Heavy barrel or sporter barrel?

by Roo farmer » 17 Jun 2018, 8:25 pm

For a rifle that will only ever be used for shooting from a rest on vehicle, never carried hiking up and down mountains, is there much advantage to be gained from a heavy barrel?

by Gwion » 17 Jun 2018, 8:31 pm

Yes, if you are shooting quite a few rounds, most definitely.

by marksman » 17 Jun 2018, 8:35 pm

I like them because I can hold them a hell of a lot steadier and they take bit more to heat up
so if I am culling roo's for example I can let a few go without thought of a missed shot from a hot barrel :thumbsup:

by bladeracer » 18 Jun 2018, 12:58 am

Roo farmer wrote:For a rifle that will only ever be used for shooting from a rest on vehicle, never carried hiking up and down mountains, is there much advantage to be gained from a heavy barrel?

I would say yes, especially if you're shooting several rounds at a time. Where you're shooting one or two rounds per day, I'd go with a lighter barrel.

by Apollo » 18 Jun 2018, 2:13 am

This also depends on what you call a Heavy Barrel.

For example, in factory rifles called a heavy barrel varmint rifle, A Tikka/Sako/Remington has a Heavy Varmint Barrel BUT the same thing in a CZ 527 is in between a Sporter Barrel and a Heavy Varmint Barrel. Accuracy wise, no difference but carry wise the CZ if you want to shoot varmints.

Saying that it is dependent on calibre. A CZ 527 .204R has a longer 25.5" light contour Varmint Barrel but the CZ 527 .223R has a heavier 24" fast twist Varmint Barrel.

Between the three mentioned there is very little difference in accuracy but a lot in price cost.

If you are going to fire off a dozen rounds in the same amount of time then a Varmint Barrel but if you are going to shoot the same dozen over a day then the sporter barrel.

I go varmint shooting and I use heavy barrel rifles, I might shoot 5 rounds in less than 5 minutes or as quick as I can cycle the bolt then change magazines for another rally and if time permits reload the first magazine and go again etc atc... A sporter barrel would get rather hot. Poor Grass Hoppers, then I've got to go and collect the damage and add them to the growing pile I have.