Why so many fat steel barrels and so few sporters?

[SDHNTR]

So I’m half ass barrel shopping for a new project. Why are there so many M24, Varmint, Heavy Palma, etc contours out there and so few sporters in stock? Can’t find a Bart 2b, 3 or 3b, but a curtain rod is no problem. What are these big heavy barrels used for and why are they so popular?

 

[Castle Rock]

No one build’s featherweights, and if they do they will never burn out a barrel

 

[sierracharlie338]

All the comp boys. I just bought a truck axle barrel because I got a crazy deal on it.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

Match gun market is way bigger than hunting barrel market.

 

[Deere_Man]

Call Hart. He probably has plenty of sporters.

 

[HandgunHTR]

Match gun market is way bigger than hunting barrel market.

This. Those heavy barrels are being used on match guns. A 6GT barrel has a life of around 3K. That is a single match season for a dedicated shooter. The 6 Creed guys are getting half of that.

Most hunting rifles won't see that many rounds in 4 lifetimes. Of course there is a group of shooters here and on other forums more dedicated to hunting than shooting who hunt hard and shoot a lot. We tend to like lighter profile barrels, but are at the mercy of the market. There are a couple of manufacturers who have stepped in to provide (X-Caliber, McGowen, Preferred), but they don't have the clout that some of the bigger names (Krieger, Bartlein, Hart) carry. So, there is a trade-off. Go with one of the smaller guys and get what you want in a reasonable time, or wait 6-9 months for one of the "premium" barrels.

Edited to add: Southern Precision has some Bart 2B, 3, and 3Bs in 6.5mm and 7mm if that is what you are looking for.

 

[30338]

Pacnor turned out a great shooter for me in mtn rifle contour. I'd use them again without hesitation. I have found the Bart 2B to be a bit on the chunky side still for a lighter rig. Also had good luck with Benchmark barrels and lighter contours. Bit of a wait but haven't called either lately.

 

[hereinaz]

Match gun market is way bigger than hunting barrel market.

March barrels get burned out in a year for active competitors, generations of hunters don’t burn out a barrel.

 

[Lawnboi]

Match shooters burn barrels.

Hunters generally don’t.

That’s why.

 

[id_jon]

Also, barrels start out fat, you have to put in time to make them skinny. And if more of the market wants them to stay heavy anyway...

 

[SDHNTR]

I guess that makes sense. I’m not looking for super light. 3 or 3b, ish. I had no idea the match stuff was so popular. I thought that was the niche market, and the hunters made up the larger majority. Go figure.

 

[wind gypsy]

Pretty good inventory of barrels in stock at bugholes last i looked, some sporters included.

 

[wapitibob]

My Ace looks better in the scope than my Bartlein. I'll put it on next year when the Bart is shot out.

 

[SDHNTR]

Pretty good inventory of barrels in stock at bugholes last i looked, some sporters included.

That’s where I was looking. Just not much in 6mm.

 

[HandgunHTR]

That’s where I was looking. Just not much in 6mm.

Yeah, unfortunately, the 6mm barrels are the ones most of the match guys are buying too.

 

[handwerk]

Almost all my model’s 70’s have FWT barrels either factory or aftermarket, they all shoot good enough for my needs.
Another barrel I’ve used with great results is a Lilja #2.

 

[khuber84]

Not abnormal for high level, even our local league prs guys to burn out 2-5 barrels a year. How many hunters do you know burning out a barrel every year? Sadly most the hunters I know shoot a box of ammo weekend before season and are ready to kill everything out to 500y my range has been packed full of that ignorance last few weekends. End of 2020 I think I was on my 3rd barrels between the 20 matches I shot and practice.

 

[wind gypsy]

Not abnormal for high level, even our local league prs guys to burn out 2-5 barrels a year. How many hunters do you know burning out a barrel every year? Sadly most the hunters I know shoot a box of ammo weekend before season and are ready to kill everything out to 500y my range has been packed full of that ignorance last few weekends. End of 2020 I think I was on my 3rd barrels between the 20 matches I shot and practice.

Yes. Shot at busy range yesterday, pretty sad. Last guy we were waiting on to pull targets called out “300 yards, target #4” so everyone could be impressed and watch (that’s the longest at this range and a long shot in this part of N MN). Dude didn’t hit the 8-10” circle once but one shot was within a few inches. Didn’t see any other holes on paper. He called out “good enough for elk at 300 yards”.

 

[Cactus kid]

I personally love the thick barrels, call me a size queen.

I don’t know if you looked at proofs steel barrels, but I know they have a tikka sporter contour that seems to always be in stock

I don’t know if you are going short, but the weight savings of a thin barrel vs thick barrel isn’t as much as you would think when barrels are <20”.

 

[sndmn11]

That’s where I was looking. Just not much in 6mm.

@Stockys has some 6mm steel sporters in stock. I think they have that 30% code floating around here somewhere.