Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Are heavy barrel rifles more accurate?

I really like the thought of a heavy barrel rifle for hunting/targets. I really want a stainless rifle and am looking at the Rem 5R milspec. Or would I be served just as well with a regular sporter weight. A cm rifle ceracoated might be a cheaper option. Opinions?

Heavier barrels offer greater stiffness which dampens vibration which equals more accuracy.

A CeraKoted chrome moly rifle would be more impervious to the weather than stainless. But, realistically how much more weatherproof do you really need than stainless? I have a CeraKoted rifle and it is just impossible to get it to rust. CK is a coating whereas stainless is stainless to the core.

Haven't looked at the Rem milspec. I have a couple of heavy barrel hunting rifles and they are no joy to carry.

In contrast, the most accurate hunting rifle I ever owned was a Rem MR in 280 Rem. THe barrel was thin which turned me off but it would stack 10 shots under a quarter & give you a few cents change.

Nothing lacking in slim bbl's. Maybe past 400 yds you'll see the difference. I'll take a sporter over a HB any day. I own both and love to shoot both. As RL28 says I also have MR's and light M7's that are tack drivers.

They will get hot quicker. Bout 4 shots till groups open up.

For a hunting rifle I'd go with a LW barrel every time.

I think after 4-5 rounds they will lose out to the heavy barrel. I don't get that many shots on game.
Butch

+1.... Look how those light NULA's shoot

How about the bore?

I don't understand that one either. How about a Cerakoted stainless rifle.........


Not sure about things opening up after a couple of rounds or harmonic oscillations but this will continue to be fun to read.

Yep, in SS.

I have a lightweight tikka that is a one hole wonder - it's a very light barrel.

I does get hot alot faster than a heavier one.

Happy B-day Spotshooter.

Thnx slg

I turn 46 today

Spotshooter,
I've heard the term oneholer before, not sure what it means. Does that mean an accurate rifle or no matter what all the bullets go in one hole all the time?
Butch

I gave had consistently better results with heavier barrels, but its been pointed out that not everyone can shoot a light barreled rig well off the bench. It's possible I've been afflictected in such a manner...

But I doubt it...

John

IMHO they'll be more consistently accurate.. They won't be as sensitive to various loads..

However, most hunters don't wanna lug a 12# rifle over the Rockies..

I love it.....and same here.

+1, & I think the heavy rifles are just generally easier to get to shoot well, all things being equal, like quality barrels.

As far as lugging a 9+ lb rifle around, I'll never do it anymore except for dangerous game or varmints.

I once built a moderately heavy, but still portable, 300 Win for hunting a specific area where long shots were the norm, but lugging it 3 miles in & 3 miles out overcame the need for the ultra accuracy that it provided.

As already alluded to, light rifles can be harder to shoot off a bench for some people (thus giving the illusion of less accuracy) & some tend to open up groups faster as a light barrel heats up, but I'll take a light rifle that puts the 1st 2 shots where it's aimed every time over a heavy hunting rig.

MM

I have a number of thin barreled rifles that shoot far more accurately than I need them to be for all the hunting I do. I have no need, or desire, to lug around a 10+ pound rifle, because the 7 pounders shoot just as accurately as the heavy ones. I have stacks of saved targets to prove my point.
Centerfire benchrest shooters use heavier barrels than sporters, for a good reason. They deliver excellent accuracy for many shots during a relay.
Hunting, I have NEVER had to shoot more than three shots, and never will in the future. Two of my lightweights, a Rem Model 7, and a Vanguard, both with 20" barrels, shoot 3 shots into 3/8" groups at 100 yards. I don't NEED better accuracy than that for all of the hunting Northern Michigan presents.

What cal are your M7 and Vanguard Don? I had a 260 and 7/08 in them respectively, both shot around 1.5.........maybe this SOUTHERN heat hurt in my area.

The M7 got a .700 21" 7BR bbl, and it shot lights out. My heavier bbl guns of past/present shot better for me, but as above, if I can have an accurate 7lb rifle, that's what I will grab for hunting. One shot is usually all I get, and want to take.

I think if you plan on using a VLD type bullets you will need a heavier barrel.lightweight barrels can be somewhat squirrelier than a heavy sporter with the same twist. Has anyone else encountered this phenomenon?