Shilen Barrel Question

[kdvarmint]

Building a gun for benchrest 200,300, and 500yd ground hog shoots. Will also use for chuck hunting out to 1k. Plans so far- 6 Norma Br, Savage 10 action, Bell & Carlson Varmint Tactical stock, SSS Competition trigger, Night Force Benchrest 12-42x56. CAN NOT GO OVER 17 POUNDS. I'm thinking I want to go with a Shilen HV Heavy Varmint 26" barrel. What are the pros or cons between the Hv and the Standard Varmint? Obiviously weight is one but a small difference of 7oz.

Hello 82boy, I'm back.

[scope eye]

Always get the heaviest barrel you can get away with, I have yet to hear someone say, I wish I ordered a thinner profile, but that's just me.

Tanks Dean

[DanSavage]

I'd get the straight bull barrel...but that's just me.

[stangfish]

Fluting can save you 3/4 of lb.

[kdvarmint]

Shilen does not flute.

[tiny68]

I would suggest you maximize your length with the 6BR. Go with a 28-30" and 1:8 twist. I have a 30" Shilen in a 1:8 that shoots the 105-107s every well. I also have a 29" Krieger 1:10 that shoot the 95 BIB FB bullets even better at up to 500 yds. At over 500 the higher B.C. of the boat tails wins with me pulling the trigger. Randy's (BIB) bullets are hard to get and he used has a healthy waiting list - but dang they shot.

Luck in your build. You will love the 6BR. Sounds like the perfect round for what you want to do. Tim

[tobnpr]

You want as heavy as you can get for benchrest...
And light as possible for hunting...

Oh well, BR wins...

Just get used to toting a 17 pound hunting rifle!

[storeyteller]

I carry my 14lb rifle prarie dog hunting (28" Shilen bull). That 20ft from the truck to the portable shooting table is pretty strenous.

[kdvarmint]

I misstated. I was planning on the 28" barrel, not a 26". And it won't be a lot heavier than what I'm toting now. You want to play big boy, you can't be whimpy. Just know you have a good backup for the sissy days!

[JCalhoun]

I would imagine he wants to keep the weight down so he won't get put in unlimited class in which case he has a heavy varmint gun shooting against purpose built BR guns.

Anyway, the 6BR Norma will work fine in a 26in barrel.

[va78]

HV is plenty..for your intended use.. even heavy palma would be good

[livnpaintball]

Get a Brux from sharps, I have on in a 6 mm br and it's a one hole gun all day long and easy cleaning. My shilen is not in any way comparable to the Brux. Brux is far superior to the shilen in my experience.

[livnpaintball]

Mine is 28 inch heavy as well on a single shot target action.

[82boy]

HI kdvarmint,
I say what you got listed is a great combination. As far as weight goes, that is the same max weight as we use in IBS long range shooting. (17 lbs.) You have some equipement that is a bit on the heavy side of things, such as the night force scope, and I am not sure of the weight of the stock. My 6x47 Lapua barrel is a #7 heavy varmint, at 29 inchs, and with a SSS custom stock, vortex scope, sss comp trigger on a 110 long action. I come in at 15 lbs, I have 2lbs of lead in the back of the stock, to get it to 17 lbs. Since then I cut the barrel back to 27 inches and place a harrels brake on it, and it did not change weight much. The diferences between the to, is in the front The 7 HV carries 1.220 for the first 5 inches of the barrel where the 7 LV carries the 1.220 for only 3 inches, of the start of the barrel, they are then slightly contoured diferent as the HV has a Muzzel diameter at 26 ines aof .940 where the lv has a muzzel diameter at 26 inces of .840. Other than weight I doubt you would see any noticble difference in accuracy. I think you would be fine with the HV and easly make weight. (Depending on length.) IMO a 6BR preforms well out of a 26 inch long barrel. (Mine did well with a 25 inch barrel.)

[FUBAR]

My 6-284 BR/Varmint is built on a dual port PTA with a 27" PacNor 1-8 twist and a 8-32 Nightforce...

If you so choose the top weight can be reduced with lightweight rail & rings

I have a side mounted sling, with side mounted push button releases...all of my comp/hunting rifles are set up this way, it keeps the stock smooth for the bags.

I think you could reduce barrel length by 1" might be able to go 2"