Heavier barrel for my .25-06?

[Bowhunter57]

I own a Stevens model 200, in .25-06 and it has a 22" sporter barrel. I've been reloading for it, using light weight varmint bullets and moderate loads. It will produce 5/8" groups at 100 yards and 1 1/4" groups at 200 yards.

I'd like to see 1 hole groups at 100 and 1/2" groups at 200. However, I'm comparing this caliber to my .22-250, for accuracy, but I may be being unreasonable.

I've given some thought to having a tactical weight barrel installed. Something a little lighter than a varmint weight, as this is a carry rifle for coyotes. I think that the lighter sporter weight barrel isn't providing the accuracy that this caliber is capable of producing. Going off of what I've seen in other rifles, I'm thinking a 24" tactical weight barrel would greatly increase the accuracy, at longer ranges.

I'm open to suggestions:
* New barrel?
* Longer/heavier barrel?
* Optimum barrel length for this caliber?
* Leave it alone?

Thank you, Bowhunter57

 

[WildRose]

You can spend a hell of a lot of money upgrading and still not improve in the performance you are now getting, and there's certainly no guarantee that after the overhaul it will even still shoot as well.

 

[Korhil78]

5/8" groups out of a factory gun is not bad at all and neither is 1 1/4" groups at 200.

People have custom guns that wont shoot 1/2" group at 200 yards consistently.

Most of the time it isn't the barrel that will tighten up groups, its the stock or a combination of the stock, barrel and trigger. You can put the best custom barrel on your gun and if the stock is putting pressure anywhere on your action or the barrel, you are not going to get accuracy.

If you absolutely want to get a barrel put on it, I would send it to a competent smith and have him put a sendero contour barrel on it. 26" barrel. And float and bed your stock or get an stock upgrade. Just my opinion.

I have a remington 700 factory BDL and it shoots 1/2 MOA (sometimes less) out to 600 yards and all I did was change out the non bedded, non floated factory wood stock for an aluminum bedded, free floated stock but this is few and far between with factory rifles.

 

[lidsplitter]

I got a 116 weather warrior in 25-06 shooting under an inch at 250 off a pedestal rest & ear bag. I don't think it's so much barrel contour as what was mentioned above. I'd invest in a good trigger, stock, & bedding job before I would a new barrel.

 

[Bowhunter57]

Thank you for the informative replies, gentlemen!
Perhaps I should leave well enough alone.


The stock is synthetic and does not touch the barrel, but I have not checked if it touches the action portion of the rifle.


I intend to contact Fred Moreo, of Sharp Shooter Supply and purchase one of his amazing triggers. I've had him install them in my other Savage rifles and it makes a world of difference in the rifle's performance.


Bowhunter57

 

[Dr. Vette]

I'd swap the trigger as you mention but also swap for a better stock (laminate or stronger synthetic, eg B&C or better). Bed it to the new stock and I think you'll do fine.

 

[parkj5]

Pm sent on savage varmit 25-06 barrel.

 

[Sully2]

Ive been using the Rem Varmint taper at 26".

Its got the weight for steadiness; doesnt get HOT very quickly and with handloaded rounds sure seems accurate enough. That factory Remington AND Brux barrels cut on that taper. 22-250; 243; 260 Rem and in building process a 6mmBR