400MODBB - New Bartlein steel blend with improved barrel life

[Gtscotty]

Didn't see this here yet, but apparently Bartlein is offering barrels in a new steel blend they're calling 400MODBB that appears to offer some significant advantages in terms of barrel life. This is from their Facebook post:

"Bartlein Barrels is pleased to announce the release of a new barrel material. Working with the mill and testing different types of material and tweaking the material over the last few years and with testing having been performed by ammunition makers we now have a different grade of material that we have had made and is proprietary to us.

The material has been proven in lab testing and in outside real world testing to provide a barrel life that is 1.5 to 2 times longer than the standard 416 grade of material.

We are calling the material 400MODBB. Pricing for this barrel material in standard diameters/contours etc...will be $555.

As always there are a list of things that effect barrel life and we cannot guarantee everything a 100% but for an example as I know it will be asked....in 6.5CM ammunition pressure test barrels are normally pulled from service at around 1700 rounds. The new material doing the same type of ammunition test work the barrel was pulled from service after it had 3500 rounds on it. We've had several 6mm's in calibers that the barrel normally is pulled around 1500 rounds go 3000 rounds.

We and or the customers that have done the threading and chamber work have had no issues with machining. I will say your reamers will not last as long but nothing that would really concern me. It does machine a little different but it's not horrible to work with.

So you will have a choice of the standard 416 material from us and the 400MODBB material.

Any questions it would be a lot easier if you emailed us at [email protected] or called in directly at 262-677-1717 but I can only imagine the amount of questions we will be getting and with everything going on in the world currently I'll ask you to be patient for the replies."

https://www.facebook.com/bartleinbarrels/posts/840140896394398

There's some discussion over on the Hide, it sounds like the premium for the new material is only ~$180, could be a great deal for cartridges that tend to be rough on barrels like the popular 6mms.

 

[Varminterror]

I already talked to Bartlein about getting 2-3 of the new ones in steel and one in Carbon fiber wrap for my son.

Given this change, I expect we’ll see a shift back to 6 creedmoor for a lot of PRS competitors. A main detraction for the cartridge has been the fact a guy may go through 3 barrels in a season, this shifts that dynamic considerably.

I know one of the pro shooters who tested the new material. He took one 6 BRA over 3800 rounds without speed loss, and has two others over 2500 rounds so far. And he’s a guy who typically pulls a 6BRA barrel at 1200 to avoid a surprise velocity loss. It’s really remarkable to think about that kind of barrel life in these speedy 6mm’s.

 

[js8588]

So...someone finally reversed engineered LW50?

 

[Varminterror]

Thus far it appears the 400Modbb is far easier to machine than LW50.

 

[troy fairweather]

Sounds great, now I want to do a 6-284 or a big 7mm.

 

[LoonWulf]

big 7mm

7mm LRM, here I come......after I finish all the other projects I started this year.....

Aaaactually, perhaps I'll get one for the .264 barrel on my American project.....

 

[troy fairweather]

7mm LRM, here I come......after I finish all the other projects I started this year.....

Aaaactually, perhaps I'll get one for the .264 barrel on my American project.....

Ya that would be nice, if it could give the 264 close to the same life as the 330wm that would be awesome.

 

[Gtscotty]

I already talked to Bartlein about getting 2-3 of the new ones in steel and one in Carbon fiber wrap for my son.

Given this change, I expect we’ll see a shift back to 6 creedmoor for a lot of PRS competitors. A main detraction for the cartridge has been the fact a guy may go through 3 barrels in a season, this shifts that dynamic considerably.

I know one of the pro shooters who tested the new material. He took one 6 BRA over 3800 rounds without speed loss, and has two others over 2500 rounds so far. And he’s a guy who typically pulls a 6BRA barrel at 1200 to avoid a surprise velocity loss. It’s really remarkable to think about that kind of barrel life in these speedy 6mm’s.

Yeah, getting twice the normal barrel life from the fast 6mms would really knock out their biggest downside. I'll be interested to hear how that carbon wrapped barrel for your son does, given how pricey the nice carbon wrapped barrels are anyway, it seems like it would be a no-brainer from here on out to pay the extra $200 and get twice the barrel life.

 

[horsemen61]

You have my attention!

 

[Varminterror]

Yeah, getting twice the normal barrel life from the fast 6mms would really knock out their biggest downside. I'll be interested to hear how that carbon wrapped barrel for your son does, given how pricey the nice carbon wrapped barrels are anyway, it seems like it would be a no-brainer from here on out to pay the extra $200 and get twice the barrel life.

That was my line I’d thinking - he won’t shoot as much as I will, but he WILL shoot it, and he’ll shoot it hot. If he handles it well, he’ll shoot some matches and pick up high round counts like that. So I didn’t want to be stuck feeding TWO people with throw-away barrels. But if I can get 2500 out of a 6 creed, it’ll hurt a lot less!

Even if it does nearly double the cost of the barrel, the fact it’s ONE BARREL, not two, is a huge advantage. Not doing two break in periods to settle the load, two load developments to find the node, etc... about 10% of my barrel life in 6 creed is wasted in break in and development to get the speed to stabilize. More than 10% even. If I could make that work last twice as long... man, I’m stoked to try them!

 

[troy fairweather]

That was my line I’d thinking - he won’t shoot as much as I will, but he WILL shoot it, and he’ll shoot it hot. If he handles it well, he’ll shoot some matches and pick up high round counts like that. So I didn’t want to be stuck feeding TWO people with throw-away barrels. But if I can get 2500 out of a 6 creed, it’ll hurt a lot less!

Even if it does nearly double the cost of the barrel, the fact it’s ONE BARREL, not two, is a huge advantage. Not doing two break in periods to settle the load, two load developments to find the node, etc... about 10% of my barrel life in 6 creed is wasted in break in and development to get the speed to stabilize. More than 10% even. If I could make that work last twice as long... man, I’m stoked to try them!

Ya that's the best part about longer barrel life not wasting the barrel.and money to get the load you want, plus no down time getting a barrel replaced. I may have to see about getting a barrel, does bartlein make prefits or at least contoured barrels.

 

[Varminterror]

does bartlein make prefits or at least contoured barrels.

No prefits I am aware of, but they do pre-contoured blanks. There are several outfits which sell prefits using Bartlein blanks, Craddock makes AR barrels on Bartleins, Altus sells various prefits.

 

[jmorris]

They make great stuff for sure, so I’m not knocking them at all but I did chuckle at this.

I will say your reamers will not last as long but nothing that would really concern me.

 

[troy fairweather]

No prefits I am aware of, but they do pre-contoured blanks. There are several outfits which sell prefits using Bartlein blanks, Craddock makes AR barrels on Bartleins, Altus sells various prefits.

Perhaps one day I can build a custom gun other then my budget builds. I guess I could do it for about $2500 with a defiance ruckus and a carbon barrel and a mid grade stock, my have to be in 280ai.

still hoping dad gets that new lathe then I'd get blanks.

 

[748]

What's it do to barrel life on a 264 win mag?
Which is famous for lasting 600 to 800 rounds.