Barrel Length Choice Verification

[TX_Mike D.]

So, I'm looking at sending some of my rifle barrels to Country Custom Metalsmithing in NV (unless someone can recommend someone as good in Texas) to get them chopped down and threaded for suppressor use and want to see if my research (mainly from this forum) is still in agreement with the more knowledgeable people here.

Note that I usually hunt in south Texas where the shots are inside 200 yards due to thick brush. I prefer to have the rifles capable to hunt out to 400-500 yards and punch paper out to 1,000 yards. I still want to be able to comfortably shoot the rifles without the suppressor since I only have one suppressor currently (will be adding more as funds allow) and multiple family members hunt with these rifles.

The rifles and barrel length modifications I am looking at are:

1. Tikka Roughtech 6.5 CM- down to a 18" barrel from 24"

2. Kimber Montana 300 WSM- down to a 20" barrel from 24"

3. Remington 700 "Tactical" .308- down to a 20" barrel from 24"(I'm not sure I even want to cut this one down because it's so heavy it's really only a bench/blind gun)

4. Tikka 3Tx .223- I know this one will not reach 1,000 yards, but is it even worth cutting down from its current 20" barrel length? It seems pretty handy at this length, but I haven't gotten the suppressor in hand to try on it yet.

If you have any other recommended lengths, I am happy to hear about them.

Apologies for length and since this has been brought up a lot in the past. Just trying to get it right the first time...

 

[Steve300xcw]

1st...a guy can have a ball at 1k with a 223...

I'm not a suppressor guy. With bolt guns I like 18" for most things.

 

[RockAndSage]

So, I'm looking at sending some of my rifle barrels to Country Custom Metalsmithing in NV (unless someone can recommend someone as good in Texas) to get them chopped down and threaded for suppressor use and want to see if my research (mainly from this forum) is still in agreement with the more knowledgeable people here.

Note that I usually hunt in south Texas where the shots are inside 200 yards due to thick brush. I prefer to have the rifles capable to hunt out to 400-500 yards and punch paper out to 1,000 yards. I still want to be able to comfortably shoot the rifles without the suppressor since I only have one suppressor currently (will be adding more as funds allow) and multiple family members hunt with these rifles.

The rifles and barrel length modifications I am looking at are:

1. Tikka Roughtech 6.5 CM- down to a 18" barrel from 24"

2. Kimber Montana 300 WSM- down to a 20" barrel from 24"

3. Remington 700 "Tactical" .308- down to a 20" barrel from 24"(I'm not sure I even want to cut this one down because it's so heavy it's really only a bench/blind gun)

4. Tikka 3Tx .223- I know this one will not reach 1,000 yards, but is it even worth cutting down from its current 20" barrel length? It seems pretty handy at this length, but I haven't gotten the suppressor in hand to try on it yet.

If you have any other recommended lengths, I am happy to hear about them.

Apologies for length and since this has been brought up a lot in the past. Just trying to get it right the first time...

I had rifle rebuilt/customized by Paul (Country Custom), and recommend him highly. Cut, threaded, gun coated, new stock bedded, flush-cup sling swivels installed. Barrel was a lighter weight profile, cut from 22" down to 18", and needed an adapter/shoulder to be done right. Excellent work all around.

Regarding barrel lengths, it depends on what you need a bullet to do, and what kind of bullet you're shooting for that. As long as the bullet has enough velocity at its intended distance to open up violently on animals, go as short as you want. Nothing wrong with any of the lengths you suggested, but you could still go a bit shorter and not have any problems killing animals out to 500yds with any of the cartridges you suggested. Shorter is handier with suppressors though, and I'd do 16" on the .223, or even 14" if you don't have an issue SBR-ing it.

 

[TX_Mike D.]

I had rifle rebuilt/customized by Paul (Country Custom), and recommend him highly. Cut, threaded, gun coated, new stock bedded, flush-cup sling swivels installed. Barrel was a lighter weight profile, cut from 22" down to 18", and needed an adapter/shoulder to be done right. Excellent work all around.

Regarding barrel lengths, it depends on what you need a bullet to do, and what kind of bullet you're shooting for that. As long as the bullet has enough velocity at its intended distance to open up violently on animals, go as short as you want. Nothing wrong with any of the lengths you suggested, but you could still go a bit shorter and not have any problems killing animals out to 500yds with any of the cartridges you suggested. Shorter is handier with suppressors though, and I'd do 16" on the .223, or even 14" if you don't have an issue SBR-ing it.

I found him on this site. Everything I’ve researched on him has been positive, and I’m looking forward to working with him. I do like the thread protectors with the texturing that come on the Tikka rifles. I’m hoping it won’t offend him if I ask to keep that on them.

I mostly hunt deer and pigs. Occasionally a larger exotic down here, and some of those can get pretty big. I’m hoping to expand that in the not too distant future. Elk look like fun.

