I've got one rifle with a Pac-Nor Lt. Mtn. contour which has a .550 muzzle. At 24 inches, it's a bit whippy. Balance is good, but it's harder to get really accurate loads for it. It's a .25-284. If i had to do it again, it would be a 22 inch barrel or a 24 inch, #1.
Both of my other customs, a .280 and a 30'06, have 24 inch, Pac-Nor #1's. That's a .60 muxzzle. The barrel shanks on both have been reduced to a minimum. BTW, the famous Winchester FWT, 22 inch barrel has a .570 muzzle and almost a straight taper.
I'm happy with the little .25-284, and very happy with both the '06 and the .280. All of them balance on the front reciever ring, and they run 6 3/4 lbs. for the .25-284, 7 1/4 for the '06 and 7.5 for the .280. All of them wear 6X42 Leupolds with steel mounts. E
