Bull Barrels, varmint rifle not needed?

[SVTOhio]

I've been looking into building a "varmint AR" recently and have noticed almost every time the word "varmint" is associated with any rifle a bull barrel is involved whether it be a bolt action or AR alike. I understand the bull barrel has some benefits with heat dispersal when burning through a lot of ammunition, but to the typical varmint hunter is hauling the extra weight really needed? I'm not talking shooting prairie dogs from a bench all day but more hunting groundhogs and coyotes. I'm asking if heavy bull barrels on varmint rifles is just a fad lately and not at all a necessity? I'm just a little confused on the subject. Someone recently posted about a pencil profile 20" at barrel and it intrigued me to get away from the norm of the bull barrel on varmint rifles. Thoughts from the high road?


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[jmr40]

What you are talking about is often referred to as a "walking varmint rifle". Barrel contour is usually a compromise between a pencil thin barrel and a full bull barrel. Personally, that is what I prefer on either an AR or a bolt gun.

It comes down to the type of hunting you do. There is a place for all 3 types.

 

[threoh8]

I remember hearing the term "varmint rifle" being used for heavy barrel, small caliber centerfires when I started hunting in the late 60's / early 70's, and I'm sure it predates that by at least a couple of decades. Hardly a fad.

Heavy barrels are stiff, and that can make a difference in handling slight variations in ammunition and the firing impulse. As mentioned, they often handle the heat of multiple rounds better. Yes, there are examples of bad heavy barrels and amazing light barrels. "The race is not always to the swiftest, nor the fight to the strongest - but that's the way to bet."

Heavy barrels, or just heavy rifles, simply "settle down" on target better. More mass = more inertia = less wobble.

Skinny barrels are great for walking around and taking cold-bore shots or even short strings. A light 20" scoped AR sounds like a good rifle for stalking.

Stand hunting or still hunting? Varmint rifle or Scout rifle? Something in between? I'm glad we have choices.

 

[cfullgraf]

A fluted barrel can also be a compromise between a heavy barrel and something easier to walk around with.

A little larger diameter barrel that is stiffer with the fluting lightening the barrel. Also helps with cooling due to the greater surface area.

I agree with jmr40 and threoh8.

 

[entropy]

The bull barrel varmint gun came about as a result of prolonged prairie dog shooting sessions, for the above mentioned reasons. They are excellent for that, as you are shooting from prone, or off a bench, at game that is in a predetermined place. You don't move around much, if at all.
For opportunity shooting at varmints, fox, coyote, etc. especially at the shorter ranges they are usually shot at, and the rarity of multiple quick shots, a thinner barrel is fine. I use a Savage Axis .223, the barrel is of normal sporting contour. For coyote, it's worked fine; I've shot most of my coyote close in, and often with whatever I happen to be hunting deer with at the time, but the Axis is my designated coyote gun.

 

[SVTOhio]

All valid points everyone is bring up here. I guess I'm just questioning the commercial availability of the so called "walking varmint" rifle. When I go to a gun shop and acquire about a AR 15 for varmint hunting (here in Ohio that means groundhogs and coyotes) the gun store clerk always brings out a 12lb bull stainless barrel AR. When in reality most would be much better served with a lighter gun.


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[CarJunkieLS1]

What a HBAR contour or what many companies call a SPR contour. My preference is for the SPR contour in my AR's I'm a deer hunter primarily but I use my rifles for range shooting also. For 3-5 shot strings the SPR contour works great and it's not heavy but it's not pencil thin either.

 

[Axis II]

I see you live in Ohio and depending where we have some really large bean fields that may require 200-300 yard shots.

I personally like a heavy barrel for my groundhog rifle as the heavier it is the more stable it is for those long pokes at something small. I have 2-savage 223rem rifles one heavy and one regular. my regular can hold its own at 100 yards but anything past that groups open up and I think I found the reason why last night.

I haven't shot my regular barrel for dime size accuracy in over a year and last night it had some muzzle flip that would throw my shots off while on the bags. my heavy barrel doesn't move at all when fired and produces dime size shots at 100yards. your not hiking the appalacian mountains with it so I would go heavy barrel.

if its hot out and you want to target shoot or get on a good field with a lot of shots than you want the heavy so you don't get too hot and barrel getting distorted.

 

[Art Eatman]

For coyotes, you won't shoot enough at one time for barrel heating to be a factor. Same for groundhogs, most likely.

I set up a dedicated varmint upper for my AR. 20", 1:14, pencil. Five-shot, one MOA at my bench rest with 55-grain bullets. Seems good enough for me and Mr. Wily.

 

[SVTOhio]

I see you live in Ohio and depending where we have some really large bean fields that may require 200-300 yard shots.



I personally like a heavy barrel for my groundhog rifle as the heavier it is the more stable it is for those long pokes at something small. I have 2-savage 223rem rifles one heavy and one regular. my regular can hold its own at 100 yards but anything past that groups open up and I think I found the reason why last night.



I haven't shot my regular barrel for dime size accuracy in over a year and last night it had some muzzle flip that would throw my shots off while on the bags. my heavy barrel doesn't move at all when fired and produces dime size shots at 100yards. your not hiking the appalacian mountains with it so I would go heavy barrel.



if its hot out and you want to target shoot or get on a good field with a lot of shots than you want the heavy so you don't get too hot and barrel getting distorted.

You do bring up a valid point there as well... The decisions the decisions....

 

[Jackal]

Heavy barrels are great for stationary shooting. Remember, quality makes a barrel accurate, not weight. My Larue 16" pencil barrel will outshoot most peoples massive varmint barrels.

 

[Grunt]

I still prefer heavy barrels for the stability they provide.

 

[redneck2]

I have an original Windham AR with a 24" very light weight fluted air gauged barrel. Has a 6.5-20x40 Leupold VX-III. Loads are typically 50 grain Nosler BT's over Varget.

Accuracy is outstanding, typically less than 1/2". On prairie dog hunts I get first round hits at 300 yards.

 

[primalmu]

As has already been said, it really depends on what type of shooting you personally plan to do. I've found that the stock barrel on my RRA M4gery to be more than adequate when it comes to accuracy (sub-1/2 MOA possible, depending on the ammo), and its not a bull barrel. The perfect coyote gun.

If I were going to be shooting ground hogs or prairie dogs all day, I'd be going with a bull barrel. As a matter of fact, I used to own a RRA Varmint A4 a few years ago that, when doing my part, would shoot a 1/4 MOA 5-shot group with Hornady 5.56 75gr Match ammo. It was one heavy SOB, though.

 

[redneck2]

IMO the value of the heavy barrel varies by caliber. My .204 and AR can crank out quite a few rounds before the barrel heats. My heavy barrel .22-250 heated very quickly