Ok, I have a Sako action to build on(L691)and a friend has basically offered to give me a shillen #2 profile barrel in .284. I was planning on building a 280 but have found that this action has a mag bolt face so it looks like a 7mag is in the works. Just not sure about this thin of a barrel in a magnum caliber. Now this will be a hunting rifle not a paper puncher.So,what say you?

I'd have a gunsmith profile it and take more steel off of it. You have more than enough there.

quote:

Shillen #2 contour for 7 mag

Assuming you want a 26" barrel....this may be the lightest choice.

quote:

Assuming you want a 26" barrel....this may be the lightest choice

+1 If I remember correctly the #2 is heavier than the old std barrels on the MKX up through 300wmag.

The #2 Shilen is a 26" blank. They recommend a 2" cut off the muzzle and that would make it .575 at the muzzle. You also need to cut 1" off the big end. You will end up with a 23" barrel at .575 at the muzzle. The factory Remington magnum contour is the same as a #4 Shilen contour.
Butch

If its a blank as Butch says I'd let it go for any 7 MM magnum cartridge. 23" makes for a lot of noise. OTOH, if it is a finished blank at 26", it gets more interesting.

On an L-61R with a magnum bolt face you can also do a 7 STW without any other mods.

I wouldn't use it. The barrel isn't a good match for the cartridge.

quote:

The #2 Shilen is a 26" blank. They recommend a 2" cut off the muzzle and that would make it .575 at the muzzle. You also need to cut 1" off the big end. You will end up with a 23" barrel at .575 at the muzzle

On their site they say finished length is 24" which is plenty long for a 7mag. As to .575 being too small the MKX factory barrel is closet to .55 in both 7mag and 300 mag and 24". I've fired 100s if not 1000s in both with no issue. Might be a touch harder to find a sweet load but I never had trouble getting the MKX factory light barrel to group subMOA.

Paul,
I don't see on their website that they recommend 24". They are saying that the .575 muzzle is 24" from the end of the blank. You can do that, but I would never use the first inch of breech of anybodies barrel blank. If I were building a 7 mag I would want a 26" finished barrel. Just my opinion.
Butch

Good grief.

quote:

I don't see on their website that they recommend 24".

Butch on the table and diagram they list a "G" which is the total length in the case of the #2 that is 26" then they list an "F" or 24" they also say that the dia is at "F", if you cut off at the chamber then it would be even shorter. However Shillen doesn't mention that.

What size barrel will serve you best?
The information below will give you an idea of the size and weight of every Shilen barrel contour.
Dimension "C" is the muzzle diameter at dimension "F", "which is our suggested finish barrel length".

2 Lightweight 1.200 .765 .575 2.5 6 24 26 3 lbs 3oz.

If a 26" finished barrel is wanted than the #2 is too short. My 2cents is that it isn't needed for a 7mag 24" would be fine. 264 Wmag 7STW yes 26"

His decison will boil down to does he want 24 or 26" the weight while a touch on the light side shouldn't be an issue.

Butch why do you remove a full 1" from the breech?

Chuck Nelson, What are you good griefing about?
Paul, when the button starts in the breech end it is a little nasty for about 1/2". I realize that the chamber will cut it out, but it is hard to get a good dial indication of the bore. Also if your blank has been lapped it will be a little belled on each end.
Maybe this is being a little anal on a hunting barrel, but why not. This is just the way I think and some people think differently. No problem from me.
Butch
Butch

quote:

Butch why do you remove a full 1" from the breech?

I do it to reduce weight.....I'd like to hear Butch's reply too!

Butch,that is what I thought too. I emailed Sillen and they said with a 26" blank you can expect to take 1" off each end and would end up with 24".Of course that could have been a secretary answer emails lol. If I didn't have the option of using this barrel I would probably go for a #4 contour.If I was sure I could get 24" and not have any issues I may consider giving it a shot.

My 270win Mauser has .520 @24" [8lb]
My synthetic 270 WeathbyMag had .560@24" [8.25lb]

between .550-.580@24" would be ok for me, depending what final weight/balance I was aiming to achieve.

I put a #2 lilja on my 300 H&H. Finishing at 24.5" and around .575(?) at the muzzle, I have no complaints...it handlles and shoots great. I'd have no fear of a 24" #2 on a 7 mag.

quote:

Originally posted by handwerk:
I put a #2 lilja on my 300 H&H. Finishing at 24.5" and around .575(?) at the muzzle, I have no complaints...it handlles and shoots great. I'd have no fear of a 24" #2 on a 7 mag.

No practical person would.

quote:

Originally posted by Chuck Nelson:

quote:

Originally posted by handwerk:
I put a #2 lilja on my 300 H&H. Finishing at 24.5" and around .575(?) at the muzzle, I have no complaints...it handlles and shoots great. I'd have no fear of a 24" #2 on a 7 mag.

No practical person would.

Chuck Nelson

Please speak English! Why not?

