I need some help from the collective AR wisdom. First some background: I've always tended toward lighter sporter-weight rifles (generally around 8-8 1/2 lbs scoped) with corresponding barrels (some factory, some custom). I only have one rifle with a #4 contour barrel on it (rifle is 9 1/4 lbs scoped), the others are 2s and 3s. I prefer this style of rifle as the rifles feel good in my hands, balance well, and are easy to carry for my spot and stalk hunting. Shooting these rifles, I've had good accuracy (1 1/2" or better) from all of them with several factory loads and very good accuracy (3/4"-1") from each rifle with one or two factory loads. I would like a big game rifle that would be more accurate, and more accurate across a wider range of loads. I'm wondering if that is a characteristic that I could achieve with a heavier barrel (this would be installed with the same accuracy work that was used on my other rifles with lighter barrels)?

In other words, assuming all other rifle components and accuracy work is the same, what advantages are there in a heavier barrel (say a #6) over a lighter one (say a #3) other than (i) stability on a rest, (ii) reduced recoil and (iii) increased resistance to heat build-up (and therefore better accuracy potential over longer shot groups)?

BTW, I think these are all valid advantages.

Do (i) and (ii) themselves increase accurary performance?

Would the heavier barrel tend to be more accurate overall (have better accuracy potential)?

Would the heavier barrel (i) tend to shoot more accurately with the same range of loads (in other words, would my 1 1/2" groups become 1" groups) or (ii) be more accurate with a wider range of loads (would I get 3 or 4 factory loads to shoot 3/4"-1")?

I'm thinking of a relatively mild magnum - either 7mm Rem or .300 Win - in a gun that would be fired almost exclusively from blind, so I'm not worried about the increase in weight, say to 10-11 pounds scoped.

I didn't know if I'm heading down the right path here, or if there is are better ways, like handloading, to achieve this goal? I appreciate your thoughts.

As far as heavy barrels and accuracy, you have only to look at the field of competition. All the winners are sporting heavy barrels. So, heavy contours are key to great accuracy.

You don't need that heavy of a barrel to achieve sub MOA groups. A well tuned rifle and good handloads will do that.

I recently built a couple of customs, on a 7mm Wildcat Mag type case, on trued Rem 700 action's. Both used Shilen handlapped ChroMo barrel's but of different contours. One was a #3 and one was a #5.

Everything but the barrel contours are identical. As expected though, each one perfers a different load than the other. On the bench, the rifle with the #5 barrel will put 5 rounds under a dime, while the #3 will deliver it's rounds at about a half MOA consistently.

Over the long haul, the weight difference would be considerable when having to pack them into the field. But from the performance I have seen from these 2 rifles, I would put up with the extra weight to have the accuracy potential of the #5. But if I was weight conscious, the #3 would be just fine. But that is my personal preference.

quote:

assuming all other rifle components and accuracy work is the same, what advantages are there in a heavier barrel (say a #6) over a lighter one (say a #3) ?

Very little IMO.....

It may very well be easier to shoot a heavier barrel but the accuracy difference between a #6 and a #3 or even a #2 is extremely small. Possibly an 1/8" or so.....and I've yet to see the hunter than can make use of that increment.

I have seen three shot groups well inside a dime from Winchester featherweight barrels.....FACTORY!

Accuracy is more dependent on how well the ammo is taylored to the gun, how well the bedding is and the overall quality of the barreled action and scope.