Bartlein Barrel - Precision and Performance

When it comes to choosing the right barrel for your firearm, Bartlein Barrel stands out as a symbol of precision and performance. In this detailed guide, we'll explore the factors that make Bartlein barrels exceptional and how they can elevate your shooting experience.

Contour and Weight Impact

One common question that arises in barrel selection is whether the contour affects the barrel's weight and performance. The answer is yes.

Heavier contours offer benefits when it comes to shooting. They can help reduce the barrel's movement and wandering as it heats up during firing. This stability is crucial for maintaining consistent shot placement, especially in high-stress shooting scenarios.

It's worth noting that Bartlein Barrels employs single-point cut rifling, a method that minimizes stress in the barrel blank. Consequently, contour becomes less critical compared to barrels made using other methods.

Contour's Impact on Shooting

The contour of your barrel can indeed influence its shooting performance. Heavier barrels tend to shoot better, primarily because the added weight helps shooters manage recoil, resulting in reduced fatigue and greater endurance during extended shooting sessions.

However, Bartlein Barrels has observed that lighter weight contours can perform exceptionally well, often rivaling the performance of heavier counterparts. This suggests that while weight plays a role, other factors contribute to barrel performance.

Suppressor Compatibility

Should you consider attaching a suppressor to your barrel? While suppressors can enhance shooting comfort and reduce noise, it's essential to choose the right barrel contour for this purpose.

For optimal performance when using a suppressor, it's recommended to select a heavier contour barrel. The added weight of the suppressor affects the harmonic vibrations of the barrel, and a heavier contour helps maintain shooting consistency. Bartlein Barrels suggests avoiding anything smaller than a medium palma contour when using a suppressor.

Advantages of Single Point Cut Rifling

Bartlein Barrels' commitment to single-point cut rifling sets them apart in barrel manufacturing. Single-point cut rifling minimizes stress in the barrel blank, making it a superior choice compared to button rifling.

In button-rifled barrels, the stress imparted into the blank can result in bore size changes and openings as the contour size decreases. This issue does not affect barrels produced with single-point cut rifling. The result is consistent bore dimensions throughout the barrel's length, contributing to improved accuracy.

Additionally, threading the muzzle for a muzzle brake or suppressor attachment can be problematic in button-rifled barrels, often leading to bore openings. This issue, especially near the muzzle's crown edge, can negatively impact accuracy. Bartlein Barrels' single-point cut rifling eliminates this concern.

Importance of Fluting

Fluting a barrel offers several advantages:

• Weight Reduction: Fluting reduces the barrel's weight without altering its contour, making it more manageable and lighter.
• Barrel Cooling: Fluting increases the surface area of the barrel, aiding heat dissipation during rapid firing.
• Aesthetic Appeal: Many shooters appreciate the unique look that fluting adds to a barrel, making it both functional and visually appealing.

When considering fluting, be cautious not to flute too deeply, as excessive fluting can lead to harmonic and vibration issues that affect accuracy. If you can't add fluting to a barrel during the selection process, it may indicate that the contour is too shallow for fluting.

The Significance of Rifling

Rifling plays a crucial role in barrel performance. Bartlein Barrels offers three rifling types: 4-groove, 5R, and Conventional-5. While the number of grooves may not significantly affect accuracy or barrel life, Bartlein Barrels' commitment to quality shines through feedback from ammunition and bullet manufacturers using their test barrels.

The 5R rifling style offers additional benefits, including reduced bullet failure due to its gentler angle on the sides of the lands compared to conventional rifling. The combination of an odd number of lands and the gentle angle minimizes bullet deformation during the transition from the case into the rifling, enhancing bullet performance.

Feedback from ammunition and bullet manufacturers further indicates that 5R rifling can improve bullet flight characteristics. This revelation emerged in late 2019, emphasizing the advantages of this rifling style.

While 5R rifling generally excels, there are exceptions, particularly with short jacket 6mm bullets typically used by short-range bench shooters. In these cases, the combination of the "R" style of rifling and the short bearing surface of the bullets may not yield optimal results, affecting group sizes.

Choose Excellence with Bartlein Barrel

When selecting a barrel for your firearm, remember that Bartlein Barrel represents excellence in precision and performance. Their commitment to single-point cut rifling, attention to contour, and dedication to quality make Bartlein barrels a choice you can trust for superior shooting experiences. Elevate your shooting performance and enjoy the benefits of precision craftsmanship with Bartlein Barrel.