Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Mule Deer: threaded barrel rifle

John,

I have been saving up for a 6.5 Creedmore hunting rifle and after this year's hunting season was over I pulled the trigger on a Barrett Fieldcraft rifle. Friday I went to the local dealer after their call that the rifle had arrived. When they took it out of the box I was surprised to see that the barrel was threaded, something I did not think I was getting (I wanted their 22" slick barrel). The rifle is now in the dealer lock-up ticking off the rest of the California 10-day wait.

I don't have any use for a threaded barrel, I don't do "cans" or whatever. What do you see as the positives and negatives? I am thinking if it is an 18" barrel I will refuse it, and if it is 21" or longer Maybe I take it?

Merry Christmas, Happy Birthday and thanks for your help...jim

Why not just keep the threads covered and forget that they are there? What did you order? Receipt? Invoice? Throw a dart?

If it's threaded, the barrel is 18" long. The unthreaded version has a 21" barrel, not 22".

John,

Thanks for the reply. My favorite shorter barrel length is 21.75" (after the Warehouse benchrest rifle tests), so 21" works for my hunting purposes. (My paperwork on the order shows 22" from the shop.)

I will say that the build quality is really outstanding, and the physical appearance of the rifle shows its Forbes/ULA parentage...

jim

Is the rifle metalwork coated black? They are currently making a 22" version with a heavier threaded barrel, but the rifle has black cerakote. I have one and it has been stellar so far. They could be selling the same rifle without the coating, but I am not aware of it.

Most loads lose only 80fps in 18 inches as compared to 22 inches with the 6.5mm CM.

If you want to use it suppressed (is that even legal in CA?) you're okay. If you can't or don't want to use a suppressor, it needs to go back, not because of velocity loss, but because it's going to be pretty dang loud, and possibly not balance well to boot. Once you take possession, it becomes a used gun and you'll take a bath getting rid of it. Can't believe your dealer let this get this far, assuming you ordered it through him instead of just having him receive it from someone else. You should get what you paid for in either case.

Not legal there.....

Is it even legal to own a rifle with a threaded barrel?

Yes.

You can use a thread adapter to screw an oil can on it to catch your gun cleaning solvents?

thread protector or muzzle break.

Does that actually work? And does a whole need to be punched in the end to drain the solvent or will it punch its own hole

It'll probably work great for a free ticket to club fed if you're not careful. That fire is not worth playing with, do the proper paperwork if you want to try it.

This is 100 percent correct, HOWEVER there is a RSR exclusive model with a 22" threaded barrel and black cerakote on the metal. Stock in green or black...

I can't imagine the attraction to a rifle thats not threaded, even with no plans to use them.

You can't, and that's fine for you, but the OP can't use a suppressor and wanted a longer barrel. Again, lots of folks might even prefer an 18" barrel, but just as many don't like them because of the noise. It's a completely valid personal preference, and he should get what he ordered and paid for.

I gave the serial number to the Barrett folks and their reply was it was part of the RSR special order (22" threaded barrel). I spoke with the local dealer this morning and they are working on bringing another rifle in to make me happy. Their rep is also going to email copies of their orders to me...

jim

I would highly recommend keeping the current rifle, and having the threads cut off and barrel recrowned. You'll gain some weight out front with the heavier barrel contour they put on the RSR rifles over the stock 21" barrel, which will help with balance.

In that case I'd not fret, unless you expect the state to make threads alone illegal. Free Cerakote!