Help me choose a barrel

[Will.284]

I have several barrels by x caliber these guys have been great and I will order from them again.

Retail Sales/Customer Support
3465 US Hwy 2 West
Kalispell, MT 59901
[HIDDEN]

sales [at] x-caliber [dot] net

I have half dozen x caliber barrels and I love them and they shoot lighs out . I'm ordering a 300 rum barrel from them any day now and customer service is good

 

[CForest]

Don't they recommend a little longer barrel on a 25-06? 24 inches might perform better.

Isn't that true with nearly any cartridge?? Look at data 10 years ago and if it wasn't 26" you were crazy! Now even many factory offerings are 18-22 it seems. I only went 20" on my SAUM and don't regret it one bit. Willing to sacrifice a little speed for maneuverability. And this is only because I can't see myself shooting without a suppressor anytime soon.

 

[liber]

Nope just ordering a blank

I just sold a stainless blank, and all I can say is...barrels are frickin' crazy right now. Most all of the barrel vendors have a long lead time...

Gunsmith work is also crazy wait times, so lucky for you that you have a gunsmith setup. Worse than gunsmiths, IMO, are contractors. Prices on material have gone through the roof since the pandemic and all of them are so busy that's it's celebration time if one actually shows up to do the work.

 

[JAYgs8163]

As others mentioned the X-caliber is a good option also and reasonably priced. I used one on my 20" 300WSM and it's very accurate.

 

[lancetkenyon]

BARTLEIN .25 CAL CARBON FIBER WRAPPED BARREL BLANK

BARTLEIN .25 CAL CARBON FIBER WRAPPED BARREL BLANK

www.gaprecision.net

Bartlein also has a 20-21" finished length 1:8" 5R #13 CF in stock.

Benchmark CF 22" 1:7.5"

Benchmark Carbon Barrels

[email protected]

www.piercisionrifles.com

 

[Mike Matteson]

Building a fast twist 25-06. Going to be mostly for hunting, however doubtful it'll be packed long distances in the elk woods. Most of my deer, antelope, coyote hunting is in the flatter country not real far from a pickup. So being super light is not necessary, but I also don't want a boat anchor. Fair chance it will be used a fair bit by my kids too. I expect it to nearly always be suppressed, which is a TBAC ultra 7 as of now.
Here's what I have for the build:
Kelbly atlas tactical long action
AG alpine hunter carbon stock (31oz) (cutout for proof sendero contour)
Most likely a NX8 on top

The barrel is where I am at a conundrum mainly because of the crazy wait times in barrels these days, didn't realize I should have started with that first.....

I ordered a Proof Carbon 22" 7.5T on a black Friday deal. Can't seem to get a real solid answer from proof unfortunately, but sounds as though it is still 5-8 months out. I also got to reading around after I ordered and it seems as though Proof is getting a lot of mixed reviews anymore. So between the long wait and mixed reviews I am having second thoughts.

After searching around I have found 2 options for steel barrels in stock.

CRB seems to be the new guy on the block but with high praises especially in the competition world. They have their hunter contour in stock in 7.5T. It appears to be in-between a 3b and a 4 bartlein contour. Should have an adequate shoulder for a suppressor. Only downside is a bit of a new/unknown barrel maker.

Also found a bartlein #13 which is rem sendero contour in 7T. I have zero doubt the bartlein will be great, but seems like this is starting to get quite heavy. Not sure how much fluting would actually save me, or how much heavier it truly would be at just 22"?? The balance of the rifle is my other concern.

What would you guys pick??
1> wait for the Proof
2> take the chance on the CRB
3> go with the proven bartlein at the cost of some weight

Since my stock is cutout for the proof sendero contour I think these others should fit fine, and the 7-7.5 twist should be fine either way also. Really just down to the quality of barrel and the weight penalty...

Thanks guys

i had problems with Bartlien. Wrong lenght, wrong twist rate, and a fight to get them to take it back. Finally proved it and sent the barrel back. No again ever with Bartlien. I would look at a faster twist rate and a longer barrel. They make 130+ grain all copper bullets, and that requires a faster twist rate.

