Bull Barrel vs Light Weight Barrel

[chickenman]

Originally Posted By: RePeteSame here.
My walking varminters all wear 22" sporter barrels.
22 inches is about the perfect compromise IMO.
Light weight, not to loud, handle well, and still have enough length to retain reasonable velocity.

PS,,,, I also have a 243 with a 20" barrel.
It's god awfull loud. Wish it was a little longer but it's so accurate I live with it.
Only shoot a Deer or three with it each year anyway.

You sure have some pretty artillery.

 

[Mike B]

I would say that generally a heavier bbl. gun will be more stable on target, but in reality, cold first shot accuracy is the only thing that usually matters in hunting scenarios. How much you want to carry around??

 

[willy1947]

Yes, yes, yes, all that counts is that cold bore shot. I love short sporter barrels. I believe if you can hit a 3x5 post card from 50 to 300 yds. You have a great eye and a keeper rifle. Keep the faith.

 

[K22]

The last 2 Coyotes I killed were shot off hand at 80yds. and the other at 125yds. Both were shot with this 6lb. 4oz rifle.

And recently this Bobcat was shot at a little over 225yds. from shooting sticks with same 6lb. 4oz. rifle.

Bobcat was sitting close to the right corner of that Pine thicket. And was sitting where I took the picture from.

5 consecutive shots fire from this pencil barrel look like this.

And from a 60yr. old to boot.

I personally don't need a heavy barrel Coyote rifle, but to each their own.

 

[coyote6974]

When I started coyote hunting I brought out my old groundhog hunting rifle a Remington 700 Varmint Special in .22-250. It didn't take much of walking to and from my stands, and just walking and calling to thickets and fencerows for me realize I needed a sporter weight rifle. I bought a Model 70 featherweight in .22-250 and loved it. I then added a 700 BDL in .243, then a 700 SPS stainless in .22-250, then a 700 mountain guide in .243. I have no need in this part of the country to own a heavy barreled rifle. We have no prairie dogs here and the groundhogs have about been erradicated by coyotes. The pencils and sporters do fine as long as I don't heat up the barrels.

 

[joed]

K22, those pictures remind me of the areas we used to hunt, only difference no trees.

For shots like you're making theres no need for a heavy barrel. It's when the distance is long that the heavy barrel starts to shine.

My hunting does not involve walking long distances. I'm more of a sniper preferring to hide in cover and make a 500 yard shot rather then walk the distance.

My last coyote was shot at 525 yards, for that I want a heavy barrel.

But that isn't saying thin barrels aren't accurate even I own them. I would not want to go on an elk hunt in the mountains with a heavy barrel.

 

[K22]

Originally Posted By: joedK22, those pictures remind me of the areas we used to hunt, only difference no trees.

For shots like you're making theres no need for a heavy barrel. It's when the distance is long that the heavy barrel starts to shine.

My hunting does not involve walking long distances. I'm more of a sniper preferring to hide in cover and make a 500 yard shot rather then walk the distance.

I shot that Cat in what I call a Mountain pasture. Elevation is around 5000' and you start out at about 1500'. Walking in is what I have to do and walking up 3000' and maybe down 2000' and then back up 2500' is not fun with a rifle that weighs more than 6lbs. plus the other gear. I am comfortable shooting a light rifle out to about 400yds., but it is a rare area in these parts where you can see for more than 100yds. The area I shot the Cat in is one of those rare area's.

 

[joed]

K22, that's what I was saying that the type of hunting, geography and terrain will influence the type of rifle used. If I walked that distance I'd probably own a 4 lb rifle.

My hunting isn't like that in OH. Maybe a mile walk to cover for me and I'll sit and wait for 45 minutes. Nothing there I'll walk to my next hiding place and wait again. Pretty much flat land with small hills.

For what I do the heavy barrel serves me well.

Although I can recall one day 2 years ago when I had a .223. I generally hunt with a friend and we take turns. I swear almost every time we went my turn was a 500 yard shot, his with a .22-250 was about 150 yards.

But, I can say for what you do walking up and down mountains you'd be nuts to own something heavy.

Maybe someday I'll try NC. My son lives in Raleigh and I do get down that way. Never had the chance to hunt anywhere in that state yet.

 

[K22]

Originally Posted By: joedK22, that's what I was saying that the type of hunting, geography and terrain will influence the type of rifle used. If I walked that distance I'd probably own a 4 lb rifle.

My hunting isn't like that in OH. Maybe a mile walk to cover for me and I'll sit and wait for 45 minutes. Nothing there I'll walk to my next hiding place and wait again. Pretty much flat land with small hills.

For what I do the heavy barrel serves me well.

Although I can recall one day 2 years ago when I had a .223. I generally hunt with a friend and we take turns. I swear almost every time we went my turn was a 500 yard shot, his with a .22-250 was about 150 yards.

But, I can say for what you do walking up and down mountains you'd be nuts to own something heavy.

Maybe someday I'll try NC. My son lives in Raleigh and I do get down that way. Never had the chance to hunt anywhere in that state yet.


A 4lb rifle would be so nice.

