Why so many fat steel barrels and so few sporters?

[IrkedCitizen]

Patriot Valley Arms has their Osprey Barrel Works barrels and have a bunch of contours to choose from. Fairly quick turnaround

 

[wind gypsy]

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

Still? I haven't seen any light proof steel contours in a long time. Didn't think they made me anymore.

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

Last i was looking at was 6.5s. Guess it makes sense that there are more 6.5 sporter contours if a lot of hunters are looking for 6.5 and bigger bore diameters.

 

[SDHNTR]

Patriot Valley Arms has their Osprey Barrel Works barrels and have a bunch of contours to choose from. Fairly quick turnaround

Are they any good? I know and am comfortable with the big brand names: Bartlein, Benchmark, Brux, Kreiger LIlja, etc., but there seem to be some boutique names out there possibly worth a look.

 

[wind gypsy]

Ace Barrels - Unknown Munitions

We are proud to be a retail distributor of Ace Barrels made by hand right here in Spokane, WA. Single point cut rifled barrels, double hand lapped after reaming and rifling. Email [email protected] for a custom order, custom order lead time is 8 weeks. 6MM, 6.5MM, 7MM, and .308 options...

www.unknownmunitions.com

Showing Ace #3 sporters (close to Bartlein 3b IIRC) in stock with 7 or 7.5 twist. Might want call and ask them if it's actually in stock though since UM struggles with what "In Stock" means.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

Are they any good? I know and am comfortable with the big brand names: Bartlein, Benchmark, Brux, Kreiger LIlja, etc., but there seem to be some boutique names out there possibly worth a look.

They shoot better than I can. There are a bunch of people on here and Snipers Hide with them. Pretty sure Josh (PVA) was tired of long delay times from barrel manufacturers which slows his builds down so he acquired the equipment to make his own. Fairly certain he started with 6mm barrels only then got so many requests for other calibers.

 

[SDHNTR]

Ace Barrels - Unknown Munitions

We are proud to be a retail distributor of Ace Barrels made by hand right here in Spokane, WA. Single point cut rifled barrels, double hand lapped after reaming and rifling. Email [email protected] for a custom order, custom order lead time is 8 weeks. 6MM, 6.5MM, 7MM, and .308 options...

www.unknownmunitions.com

Showing Ace #3 sporters (close to Bartlein 3b IIRC) in stock with 7 or 7.5 twist. Might want call and ask them if it's actually in stock though since UM struggles with what "In Stock" means.

Uggh, yeah, I’m aware.

 

[Lawnboi]

Are they any good? I know and am comfortable with the big brand names: Bartlein, Benchmark, Brux, Kreiger LIlja, etc., but there seem to be some boutique names out there possibly worth a look.

I’ll be buying a blank from them for an 6dasher hunting gun and have multiple prefits on osprey barrels.

My most accurate barrel I have owned is an osprey 6 creed.

 

[SouthPaw]

I’ll be buying a blank from them for an 6dasher hunting gun and have multiple prefits on osprey barrels.

My most accurate barrel I have owned is an osprey 6 creed.

My 2025 hunting barrel is an Osprey 6creed for Tikka, got it during the 4th sale. Looking forward to trying a PVA.

 

[Krumfola]

I ended up with a 20” medium Palma on my 6gt and total weight loaded and suppressed came in at 12lbs. Bartlein blank that I picked up from a forum member for $400 shipped. Heavier than I’d like but not terrible I guess. A 3b would’ve been my choice but couldn’t source one.

Curious, what are your hunting rifles weighing in at?

 

[SDHNTR]

I ended up with a 20” medium Palma on my 6gt and total weight loaded and suppressed came in at 12lbs. Bartlein blank that I picked up from a forum member for $400 shipped. Heavier than I’d like but not terrible I guess. A 3b would’ve been my choice but couldn’t source one.

Curious, what are your hunting rifles weighing in at?

I like about 9# ish all up.

 

[FLS]

FWIW Bartlein sporter barrels run about 1size larger than everyone else. A Bartlein 3B is a Krieger or Brux #4. Learned that the hard way.