I'm sure that you have a reason, but I just can't guess what it is.

BTW, a #3 on a 7mm would be a pig. I had one on a 30-06 and, even though it was a .5 MOA gun(on a Mauser no less...) I had it turned down.

I'm saying no practical person would be afraid to use a #2 Shilen on a 24" 7MM rem mag.

I just found out that I wasn't practical.
Butch

Oh, you naughty boy!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by butchlambert:
I just found out that I wasn't practical.
Butch

If the shoe fits.

But if you feel bad you've a but load of company.

Chuck, I don't recall saying I was worried or afraid of that particular contour in a mag caliber. I just don't PREFER a thin barrel in a magnum. Now,if I hunted out west where lugging a heavy rifle around was an issue I might feel differently. But for a southern bean field rifle the extra weight is not an issue. Also, while this will not be a paper puncher, I like to reload and shoot a bunch. I don't like having to stop shooting on a 100 degree day after 3 shots waiting for a barrel to cool down. So, please keep the condescending comments to yourself if you don't mind.

quote:

Originally posted by W Lewis:
Chuck, I don't recall saying I was worried or afraid of that particular contour in a mag caliber. I just don't PREFER a thin barrel in a magnum. Now,if I hunted out west where lugging a heavy rifle around was an issue I might feel differently. But for a southern bean field rifle the extra weight is not an issue. Also, while this will not be a paper puncher, I like to reload and shoot a bunch. I don't like having to stop shooting on a 100 degree day after 3 shots waiting for a barrel to cool down. So, please keep the condescending comments to yourself if you don't mind.

If you had it all figured out what the hell did you ask for?

If it makes you feel better I suggest cutting 4" off the back end of the barrel and 15" off the front. That ought to make it safe for the 7MM Rem Mag.

"Good grief" bears repeating.

quote:

So, please keep the condescending comments to yourself if you don't mind.

What part of this don't you understand?

I have never owned a thin barrel magnum rifle and really wouldn't prefer one. BUT, since someone was going to GIVE me the barrel I was considering it and wanted some feed back. What I did'nt want was some condescending bull shit, comprende.

Good Grief Chuck, Can't you just leave us unpractical people alone?
Butch

quote:

Originally posted by W Lewis:

quote:

So, please keep the condescending comments to yourself if you don't mind.

What part of this don't you understand?

I have never owned a thin barrel magnum rifle and really wouldn't prefer one. BUT, since someone was going to GIVE me the barrel I was considering it and wanted some feed back. What I did'nt want was some condescending bull shit, comprende.

Well just as long as we do what you want. Tell him I'll take the barrel.

The ignore button. what a nice feature. It's just a shame you have to use it.

Calm down, guys, we are all good men here. Chuck, my friend, I already offered to buy that tube as I have these two superb Brno 21/22 actions that I have a light Kreiger for and I need another such bbl. and then will have Jan K. build me two more light Edge handled "mountain rifles" in .280 Rem.

I have had 3-4 7mags and I had both a heavy and a light barreled Ruger 77 way back in the '70s and hunted just over the Rockies here in BC from your stomping grounds. I found I really prefered the heavy tubed one for several reasons, although I am a .270-.280 guy much more than a 7maggie one. Each to his own, variety in rifle opinions keeps us from getting bored and starting to play "golf" or somesuch bullshit!

I've taken a fever and bought a "minty" first year production very limited run LH Model 70 338 Win Mag Dewey. What should I shoot in it?

Nice score Chuck....where'd you find that one?

I sold it a few years ago and was able to track it down three owners later and talk the guy out of it. Its a G171XXX. The lowest serial number I've ever seen and I never should have sold it in the first place. But you know how that goes.

Is that the same one you offered up to me a couple yrs ago?

It is!

To me, the medium bores are all about heavy bullets and I have come to prefer the 250NPs over RE-22 or H-4350 in WW brass over mag. primers to any other loads. My current six .338s, yeah, I KNOW what insanity it is for an old geezer to have that many, never mind the 24-25 other big game rifles in my safes, range between 22.5" to 25" in bbl. length and my loads five 2735-2800 and very fine groups.

I would use a .300 maggie, just happen to have a couple of those, too, if I wanted to shoot lighter bullets and a good .338-.270 combo is about the ideal for a Canadian hunter, IMHO.

Chuck, you need to customize that one, Echol's 4+1 bottom metal, 23" tube, Micky handle, GOOD "ghost and post" irons and a pair of good scopes. Do a .270 Fwt to match and you are "hot to trot", IMHO.

DON'T SELL IT!

I think I'll hang on to it and already have a McMillan on the way from D'Arcy for it. The rest will come with a bit of time as I have a certain Mashburn Super in the fire at Baynes Lake.

quote:

Originally posted by Chuck Nelson:
I've taken a fever and bought a "minty" first year production very limited run LH Model 70 338 Win Mag Dewey. What should I shoot in it?

Good grief, can't you figure that out for yourself? But it is a very nice looking rifle.