 1,000 yards but do have access to a 300 yard range and I know that there are some longer ones somewhere in MI.

In my view no sporter weight barrel will consistantly give tighter groups than a well tuned heavy barreled varmint rig. Heat build up in sporter weight barrels will cause groups to open up in only three rounds. The heavy barrel will produce much better results in grouping with less bullet dispersion caused by heat. If you desire a consistantly tighter grouping rifle go heavy barrel. It will deliver the groups you want in a well tuned rifle.

IMHO given slow fire and non mag cartridges then within limits it's not weight but quality and cartridge balance that counts for your average mortal.

Heavy barrels come into their own for recoil and muzzle flip reduction and varmint style shooting.