I want to build a rifle for medium to large game ( up to Caribou and Sambar ), out to a distance of up to 400+ metres ( pronghorn and NZ mountain Tahr ), and I would like it to be a reasonable weight to be able to carry but also to be able to fire up to three shots before the barrel gets too hot....if this makes sense?
This question is about barrel weight / profile...nothing else....for the sake of this exercise the calibre would be 8x68S, vz24 action, 24" barrel, 180 to 250gr bullets, synthetic stock, blah, blah, blah....
I need diameters, not number so and so.
I apologise if this sounds a bit rude but I have pretty much everything else sorted and now need to work out barrel size.

Roger

Check out Remington "Magnum Sporter" contour. Their No. 5, I believe. Douglas Barrels has dimensions on their site. Stiff and chubby, but not a bull or varmint. Their std contour on the 350 Rem rifles.

I had a 300 H&H built recently in a similar setup. I requested a contour as close to the H&H small bore as possible. Dimensions are available on the Walther website.

I prefer thinner barrels.

Lijia barrels on their contour page has barrel weights and the wt./inch
PacNor barrels has similar table for their contours and an on line barrrl weight calculator for any custom contour.
I think a Lijia or PacNor contour #3
Fits that cartridge, around 0.620” muzzle diameter.
Steve

well, that's kind of round about answer, but several barrel makers have their profile dims an weights -

i was going to suggest a short and slightly stouter than usually 338, but the 8x68 would do it, as well -

could go short(<21"), thick (stiff) and have it heavily fluted -- it MIGHT go 3 fast rounds without moving much, but not 4 --

3 and 4 will suit you but if you go to a carbine barrel go with a #3 as 3 and 4 barrels tapered and get thicker towards the action..

If you have a quality barrel, installed by a competent smith.....3 fast shots are nothing......

quote:

Originally posted by JTEX:
If you have a quality barrel, installed by a competent smith.....3 fast shots are nothing......

This. Any No. 2 (or 3) contour from Kreiger, Brux, Bartlien, Benchmark, Lilja et al... will easily put the first 3 shots and probably 4 & 5 shots on POA without much concern for the barrel walking due to heating up.

I only use Douglas barrels and they are properly stress relieved, unlike some others I have actually used in years past. So, firing more than 3 shots will not walk.
All these other makers are newcomers to the market.
As for profile, yes, magnum sporter will work for you.

IMHO, a heavy sporter profile that would taper from 1 - 1.25 inches in diameter at the breech to 0.670 - 0.700 inch at the muzzle (@ 26 inches) would be about perfect.