How much barrel can I hang on bat model M action

G

gmitchell

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I'm going to start a heavy gun build for 1000 yard benchrest, and cant make up mind on action. I want the big 2"X10" bat , but dont want to have commit to a action with long bolt throw and big thread tenon 1.250. I have seen F-class guys hang strait 1.200 barrels on savage actions. I'm wondering if I could use a 26'' 1.450 tapered to 1.350 on a model M with intergrated picatinny rail? I dont want to use a barrel block. My set up will be a scaled up light gun using big McMillian 50 HBR stock. Any info will be appreciated. Whats the worst thing that will happen it dont work and have to buy a new barrel or recontour? Just need some advice from someone smarter than me.
 
Call BAT. Bruce Thom is smarter than most of us, and won't steer you wrong.

As far as one person's experience goes, I have an 8-inch BAT, but the largest barrel I've hung on it is a 1.250 straight.

As I remember, you can get a 2-inch diameter, 8-inch long BAT. Maybe a special order, but I've seen several. That shortens up the bolt throw anyway. Tenon diameter as with the 10-inch.
 
I just put a barrel block on a rifle and with the same barrel and action as before ,now the groups are 60 to 70 % smaller then before. I am using a different stock because the block wouldn't fit the old one but I don't believe that alone could make near that much difference.
 
Maybe I should use a barrel block, what is everybodys opinion on barrel blocks vs scaled up light gun?
 
I'm not sure how many opinions you'll get. I like barrel blocks. I have one on my point-blank HV, and two 1K LGs that use them. One of the things I like about them is that I mount the scope on the block, cantilevered back over the action. That way, I know that wherever the barrel is pointing, so too is the scope.

That said, barrel blocks have a downside: They aren't cheap, if well designed and made. And like everything else, each design involves compromises.

I doubt you need one with an 8-inch BAT & a 1.450 tapering to 1.350, but I would call the manufacturer just to make sure. I've hung an 1.70 (some taper) off a 10-inch BAT (2-inch diameter before the flats); no problems.
 
Keep in mind the length is 26'' for a 1.450 tapering to 1.350. Would anybody be willing to tell alittle about thier HG Barrel block or not. I really like the big McMillian stock, wanna hear about pro's and cons about that stock and how they set it up. Also please tell what you've done with it, such as small groups, yearly agg, winning major events, just doing good or somthing your proud of. I want to build a competitive HG and have not been around many or just didn't pay enough attention to them
 
I really like the big McMillian stock, wanna hear about pro's and cons about that stock and how they set it up
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I've been shooting 1K BR since 1996, which (except for Pennsylvania) was the early days. In the early days, you saw a lot of different equipment, everybody's trying things, people from different shooting backgrounds are bring their equipment to a new sport, people have different depths to their pockets, etc.

OK. Except for one or two obviously inappropriate stocks, I've never seen one make any difference. That's a lot of different stocks, including the Cass bros. 4x4 board with no other work, some "no stock" stocks, and everything in between. Barrels and bullets and ammunition preparation win matches. The rest of it is avoiding "bad" stuff, and most often, that's scopes.

If you like the big MacMillan 50 stock, use it. I've used one on one of my HG for 3 barrels, it shot as good as the barrels. This is the one with the 5-inch wide forearm & lead throughout. For an 1.550 action, the smaller 50 stock should work fine.

Because of the HG bag rules, you never quite get return to battery with a HG. The heavier it is, the better your rests & the fit of the two, the closer you come. I've seen days when the mirage was bad enough that I shot a HG as if it were RTB, even though the scope indicated a slight correction might be needed. Some days you win, and some days not. How often is pretty much bullets & barrels.
 
Al, No i'm not in pine tech. I just want a good HG. I can't believe nobody even want to bragg about thier HG, and somthing they did good at then explain thier set up, I'm not real concerned about how much this project will cost, it will just take a little longer to build.
 
My barrel block is home made and seems to work just fine. My shooting partner did the work and spent a lot of time to get it just right but was his first one. Next time shouldn't take so long.
 
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Trouble, would you share things your barrel blocked gun have done , such as group size or yearly agg or just something your proud of. I keep asking this and nobody wants to share info, if people would share some results we could have some data to see if a barrel blocked gun or non barrel blocked are better so guys dont be shy I wanna hear some bragging. Maybe I should start a new post.
 
Hey Gordy,

You may not want the long bolt throw, but the big 1.25 bbl tenon is a big plus when hanging big chunks of steel from your action. Look at a custom 1.75 or 2" BAT "M".

As far as a bbl block, I would have one, but the used gun I baught didn't have one. I may some day put a block on. We'll see how well I can get the WSM to shoot this year. I never was very satisfied last year, but had zero time for further load development. If it was a WBY I would have had it dialed in, but with less than half of the tube life.

Good luck with the project, and I hope to see you guys at "longsiding" this winter!!

Tod
 
Got my stock today. Looks like i'll be doing a glue in barrel block, what type of glue should I use, heard JB works good what about devcon? Has anybody used a 2 piece block and glued? I'm thinking this gun will be around for long time. Thinking of 8" block that is split, we will bore hole when bolted together and thread one side with blind holes to use to push apart. How much clearance do I need to have between barrel and block? How do I center barrel in block while glueing? Should I use O-rings and pump glue in while rotating? What are guys using to pump glue in? A glue in is gonna be more technical than I thought, but i'm gonna do it. Any info I can get will be much appreciated.
 
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