 

[CForest]

i had problems with Bartlien. Wrong lenght, wrong twist rate, and a fight to get them to take it back. Finally proved it and sent the barrel back. No again ever with Bartlien. I would look at a faster twist rate and a longer barrel. They make 130+ grain all copper bullets, and that requires a faster twist rate.

That's disappointing to hear, I suppose that proves a sour apple is possible from anyone.

The twist rate is something I have gone back and forth on. 7.5 seems to be the most commonly used, and also the only option many of these manufacturers seem to offer. More than enough for all the new cup/core bullets which I plan to shoot. But you are right it does limit some of the new copper offerings. However other than chasing BC numbers, I have had better luck with lighter and faster with coppers. 7.5 would get me all the way up to 127gr hammers, but I would likely go with a 110-115 anyways honestly.

 

[CForest]

Found a barrel calculator online and at 22" it puts the rem sendero contour at 4.35lbs. So with fluting I would be a hair over 4lb I assume. That benchmark is only going to cost $100 over the fluted steel, maybe not even that by the time the barrel gets shipped around to get it done. The CRB would be lighter but haven't heard finished weight on their hunter profile. Guessing 5 oz or so less than the #13.

So it sure seems like my best bang for buck is the benchmark carbon, or wait for the proof.

Even with either of the carbon options, my total weight on paper is 8.9lbs without ammo, bipod or suppressor. Add those in and I am up to 10.6lbs. Which seems like plenty of weight

 

[JAYgs8163]

I think Bugholes has some Brux in stock still. All they have though that may work is Remington Varmint contour.

Brux 257 cal 7.5 twist SS Remington Varmint 29''

www.bugholes.com

 

[JAYgs8163]

Found a barrel calculator online and at 22" it puts the rem sendero contour at 4.35lbs. So with fluting I would be a hair over 4lb I assume. That benchmark is only going to cost $100 over the fluted steel, maybe not even that by the time the barrel gets shipped around to get it done. The CRB would be lighter but haven't heard finished weight on their hunter profile. Guessing 5 oz or so less than the #13.

So it sure seems like my best bang for buck is the benchmark carbon, or wait for the proof.

Even with either of the carbon options, my total weight on paper is 8.9lbs without ammo, bipod or suppressor. Add those in and I am up to 10.6lbs. Which seems like plenty of weight

That Benchmark from Ryan Pierce would be a tack driver I bet. Price is very fair also. I don't think you'll pay tax or shipping either with Ryan so probably even closer to the proof price than you think.

 

[JAYgs8163]

I bet Evolved Ballistics would probably match the BF price you got from Redhawk also. They've got 8 in stock. Great guys there also, no tax either and I believe free shipping.

 

[warrbuk]

That Benchmark from Ryan Pierce would be a tack driver I bet. Price is very fair also. I don't think you'll pay tax or shipping either with Ryan so probably even closer to the proof price than you think.

I have two of the benchmark CFW barrels, both hammer!

I got one as pre-fit from Travis at TS customs
I was breaking it in 3.5 weeks after I placed the order.

The other was from Ryan Pierce.

 

[khmplus]

Isn't that true with nearly any cartridge?? Look at data 10 years ago and if it wasn't 26" you were crazy! Now even many factory offerings are 18-22 it seems. I only went 20" on my SAUM and don't regret it one bit. Willing to sacrifice a little speed for maneuverability. And this is only because I can't see myself shooting without a suppressor anytime soon.

I just thought that the 25-06 typically uses slower burning powder so barrel length is a little more important. Maybe nowadays not as important.

 

[CForest]

I just thought that the 25-06 typically uses slower burning powder so barrel length is a little more important. Maybe nowadays not as important.

you're not totally wrong by any means. But so far everything I have shortened has been just fine, maybe slightly different powder choice than what the books say.
I'm thinking about 2900fps with a 135 berger should be easily attainable even with just a 22" barrel, and the ballistics with those numbers is quite good.
I'm not saying it's the most efficient use of powder, but they sell it for us to burn! Better than creedmoor, little less than PRC.