Flip - If you are referring to Lothar-Walther barrels, exactly the opposite is true. L-W barrels are MORE resilient than other barrels. Ask any gunsmith that has cut a chamber in one. They are very tough barrels and hold up well to number-of-rounds-fired.
Posts: 10780 | Location: Test Tube | Registered: 27 February 2001
Posts: 8351 | Location: Jennings Louisiana, Arkansas by way of Alabama by way of South Carloina by way of County Antrim Irland by way of Lanarkshire Scotland. | Registered: 02 November 2001
I doubt that there is any significant difference in the chromoly barrels but the LW50 (stainless) barrels are said to last longer than their counterparts. I have not seen one shot to where it was worn out so can't really say but I can say that they are indeed tougher to cut when chambering than the 416 stainless used by other makers. When I rebarrel one of my "F" class rifles I may try one to compare longevity but until then I can only speculate. Regards, Bill.
I used to use all the better barrels and I had no complaints with any of them, but when I tried a couple of Lothar-walther barrels I quit shopping and that is ALL I use today. Nothing else will do for me.
Ray, I was expecting your comments on this one, for it is music to my ears. My long awaited .338 Win Mag Lothar Walther is finally mounted on my Win 70 in replacement for that sorry excuse of a barrel the factory installed on it. The works are presently at the official proofing and I'm eagerly awaiting their return to (re)start load development, expecting cloverleaf groups.
------------------ Andr�
Posts: 2420 | Location: Belgium | Registered: 25 August 2001
Hope you're right, Herman. But Miss 70 will have to perform as well then. I'm expecting a lot from this revamping of the worst rifle I ever kept. If I hadn't already invested in a Swarovski scope and EAW mount for it, it would have gone out the day (after <300 shots testing and developping loads) I realized the barrel wouldn't do better than 1.5 - 1.75 MOA. I'm reserving this .338 for mu next moose hunt. I shot one in Sweden last October with a .300 Win and, in spite of a solid hit, the beast showed no reaction and went its way, as if nothing happened, before going down abruptly much farther. With a .338, I hope to get somewhat more attention from my next moose...
PS. : about your caliber choice. If it wasn't for the scarce components, I feel I could rapidly develop a weak spot for the 8x68S. Let's hope our U.S. friends start liking it (= 9,3x62), so that components become available to the handloader. Imagine : a true magnum, falling between the .300 and .338 and with a... beltless case ! And on top of that, another occasion for teasing our oversea's chaps about their wanting to reinvent what we already have for nearly a century . ------------------ Andr�
[This message has been edited by Andr� Mertens (edited 03-19-2002).]
Posts: 2420 | Location: Belgium | Registered: 25 August 2001
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