Why the heavy barrel?

First and foremost, A BIG THANK YOU goes out to yotekyllr for serving our country.

I shoot a 10 lb rifle because I like it. Plus there are alot of prairie dog towns around and if we feel like pulling over and laying down and shooting for an hour or so, we can and we don't have to worry about the barrel heating up, plus I like it. It is all about preference, nothing really more than that.
 
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The original question was why do people carry a heavy barrel while predator hunting.

I've yet to have action so good that my lighter barrel has overheated, or that I just felt pounded from the heavier recoil afterward. Barrel life is the same, unless you overheat it. Last I checked, chamber erosion occurs at the same pace regardless of barrel weight.

I'll gladly absorb the "brutal pounding" those big 223's and 243's dish out and not carry a log around.




It could not be said any better.



Why thank ya......... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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Those "50 yard gimmes" sure put your heart in your throat though. I don't get the same reaction when I pop one at 300. Not that I won't do it (or at least try it) if he won't cooperate but I love foolin''em right to the end. I've seen some pretty experienced guys miss 'em close because of the cardiac factor (not me of course, ok well anyway back on topic)as well as short reaction times. It's all challenging and everyone has their own preferences.



augnmike: Your dead on and I don't think I could put it any better. Unless you are making a serious percentage of your income by stacking fur the only real purpose of this game is the thrill of the hunt. When I call them in to 10 feet on a dead run I get a sensation that I cannot describe. I donn't look at the percentages of hits or misses at the sub-25 yard range, I look at the amount of times I am even able to pull up and get a good shot off.
 
Well it sounds like I rustled a few feathers with the "50 yd gimme" remark. But just how many 50 yrd shots are missed due to circumstances other than just not being ready to take the shot? Probably not many. Yes we do purposely take a 300 yd shot when the opportunity presents itself rather than the 50 yd shot. Just the same way why would you shoot PD's all day at 50yrds? Doesn't that get kinda monotonous? Of course PD shooting in my book isn't in the same class as predator hunting but the analogy is the same. Now don't get me wrong I wouldn't turn down any shot at a coyote from 5 yd to 500 yrds if it looked like a feasible shot and yes I do miss my share of the longer shots, and yes we do follow up all shots and to date we have lost 2 coyotes this year a 200 yd shot and 378 yd shot, and ION Doyle why do you think I am trying to justify myself? Yes we do challenge ourelves, If we didn't how would we improve?
 
A heavy barrel is far less finiky than a sporter weight for sure, and alot of the times you don't need to bed woth a heavy barrel and a half [beeep] decent stock compaired to a lighter barrel, plus you get less recoil and can see more through the scope than a lighter weight rig.

Most varmint heavys are at a decent length that adds fps to your load and less heating meaning longer barrel life.

I lose very little coyotes at 250+ yards bullet selection and having a steady gun with a heavier barrel make a big differance! I just purchased a heavy barrel .243 rem sps varmint and I'm sure it will be a keeper and most of my coyotes have been taken with a rem varmint laminated stock 22-250 with amax bullets and I have anchored my share at 300+ with little problems, confidance is key to long range shooting and as mentioned a heavy barell just gives you more of that. You don't see light weight 1000 yrd guys they all shoot heavy or extreme heavy rifles.
 
How much steel is wrapped around the rifling doesn't mean [beeep] as far as being finicky is concerned.

I'm very surprised at some of the responses here. Never realized how many here subscribe to the various heavy barrel myths.........
 
2much, sorry I know a few 1000 yrd guys that are great at what they do and others that will tell you a heavy barrel is far more consitant in barrel vibe and the ability to keep things much more stable when shooting at higher power and better accuracy comes from a heavy barrel versus a light weight, if you can show me how many contest are won with a sporter weight barrel rifle at 1000 yrs then the debate rages on!

I would put more in to long range accuracy with a rifle with a heavy barrel than a light weight thin barrel any day, The stock or bedding not near as crucial when you have more metal surrouding the harmoncis of a shot or multiple shots.Less barrel whip for sure.
 
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know all about it. Let me know when ANY of that has ANYTHING to do with carrying a HB predator hunting.......
 
There is no reason to carry anything heavier than the heaviest barrel that will shoot as accurately as you want it to shoot. Heavy barrels are more accurate than skinny barrels, all else being equal. I don't think anyone should question that. There is too much evidence to support it. Will a skinny Krieger outshoot a fat Adams and Bennett? Probably, but not all else is equal in that case. It's all a matter of degree. How heavy does it have to be to minimize vibration and what does minimize mean? How heavy does it have to be to hold steady and how steady is that? How heavy does it have to be to be too heavy to carry and for how long? How heavy does it have to be before you feel comfortable taking the longest shot you feel comfortable taking?

No "right" answer here guys. Only what's right for you.

Fast Ed
 
Maybe if I can dig it up I'll post some pics of a guy killin' a deer at 600yds with a 223 AI and a Pac-Nor #1 tube on it. Then you guys tell me about how that light barrel needs to be heavier for such chores. I have seen the same time and time again. I hunt with 2 very light barrels, and have never felt handicapped from it. Both rifles shoot extremely accurately out to as far as I am comfortable. We are talking HUNTING here, not benchrest or prarie rat shooting. I can understand if someone said they are more comfortable with a heavy barrel, they can hold it steadier, or they personally shoot it better, or whatever. That's their preference and I've no problem with it. But don't tell me it's more accurate on a hunting rifle, cuz it's not, when on a well tuned rifle that's in the right hands........
 
Not exactly what I was looking for but it will do for now.

Pac-Nor #1 on a Rem 700. This video was actually made for the specific reason to show what light barrels will do.

First 3 pokes into a 2" group at 450yds.

Last 3 pokes are at a pop bottle at 700yds.......

 
I'm not positive what the head shot was with, I forgot. Could very well be an A-max. Matter of fact, I'm pretty sure it was. Saw the pics of that deer's head up close. It weren't pretty. Target shots I know for sure are a 75gr v-max......
 
One other reason I have a HB ... is because I can have mine turned down a bit to reduce weight if needed, or even fluted if wanted. A regular slim "pencil" barrel ... is what it is.
 
So you purposely buy barrels that may be too heavy in case you feel like slimming them down later? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I tend to buy barrels based on the weight that I want now, in case it may turn out to be the weight that I also want later...
 
10-4. Eventually, the Model 7 .223 will get AI'ed and shooting those 75gr Amaxs. #3 contour at max...

IMHO, a bull barrel with aggressive fluting in an AR config addresses the issues of both weight/balance and athestics quite nicely where a predator hunting rig is concerned. Hence, their popularity...

Plenty of ways to get that cat (or dog) skinned & I enjoy seeing how others get it done & the sticks they use to do it.

Whatever your carrying, if you knocked'em down, it worked!
 


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