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Joined: Jul 2019
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I called and talked to Mel today, kinda got cut off but will call back tomorrow to finish up. I'm interested in a model 20 in 7/08 but haven't decided on barrel contour or material.
I asked about a #2 contour, having experienced the balance of a fieldcraft in 270 and also one of the 6.5 CMs in 22" threaded. I was surprised when he replied with a question as to why I'd ever do that. Lol. He mentioned it would be 7 oz heavier than a similar rifle with #1 contour due to weight he would need to add inside the stock to make it balance. Kinda made me scratch my head, would love to hear thoughts on that...
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Joined: Sep 2006
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Yep that’s the way he builds them, and it works!
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Joined: Dec 2015
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I’d Just buy a fieldcraft if I were you. I’ve had 2 Nula’s made, neither one was worth the money or the wait. I just thought the first one was a lemon until I got the second one.
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Joined: Apr 2012
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I received a 7-08 m20 last week with a no1 and it balances fine but kinda wish I went with a no2. I ordered it in November
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Joined: Jul 2019
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 103 |
Good to hear turnaround is under a year, that's good news. How would you say balance feels? Slightly nose heavy? Which scope did you go with?
I've got 2 Fieldcrafts, both excellent and both #2. I'd say the 22" CM is balanced perfectly but I really love the 270.
Last edited by Pabst; 08/07/20.
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I have a vx3 3-10 but it is not tracking correctly so will be switching it up. Balance is good and the rifle handles very nice. Another member helped me out for a upcoming trip and sold me a ula with a 2.5 or 3 contour rifle which is really nice to shoot.
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Joined: Sep 2004
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2004
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I’d Just buy a fieldcraft if I were you. I’ve had 2 Nula’s made, neither one was worth the money or the wait. I just thought the first one was a lemon until I got the second one. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^THIS IN SPADES^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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Joined: Sep 2004
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2004
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Good to hear turnaround is under a year, that's good news. How would you say balance feels? Slightly nose heavy? Which scope did you go with?
I've got 2 Fieldcrafts, not excellent and both #2. I'd say the 22" CM is balanced perfectly but I really love the 270. #2 Contour????? 270 24" barrel and it is a #1 contour.
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Joined: Jul 2019
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Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 103 |
I have a vx3 3-10 but it is not tracking correctly so will be switching it up. Balance is good and the rifle handles very nice. Another member helped me out for a upcoming trip and sold me a ula with a 2.5 or 3 contour rifle which is really nice to shoot. Thanks for the info. I'm planning to use a vortex razor lh that I have here, thinking the weight is comparable to your vx3 as far as balance goes. Maybe a few oz heavier. Do you prefer the heavier contour Ula? Happen to know diameter at the muzzle?
Last edited by Pabst; 08/07/20.
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Joined: Jul 2019
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Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 103 |
Good to hear turnaround is under a year, that's good news. How would you say balance feels? Slightly nose heavy? Which scope did you go with?
I've got 2 Fieldcrafts, not excellent and both #2. I'd say the 22" CM is balanced perfectly but I really love the 270. #2 Contour????? 270 24" barrel and it is a #1 contour. I was thinking both of my Fieldcrafts had the same barrel contour (minus the threaded muzzle on the CM) but will post muzzle measurements.
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Joined: Apr 2008
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I received a 7-08 m20 last week with a no1 and it balances fine but kinda wish I went with a no2. I ordered it in November I had the same thought after ordering a #1 barrel (22") on a .308 at least ten years ago. After getting used to shooting a very light rifle on the bench, my concerns vanished. This rifle remains very accurate after much shooting and years of trying many different bullets and load combinations. The balance is perfect and the light weight (just under six pounds with scope) is really welcome when trekking upwards on an elk hunt.
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Joined: Oct 2000
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,291 Likes: 2 |
Good to hear turnaround is under a year, that's good news. How would you say balance feels? Slightly nose heavy? Which scope did you go with?
I've got 2 Fieldcrafts, not excellent and both #2. I'd say the 22" CM is balanced perfectly but I really love the 270. #2 Contour????? 270 24" barrel and it is a #1 contour. The Fieldcraft 270 @ 24" is a no.2 contour.
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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Joined: Jul 2019
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270 is 0.610" at the muzzle, CM is 0.630" just behind the threaded adapter.
