Question on barrel types, but not sure how to ask it. How much shooting do you want to do with a “normal” barrel at one time and how much time should you allow for it to cool down between groups of shots? Vs. the same question for a “heavy” barrel? In another way, at want point would you want a “heavy” barrel over a “normal” barrel? Lets say a .223 for varmint (prairie dog) and target shooting. Thanks for your info.

Too many factors come into play to give a specific round count. Heavy barrels do take longer to heat up but also take longer to cool once they are hot. I keep a close eye on mine while I am shooting and switch to another gun when they get to the medium side of warm. Keep in mind that the exterior surface temperature of the barrel in a poor indicator of the temperature of the surface of the bore-and this is where things matter.

Thanks Juggernaut.

Heavy Barrel fluted best of both worlds .

when it comes to cooling I have found that a highly finished and polished barrel dissipates heat considerably less than a rough, ugly looking barrel......obviously the rough surfaces act as cooling fins of sorts.....

How hot is too hot?....when you can't pick the rifle off the ground with the bare hand holding the barrel only...then it's too hot......and if one is shooting a heavy barrel it takes quite a while to cool.

By dumb luck I have concluded that for my personal likes a barrel that is .150 or so thick at the muzzle delivers the best of all worlds....heft, accuracy, stability.......and if left quite rough will cool fairly fast.

I've even poured ice water down the barrel to cool them in good dog towns.....

I'm not a 1,000 yard shooter (yet) so have little use for contours over #3..... For the 3-400 yard shooting I have done, I haven't found the #7 contours to be an advantage over the #3 and similar contours.

Everyone to their own here!