Any advice on a new barrel for my .308?

[Yogi GunKanobee]

Now that I’ve filled as much of my ticket as I want for now, they only other thing that I really want to do is to replace the barrel on my .308. I’m thinking of perhaps next January before I have the funds, especially as I have just bought two new rifles. But, I’d like to start getting it clear in my head exactly what I want.

Currently, my .308 is a Remington 700 SPS with a 20” barrel in an AICS 2 folding stock. I’d like to use it as my “1000 yard” gun. I’m not out to win competitions, I’d just like to be confident of getting them in the black, hopefully somewhere near the middle. I am currently using Lapua 155 grain scenars and would like to carry on using them as I have quite a few in stock.

So, any advice would be much appreciated. What would be the ideal length, twist etc. What are the pros and cons of fluting, and what about tapered or no taper? And where best to get it done?

sign85

[Hauptman]

Not too sure about your stock, but a 30" Palma profile Bartlein, 1:11 twist, does the business on my Swing.

Mik at Dolphin Rifles is your man.

H/man

[Jon B]

Just had a Pacnor barrel fitted to my Remy 700 and its great.

[kennyc]

Now that I’ve filled as much of my ticket as I want for now, they only other thing that I really want to do is to replace the barrel on my .308. I’m thinking of perhaps next January before I have the funds, especially as I have just bought two new rifles. But, I’d like to start getting it clear in my head exactly what I want.

Currently, my .308 is a Remington 700 SPS with a 20” barrel in an AICS 2 folding stock. I’d like to use it as my “1000 yard” gun. I’m not out to win competitions, I’d just like to be confident of getting them in the black, hopefully somewhere near the middle. I am currently using Lapua 155 grain scenars and would like to carry on using them as I have quite a few in stock.

So, any advice would be much appreciated. What would be the ideal length, twist etc. What are the pros and cons of fluting, and what about tapered or no taper? And where best to get it done?

sign85

I didn't think scenars worked well at 1000? and if you are not looking to win comps, then working on your loading should get you on the black at least.

[Steve E]

Lapua 155 Scenars will hold the V Bull out to 1100yds if you load them correctly and you shoot tight enough (and can read the wind). I have shot many possibles at 1000yds using them with no problems. People who say they don't work at 1000yds are usually people who are inexperienced of long range shooting. They will out shoot the old Palma Bullet (sierra 2155) at 900/1000yds but the newer 2156 will perform equally as well as the Scenar.

[lapua338]

Yeah, ditch .308 and rebarrel in 260 Rem!

That's what I'm gonna' do with my CZ.

tongueout

[Yogi GunKanobee]

Not too sure about your stock, but a 30" Palma profile Bartlein, 1:11 twist, does the business on my Swing.

Mik at Dolphin Rifles is your man.

H/man

Well, so far, that's +1 for Dolphin.

[TJC]

[quote="Yogi GunKanobee"]Currently, my .308 is a Remington 700 SPS with a 20” barrel in an AICS 2 folding stock. I’d like to use it as my “1000 yard” gun. I’m not out to win competitions, I’d just like to be confident of getting them in the black, hopefully somewhere near the middle. quote]

A 20" SPS is more than capable of holding its own at 1k. Sure a longer barrel, tighter bore, Bartlein on the door will help but I suspect the problem / lack of consistency is more in the execution than that tool. Plenty of people shoot 20" SPS out that far with accuracy, albeit not F-Class winners. Personally, I wouldn't be using a Lapua 155 in a 20" but I know others that have made it work well for them.

[GazMorris]

So, any advice would be much appreciated. What would be the ideal length, twist etc. What are the pros and cons of fluting, and what about tapered or no taper? And where best to get it done?

Length - 30" to 32". Anything less will leave you wanting more, and anything more will probably cost you a lot more £££ / $$$
Twist - Depends on bullet weight but anything from 12" - 13" would be my preference for shooting 155s. You'll need at least a 12 twist to shoot 190s. (The sharper twists will also shoot the lighter bullets just fine. John Whidden won the US long range championship a few years back using 155s in an 11 twist.)
Bore Dimension - 298x3065 or 298x3075 for 155s. 299x3080 for heavier/longer bullets.
Fluting - Don't bother unless you're going to have trouble meeting a weight limit otherwise. Looks pretty, costs money, makes no difference to accuracy.
Taper - Medium Palma contour should be fine.
Make - I've used Krieger and Bartlein barrels and had great results with them, but most quality barrels will see you right if you get a good gunsmith to put them on.

Good luck.

Gaz

[ovenpaa]

The vast majority of my shooting with a .308 has been with Lapua bullets, either 155 Scenar or 170 Lockbase, in fact as far as reloads go I would say 99.9%. Shooting to 1200 yards and most often with a 24" barrel. People say the Scenar are jump sensitive however I find them quite acceptable and the new 155 Type L were shot at the Worlds a couple of weeks ago.

Barrel wise I am a fan of Border, TrueFlite and Pac-Nor. My concern about barrelling is some rifle builders will offer the barrels they a) have in stock, b) make the most money on and I would always say use a builder that has a good stock of barrels to suit all tastes and pockets and in this respect Mik is going to be the man as he probably has the largest stock of barrels in the UK if not in Europe right now.

Another point is just because an 'xyz' won the local Club/National/Euro/World or whatever for someone does not mean it is the best barrel for your rifle.