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Originally posted by Quarter Miler:
Morning Jules,
Your data sounds very close to the 16.25" of mine,the barrel I'm using is not custom version and sounds as if the lenght is an option for some, the velocities differ very little.

If you are a LRHA member, you should have received a newsletter from Wes, this would be a very good article to start a E-Mag. I would like to try something if interested and have the server space and we have the bore maker to contribute his info if needed or willing. I had this barrel at the clinic in NE. Something to start the 2003 season out with.

Just a thought!
Later

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quote:

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Originally posted by Jules:
I'll try to make this short. For all who don't know, this was a SS Contender, 20" bull Douglas barrel from VVCG. It was a 25-20 rechambered to 250imp. by Mike Bellm. Mike also did a new crown and replaced the locking bolts for a better lock up. He also formed 200 rounds of brass from 307win. for me.
All my range test were done at 100yds. except for scope sight in. I won't list these. Also, all todays shooting was barrel brake in. Weather was light rain off and on with no wind at all. Temp. was around 62. I'll list these in the order I shot them.
BTW,Great job, and thanks for another great barrel Mike

Hornady 87gr. SP, 38grs. RL15 and Fed 210 primer
3 shots in .270" at 2961fps Hot load, I would say Max for this barrel.

Hornady 87gr. SP, 36grs. H4895 and Fed 210 primer
3 shots in 1.250" at 2971fps. Too Hot...primer flat and sticky extraction. But! Check out the next load.

Nosler 85gr. BT, 37grs. H4895 and Rem 9 1/2 primer
3 shots in .525" at 3015fps. Primer OK, no sticky extraction.

Nosler 85gr. BT, 42grs. H414 and Rem 9 1/2 primer
3 shots in .620" at 2956fps.

Nosler 85gr. BT, 38grs. RL15 and Rem 9 1/2 primer
3 shots in .750" at 2948fps.

Nosler 85gr. BT, 37grs. AA4064 and Rem 9 1/2 primer
3 shots in .235" at 2710fps

Nosler 85gr. BT, 41grs. WW760 and Rem 9 1/2 primer
3 shots in 1.000" at 2816fps.

Sierra 87gr. SP, 41grs. WW760 and Rem 9 1/2 primer
5 shots in .750" at 2806fps.

Sierra 87gr. SP, 43grs. IMR4831 and Rem 9 1/2 primer
5 shots in 1.092" at 2813fps.....4 shots was .500"

Sierra 87gr. SP, 39.5 IMR4350 and Rem 9 1/2 primer
4 shots in 1.040" at 2612fps...... 3 shots was .640"

Nosler 100gr. BT, 39.5grs. H414 and WLR primer
5 shots in .950" at 2735fps.

I had more loaded but the rain got the best of me. I also got to shoot my 14 7/8" Bellm 222 with the Simmons 8x32x40 riflescope on it,in handgun form. Plenty of eye relief Sean
I only had 10 rounds of Nosler 40gr. BTs with 22grs. AA1680 and a CCI BR4 primer with me. Took 3 rounds to get the scope right and then printed a .250", 5 shot group at 100. I was having trouble at first with the lock up of this 222 barrel and frame . The Leupold mount was making contact with the frame and I had to file some off the mount. Also, It's so damn tight there's NO gap between the barrel and frame. If I slam it shut it works OK. This isn't the frame I used with this barrel the last time I had it out. It works OK on my other frame .
I'll be sending all of todays targets to Mike Bellm.

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Jules, that is only 3 out of 11 groups going over an inch! Anything under a half inch is quite interesting, and groups in the 2s..... well, that is outstanding. Good Shooting, Jules!

Thanks for putting the barrel through its paces.... well done. Glad to see it is in deserving hands!

Must be that lucky coon bone you were chewing on.

Thanks again.

Mike

quote:

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Originally posted by Mike Bellm:
Jules,
REF. what you wrote in regard to the tight lock up:

"I was having trouble at first with the lock up of this 222 barrel and frame . The Leupold mount was making contact with the frame and I had to file some off the mount. Also, It's so damn tight there's NO gap between the barrel and frame. If I slam it shut it works OK. This isn't the frame I used with this barrel the last time I had it out. It works OK on my other frame .
I'll be sending all of todays targets to Mike Bellm."

Jules,
The gap has nothing to do with how tight the barrel locks up UNLESS it is really hitting hard on the end of the barrel when you close it. And if it is hitting hard on the end of the barrel, all I have to do is face off about .005" from the end of the barrel. No big deal at all. In fact, in rechecking one of my barrels today, knowing that my frame is a bit longer from hinge pin hole to breech face than some frames, instead of leaving it with a .001" gap, I faced off .005" to give a .006" gap.

You will note on many of the factory barrels a semi-circle pattern worn into the blue or stainless finish on the ends of the barrels, just above the chamber. These barrels will register "no gap" when tried with the feeler guages, but still lock up normally.

Once in awhile a barrel WILL be too long from hinge pin hole back to the end of the barrel, enough so that the barrel does not drop down into the frame far enough for the bolts to engage into the frame, which COULD be the case with the .222 barrel. But if there is no wear mark on the end of the barrel, it is then the height of the locking bolts.

I make the barrels with the locking bolt slot on the high side and hand fit each barrel. You can always remove material in the right places to make a barrel fit right, but if it is loose, there is little recourse but to scrap it.

Do the ink test on the locking bolts to see how far they engage into the frame. If it is not engaging up past the "U" notch in the locking bolts, then the bolts need to be lowered, either by installing a set of factory 1x UNDERSIZE locking bolts or by removing material from the top sides of the locking bolts where they engage the frame.

Instructions on the online store are still "forthcoming," another way of saying I have not gotten to it yet.

I guess I could make 'em more like you are used to where they just drop in and lockup, then shake and rattle at the hinge to boot. But I don't think you would like that either.

If I need to make the barrel fit freer, let me know after you do your home work.

Mike

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Easy there Hommer
I did the felt tip test and had to remove a couple thousands off the top of the locking bolts.
Piece a cake with the EZE lap . Barrel locks up fine now. As my felt marker now shows a scuff mark just ahead of the V notch in the lugs. Don't have to slam it closed anymore.
Heck Mike, I was just testing to see if someone else was going to give me the answer

quote:

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Originally posted by Mike Bellm:
Yeah, and now you have to go back and shoot some more! Don't you just hate that?

If you have notes on the targets, maybe I can help when they arrive.

And thanks for sending them, btw. I appreciate seeing what barrels do.

Mike

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