I just picked up a new to me barrel for my 338-06. It is 24" and about a #7 contour or close to a Savage varmint contour (HEAVY!) Total weight of the loaded rifle with sling is 11 pounds, 3 ounces. I want to shed a bit of weight so I am thinking of getting the barrel cut to 21.75" and recontoured. My question is, how light of a contour is safe in this caliber and how much weight do you think I will lose by getting this done?
barrel contour
- Thread starter ctrout
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Float Pilot
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I have a couple chunks of barrels out in my shop. The heavy weight varmint pieces weigh about 3.7 ounces per inch.
So you would loose about 7 ounces by cutting off a couple inches. With the taper trim maybe another 7 ounces.
So you might loose a pound and two or three ounces.
Here is the way to figure exactly how much a barrel weighs.
http://www.riflebarrels.com/articles/barrel_making/contoured_weight_calculations.htm
I would go to a number 4 taper.
PS: Have you weighed the stock???
What type of action ???
So you would loose about 7 ounces by cutting off a couple inches. With the taper trim maybe another 7 ounces.
So you might loose a pound and two or three ounces.
Here is the way to figure exactly how much a barrel weighs.
http://www.riflebarrels.com/articles/barrel_making/contoured_weight_calculations.htm
I would go to a number 4 taper.
PS: Have you weighed the stock???
What type of action ???
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Float Pilot
Member
My brother built a Savage into a 338-06 and it is nowhere that heavy....
I wonder if somebody added some recoil dampening weight to you stock???
I wonder if somebody added some recoil dampening weight to you stock???
USSR
Member
ctrout,
Shorten the barrel if you must, but DO NOT RECONTOUR A BARREL THAT IS ALREADY RIFLED! Doing this will play havoc on your internal dimension. If you don't like that heavy contour, then get another barrel.
Don
Shorten the barrel if you must, but DO NOT RECONTOUR A BARREL THAT IS ALREADY RIFLED! Doing this will play havoc on your internal dimension. If you don't like that heavy contour, then get another barrel.
Don
Float Pilot
Member
Midway used to carry the Adams and Bennett barrel kits ( I think Shaw really made them) in 338-06 for around $150. They were a magnum sporter taper.
But they no longer offer those.
The Shaw 338-06 conversion barrel kit is about $200 from Brownells. It comes in a magnum taper 24 inch.
The muzzle area on a magnum or heavy sporter should be around .600 or .625 in diameter. What does yours measure out-to.... ???
Shilen , Shaw and McGowen make barrel kits for the Savage actions.
But they no longer offer those.
The Shaw 338-06 conversion barrel kit is about $200 from Brownells. It comes in a magnum taper 24 inch.
The muzzle area on a magnum or heavy sporter should be around .600 or .625 in diameter. What does yours measure out-to.... ???
Shilen , Shaw and McGowen make barrel kits for the Savage actions.
It is .800" at the muzzle. It's a McGowan barrel. I have the A&B magnum contour barrel. It's the one that I took off the rifle to put this new one on. The A&B is blue and I wanted stainless and got the stainless McGowan for a good price. I like the new barrel, just wish it wasn't so heavy.
Float Pilot
Member
Wow that is a fat barrel.
It sure would be interesting to see the difference in weight between the two barrel assemblies.
Of course now I wonder why you bothered to ask about weight reduction and how much taper would work when you had the answer sitting in front of you....
It sure would be interesting to see the difference in weight between the two barrel assemblies.
Of course now I wonder why you bothered to ask about weight reduction and how much taper would work when you had the answer sitting in front of you....
Because even the A&B is a pretty heavy barrel. I was wanting to know the lightest safe contour. I think my problem though is a combination of both the barrel and the stock. I think I will just get the barrel cut to 21.75" and look for a lighter stock. Maybe even put a lighter scope on it to get it down to 10 pounds even.
Float Pilot
Member
Just call McGowan and ask if fluting or tapering is even possible.
I bought a Boyds laminated stock for my 375 Ruger project and it was much lighter in weight than I thought it would be.
I bought a Boyds laminated stock for my 375 Ruger project and it was much lighter in weight than I thought it would be.
You sir, are a genius! I just called McGowen and they said that they contour their barrels after they are rifled and that there is no problem in getting the barrel recontoured and cut/recrowned. They recommended a #4 contour. To cut, redrawn, and recontour will be $70 plus shipping. Oh, and they said that the finished weight will be right at about 3 pounds.
Float Pilot
Member
Gee-whiz a number 4 taper... Where did I see that..?
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