18 September 2003, 14:55
Gary TMy New Barrel Project
Hey guys,
I've pulled the trigger on my new barrel project.
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(Actually, this will be a barrel for my 9 year old son to use deer hunting this fall.) Will be using a Les Bauska barrel blank to make a 20", 1:10" twist, blued, Contender carbine barrel to be chambered into 300/221 by Mike Sirois of On Time Technology. I'll use the factory synthetic forend and butt stock. Will have to cut off a few inches off the butt stock to fit my son's length of pull. Planning on using Hornady 130 gr SP (not the SSP bullet which has apparently been discontinued; despite e-mailing my questions twice, Hornady has yet to respond....
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) and/or 125 gr NBT. Hoping to get 2500 fps. I also have a 22 LR Contender carbine barrel which will give my son a chance to practice w/ during squirrel season.
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He didn't have the grip strength to open the action so ordered a device from Mike Bellm that should help. I'm hoping everything works out so that my son can try some deer hunting in November.
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Thanks to you guys for putting me onto Les Bauska and OTT. Price wise, this will end up being LESS than a factory (Fox Ridge) TC barrel.
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Gary T.
18 September 2003, 22:08
Rich JakeGood luck Gary to you & your son! The Les Bauska barrel should work well. I like the 125 Nosler Bal Tip in this cartridge. It just out shot everything else. I have shot one deer with it so far & perforrmed well. Keep us updated on your results.
Rich Jake
19 September 2003, 01:13
mbkCongrats on getting your son started on hunting. It is time I was doing the same with my youngest boy.
If you are still wanting the Hornady 30 cal. 130 SSP, Midsouth still has them listed for 12.10/box. I looked at one synthetic stock and was not sure where you could cut it down without getting into the hollow cavity. I know you can get Contender youth buttstocks in walnut that are a couple of inches shorter. They are $70-75 new, I have trying to find a good used one for my boy. Good Luck with your project I sure he will enjoy it.
Mike
19 September 2003, 04:35
B_KoesIf you're set on using this for hunting and you are going to be pretty much limiting your bullet choices to < 150gr bullets, then why not get a little slower twist to help raise those velocities. I would think that 1-14" would stabilize 125-130 gr bullets and get you top velocities...not to mention help the rifling last longer near the throat anyway.
I just checked Shilen's site and they recommend 1-15" for bullets up to 150gr and 1-14" for up to 168gr bullets. Given the lower velocities from a Whisper type round 1-14" would certainly do it. Just a thought...
19 September 2003, 11:23
Gary TB_Koes, Those are good points to consider. In fact, I had some similar thoughts about the twist as well.
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As I understand it, JDJ developed the cartridge using the the fast twist to enable it to use heavy bullets (220-240 gr) at subsonic velocities, primarily for tactical applications. (On the other hand, Dr. Rogers, AKA "The Hitman," had a recent article in "The Sixgunner where he used a suppressed 300 Whisper carbine w/ 240 gr bullets to kill around 30(?) deer this past year w/ good success.) My 12" VVCG 300/221 barrel has a 1:8" twist. I use it for deer hunting w/ 125-130 gr bullets, but thought it would be good to have the capability of possibly playing w/ the heavy slugs some day. I've been very pleased w/ its performance. Consequently, thought I'd not stray too far from what's worked well for me so far. I believe the T/C factory barrels are 1:10" twist also. That having been said, I probably won't ever shoot anything heavier than 135 gr bullets in the new barrel.
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