Raleigh!! That's where all the flatlanders live. LOL Many times walking these mountains I wished it was flatland.
Here's my typical hunting area.

A sporter barrel with a 17 or 20 caliber hole through it has a lot of metal around that hole. Sort of looks like a 24 cal. heavy barrel.

Well, close anyway.

 

[joed]

You must be on the western edge of NC. I love the drive from OH especially thru WVA and northern VA. For the life of me I don't see where they find flat land to build a house.

Never been in the mountains of NC. My sons friend lives near and would always tell me how beautiful it is. Your picture is the first I've seen it.

 

[K22]

Originally Posted By: joedYou must be on the western edge of NC. I love the drive from OH especially thru WVA and northern VA. For the life of me I don't see where they find flat land to build a house.

Never been in the mountains of NC. My sons friend lives near and would always tell me how beautiful it is. Your picture is the first I've seen it.

You are missing out. Cherokee NC, the Smoky Mountain National Forest, and the Dragons Tail are a stones throw away. A couple more photo's and then I'll quit hijacking this thread. sorry

 

[RePete]

HA
You call those mountains?

Come up here to Idaho and I'll show ya some mountains Jim.

Seriously though.
I gotta agree with every thing that's been said in the last few posts.

What works in one part of the country might not in another.
Also a big difference in walking far enough from the truck to not be able to see it, and setting out on foot for an all day hunt.

I can also testify (from experience

) that age has allot to do with barrel contour.
The older I get the more of a minimalist I become.
Heck,,,, even my dogs are getting smaller. ;>)

 

[joed]

Originally Posted By: RePeteHA
You call those mountains?

Come up here to Idaho and I'll show ya some mountains Jim.

Seeing as how I've never been to Idaho, any pictures of the mountains where you're at?

I really do think terrain, geography and type of hunting influence the type of gun used more then anything else.

I liked the part about the dogs getting smaller.

 

[K22]

Originally Posted By: RePeteHA
You call those mountains?

Come up here to Idaho and I'll show ya some mountains Jim.

Seriously though.
I gotta agree with every thing that's been said in the last few posts.

What works in one part of the country might not in another.
Also a big difference in walking far enough from the truck to not be able to see it, and setting out on foot for an all day hunt.

I can also testify (from experience

) that age has allot to do with barrel contour.
The older I get the more of a minimalist I become.
Heck,,,, even my dogs are getting smaller. ;>)



I suppose you are going to try and convince me those Bitterroot foothills are mountains.

LOL.

Ya, age and terrain have everything to do with barrel contour.

Quote:Heck,,,, even my dogs are getting smaller.

Not that was hilarious Charlie.

 

[RePete]

Originally Posted By: joed

Seeing as how I've never been to Idaho, any pictures of the mountains where you're at?


Well, since we've totally trashed the OP's thread, I don't suppose a few more pix will hurt any thing.
There's allot of places steeper in Idaho, but this is one of the prettiest IMO.

One of my favorite Ground Squirrel sniping spots.

Course, it gets allot steeper when ya add a foot or more of snow to the equation.

 

[K22]

Charlie, you over exposed that last picture. It made the grass and trees look white.

Great photo's and a super great area. When I was out there I fell in love with it. If I could have found work we might have been neighbors.

 

[Harvey7]

I have a light 21" barreled ar-15 that I have had since 1980 or so. My son has a bull 20" barreled ar-15. I can shoot his bull barreled gun so much better offhand than I can mine. The extra weight helps steady me alot.
Furthermore, I dont feel that the extra weight is such a big deal to pack. When I am hunting alone I use his AR more often than I do mine!

 

[joed]

I have to say everyone on here is a great bunch to converse with and I enjoy it a lot.

Now the second thing, I had been toying with the idea of buying another model 70 lately as I only have one left. After looking at the terrain in Idaho and NC I think this rifle will have a thin barrel just in case I get the chance to do some hunting in a different type of terrain.

I already have a 700 Classic in .300 H&H Mag so I don't need a large cartridge. I'm thinking maybe a model 70 in .243. Not sure that I'll use it much here but it is a big step down from that .300 Mag and would fill in well for something smaller.

Most of my other bolt actions are heavy barrel for hunting here. There is a 700 VS in .25-06, a 700 VS Stainless in .22-250 and a 70 Stealth in .308 that I bought with the intention of shooting F class. That's enough, something light weight now.

 

[RePete]

Originally Posted By: joed

Now the second thing, I had been toying with the idea of buying another model 70 lately as I only have one left.

Wise man!
If I were in the market for a new med caliber gun, the new FN built M70 Featherweight or Sporter in 243 is definitely what I'd be looking at.
Looks like FN's got the QC issues as well as the crappy trigger solved too.
A rifle that's overlooked way to often in lieu of the cheap plastic crap these days IMO.
To bad to, cause for not a whole lot more money you get a LOT more rifle.
Oh well,,, different strokes eah?

 

[RePete]

Originally Posted By: Harvey7
Furthermore, I dont feel that the extra weight is such a big deal to pack.

Like I said earlier,,, "Big difference in AZ and the Rockie's."