As far as bullets I currently use:

6.5 CM- 147 gr ELDM’s or 143 gr ELDX’s

.223- 77 gr TMK’s ( of course)

.308- 150 gr core-Loct’s (juat what I have a few boxes of)

I haven’t picked a bullet for the 300 WSM. I bought it from a buddy who needed the cash, so I haven’t really used it yet other than a single trip to the range.

I’m not reloading yet, so I’m not married to any of the rounds. Just what research has convinced me to buy or what I have on hand.

 

[Wrench]

I'd look at how you want it to balance....that's one that gets overlooked.

 

[TX_Mike D.]

1st...a guy can have a ball at 1k with a 223...

I'm not a suppressor guy. With bolt guns I like 18" for most things.

I guess I need to do more research on this. I didn’t think a .223 rem. would stay stable out to that distance. I don’t have anywhere to try to shoot that far currently, so I can’t experiment to that distance yet.

 

[TX_Mike D.]

I'd look at how you want it to balance....that's one that gets overlooked.

Agree on that concern. Until I’m able to get at least one more suppressor, someone in my family (most likely me) could be hunting with a butt heavy gun.

 

[Steve300xcw]

I guess I need to do more research on this. I didn’t think a .223 rem. would stay stable out to that distance. I don’t have anywhere to try to shoot that far currently, so I can’t experiment to that distance yet.

You are at the mercy of the wind. Have never shot paper, just killed rocks at that range. Its a good time. Now, finding spots that you can see your impact is kinda a bitch sometimes though

This is outta a 16" barrel ruger american with 75gr Amax's. White spot between the 2 trees just low left of center

 

[Schmo]

Ben Reynolds shoots his 223 out to 1300+

 

[bpitcher]

So, I'm looking at sending some of my rifle barrels to Country Custom Metalsmithing in NV (unless someone can recommend someone as good in Texas) to get them chopped down and threaded for suppressor use and want to see if my research (mainly from this forum) is still in agreement with the more knowledgeable people here.

Note that I usually hunt in south Texas where the shots are inside 200 yards due to thick brush. I prefer to have the rifles capable to hunt out to 400-500 yards and punch paper out to 1,000 yards. I still want to be able to comfortably shoot the rifles without the suppressor since I only have one suppressor currently (will be adding more as funds allow) and multiple family members hunt with these rifles.

The rifles and barrel length modifications I am looking at are:

1. Tikka Roughtech 6.5 CM- down to a 18" barrel from 24"

2. Kimber Montana 300 WSM- down to a 20" barrel from 24"

3. Remington 700 "Tactical" .308- down to a 20" barrel from 24"(I'm not sure I even want to cut this one down because it's so heavy it's really only a bench/blind gun)

4. Tikka 3Tx .223- I know this one will not reach 1,000 yards, but is it even worth cutting down from its current 20" barrel length? It seems pretty handy at this length, but I haven't gotten the suppressor in hand to try on it yet.

If you have any other recommended lengths, I am happy to hear about them.

Apologies for length and since this has been brought up a lot in the past. Just trying to get it right the first time...

Lots of great smiths here in TX. Where are you located?

 

[TX_Mike D.]

Lots of great smiths here in TX. Where are you located?

Houston area

 

[TX_Mike D.]

You are at the mercy of the wind. Have never shot paper, just killed rocks at that range. Its a good time. Now, finding spots that you can see your impact is kinda a bitch sometimes though

This is outta a 16" barrel ruger american with 75gr Amax's. White spot between the 2 trees just low left of center

That’s cool!

 

[bpitcher]

Houston area

Pete in Hempstead does excellent work. He's usually very quick on the turnaround as well.

https://www.precisionbarrelwork.com/contact_customgunsmith.htm

 

[UnckleBob]

Houston area

Do you know one in the Dallas area?

 

[TX_Mike D.]

Pete in Hempstead does excellent work. He's usually very quick on the turnaround as well.

https://www.precisionbarrelwork.com/contact_customgunsmith.htm

Appreciate this. Do you have first hand experience with him?

From what I understand (and I’m no gunsmith so I could very well be wrong) what I’m wanting to do isn’t terribly complicated for a good gunsmith with the right equipment. If it’ll save me some shipping costs it’s worth looking into.

 

[Steve300xcw]

I'd be very worried if a gunsmith couldnt whack down a barrel and cut some threads on it.

 

[TX_Mike D.]

I'd be very worried if a gunsmith couldnt whack down a barrel and cut some threads on it.

My only concern is that some of the barrels are pretty thin and one is fluted. Although I saw a really cool video on someone adding thickness to a barrel using a muzzle thread protector. I’m assuming that’s how it’s been done for a while now, but it was interesting to this dummy.

 

[bpitcher]

My only concern is that some of the barrels are pretty thin and one is fluted. Although I saw a really cool video on someone adding thickness to a barrel using a muzzle thread protector. I’m assuming that’s how it’s been done for a while now, but it was interesting to this dummy.

Yes, he has done work for friends and myself. His turnaround has always been fast for me and his prices are reasonable.

He just cut down a buddies fluted Weatherby to 18". It shoots just as well as it did before.