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Joined: Sep 2004
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2004
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Good to hear turnaround is under a year, that's good news. How would you say balance feels? Slightly nose heavy? Which scope did you go with?
I've got 2 Fieldcrafts, not excellent and both #2. I'd say the 22" CM is balanced perfectly but I really love the 270. #2 Contour????? 270 24" barrel and it is a #1 contour. The Fieldcraft 270 @ 24" is a no.2 contour. Previous owner told me it was a # 1 . I just measured it and it is .610, sorry for the confusion.
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Joined: Sep 2008
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2008
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you have to remember why Melvin built his rifle to remove all the weight he could that wasnt needed and that is his theory behind a #2 versus a #1 taper barrel both will shoot and handle great.....
a crap shoot with Melvins rifles....I dont think so and if your not happy you have a 30 return policy with your rifle.... after 7000 rifles and thirty years he wouldnt be in business if he made lemons
fieldcrafts are nice rifles and i have a few nula and a few fieldcrafts...both shoot better than me....
I like a #2 taper on my nula rifles....308 and 260
another thought on the fieldcraft ....not sure they are going to make them again and i only say that because they took the facebook and email down at barrett
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Joined: Apr 2019
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2019
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I’d Just buy a fieldcraft if I were you. I’ve had 2 Nula’s made, neither one was worth the money or the wait. I just thought the first one was a lemon until I got the second one. I've had two NULA's (well, actually my second will arrive next week via UPS). The first was a .257 Roberts Imp. and I should never have sold it. Beautiful rifle and very accurate too. If you can score a Fieldcraft, by all means do so since they weigh the same as the NULA and are $2000 cheaper. The problem is Barrett has paused production of the Fieldcraft and they are getting scarce. That said, the NULA is worth every penny and $3700 for a custom rifle these days is very fair. Also, I like the cheek piece on the NULA better than the Fieldcraft. The other advantage about the NULA is you can get in just about any caliber. Melvin can do you a 6.5 x .284 that will do 3000 fps with a 140 grain bullet and 22" bbl in his Model 20 action which allows you to seat the bullet to just a hair under 3.00" long.
Last edited by Tarquin; 08/07/20.
Tarquin
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 103
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Posts: 103 |
Thanks everyone. I'm really happy with both of my Fieldcrafts, just wanting one of Melvin's rifles while he's still at it. I spoke with him briefly today and will probably finish up on Monday.
Leaning toward 22" #2 in 7/08 and his classic green stripe paint scheme. He said lead time is around 10 mo these days.
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Joined: Sep 2004
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 29,383 |
you have to remember why Melvin built his rifle to remove all the weight he could that wasnt needed and that is his theory behind a #2 versus a #1 taper barrel both will shoot and handle great.....
a crap shoot with Melvins rifles....I dont think so and if your not happy you have a 30 return policy with your rifle.... after 7000 rifles and thirty years he wouldnt be in business if he made lemons
fieldcrafts are nice rifles and i have a few nula and a few fieldcrafts...both shoot better than me....
I like a #2 taper on my nula rifles....308 and 260
another thought on the fieldcraft ....not sure they are going to make them again and i only say that because they took the facebook and email down at barrett Supposedly once they are freed up from their huge contract they will start making them again in 2021. I will look at a 7mm-08 when that happens.
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Joined: May 2020
Posts: 1,644
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2020
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you have to remember why Melvin built his rifle to remove all the weight he could that wasnt needed and that is his theory behind a #2 versus a #1 taper barrel both will shoot and handle great.....
a crap shoot with Melvins rifles....I dont think so and if your not happy you have a 30 return policy with your rifle.... after 7000 rifles and thirty years he wouldnt be in business if he made lemons
fieldcrafts are nice rifles and i have a few nula and a few fieldcrafts...both shoot better than me....
I like a #2 taper on my nula rifles....308 and 260
another thought on the fieldcraft ....not sure they are going to make them again and i only say that because they took the facebook and email down at barrett Supposedly once they are freed up from their huge contract they will start making them again in 2021. I will look at a 7mm-08 when that happens. I'm going 6.5 Creedmoor, just so many better ammo options, but no flies on the 7mm08
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 7,578
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2004
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Having had 3 NULAs, I would go #1 contour. Any thicker and you are giving back some of the weight advantage you are paying for. IMHO.
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