Do Barrel Contours Affect Weight and Shooting Performance?

At Bartlein Barrels, we offer precision-crafted barrels like the SS 7mm, featuring a B#13 Remington Varmint contour, a 9 twist rate, and a 29'' blank with 5R rifling. Many shooters wonder about the impact of barrel contours on weight and performance. The answer is yes; barrel contours significantly affect both. A heavier contour can resist movement or wandering as the barrel heats up, maintaining accuracy during extended shooting sessions.

Our barrels are created using single point cut rifling, a method that does not induce stress into the barrel, unlike button rifling. This approach ensures minimal impact of contour on performance, making the choice of contour more about personal preference and specific shooting needs rather than a strict performance criterion.

Single Point Cut Rifling Versus Button Rifling

Why do we prefer single point cut rifling? This method ensures no stress is induced into the barrel, preserving the integrity of the bore and its dimensions over time. Button rifling, on the other hand, can introduce stress and potentially alter bore sizes, negatively affecting accuracy. For this reason, we believe single point cut rifling provides a superior foundation for precision shooting.

The Role of Barrel Fluting

Fluting a barrel offers several benefits beyond aesthetic appeal. It reduces weight without compromising the barrel's contour, enhances cooling by increasing surface area, and can impact barrel harmonics. However, it's essential to consider the depth of fluting to avoid potential accuracy issues due to excessive vibration.

Choosing the Right Rifling: The Advantages of 5R

Rifling style is a crucial factor in barrel performance. At Bartlein Barrels, we offer various rifling options, including 4-groove, 5R, and conventional 5-groove. Our experience and feedback from ammunition and bullet manufacturers have shown that 5R rifling, with its gentler land angles and odd number of lands, can reduce bullet deformation, enhancing accuracy and bullet performance. This rifling style is particularly beneficial for bullet flight, although some exceptions exist, such as with short jacket 6mm bullets used in short-range bench shooting.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the choice of barrel contour, rifling method, and additional features like fluting are essential considerations for the discerning shooter. Bartlein Barrels' commitment to precision through single point cut rifling and innovative designs like 5R rifling ensures that our barrels meet the highest standards of accuracy and performance.