Barrel Diameter Question vs Action Size

D

DJ111

New member
I have a question for you guys;

I am building a heavy gun for 600 yard IBS and I have a mcmillan 50 LBR stock and a Bat DS 1.35 action and it will be chambered in a 6BRX or 6BRDX as I have both reamers.

Question is on barrel size. What would happen if I use a 1.450’’ barrel in a barrel block with a 1.35’’ diameter action? Would it hurt accuracy with the action being smaller than the barrel diameter?

Would I be better off sticking with a 1.25’’ straight barrel? If I use a 1.25’’ barrel should I barrel block it or just pillar bed it? Does a barrel block offer anything in accuracy over pillar bedding on a 1.25’’ straight barrel?

Barrel will finish around 30’’ ether route I go and gun will have 5’’ front plate and 3’’ rear plate and weigh around 40 pounds.

Currently have only been shooting a light gun and want to try a heavy gun.
Thanks,
Dallas Johnson
 
The smaller diameter action will not hurt accuracy but just looks a little funny sometimes. You will need to barrel block a 1.450 barrel for a couple of reasons, one, it is very heavy for the action and two, it takes a lot of work to bed the action and relieve the barrel channel. Even if I used a straight 1.25, I would barrel block. The barrel block will do three things for you in this type of setup.

1. remove bedding/action stress from such a heavy barrel.
2. fool the barrel into thinking it is shorter and stiffer (more easily tuned)
3. the weight of the action hanging of the back of the barrel acts as a dampener of vibrations itself.

Hovis
 
In a barrel block scenario, the action will not know the difference. It will be floating along with the remaining barrel portion out of the block.

If you were wanting to bolt the action in, with all the barrel supported/hanging from it, then yes the action should be no smaller then the barrel shank.

Good Luck,
Donovan
 
I have a number of 1.25 and one 1.45 barrelled rifles on Bat's. I have used laminated tracker stocks, f class master stocks, fiberglass tracker stocks.

Just FYI, Bill Shehane can weight a fiberglass tracker stock and when you get it it will be 14 pounds. With a 8.5 inch Bat and a 30 inch 1.25, it weighs 32 pounds with the scope. 3 inch fore end.

Some of the rifles are pillar bedded, some are glued in. The 1.45 is pillat bedded. Barrells finished right at 30 after the muzzle brake was added. 6mmbr and 6x47 lapua's. I have not had any issues with the pillar bedding or the glue in's and I have 10 of these rifles currently. I only say this to make the point that I have actual experience with these. I like them big and heavy to control the sight picture on small far away furry targets.

Had only one barrel blocked rifle and it did not shoot well. Leonard Baity told me they can be tricky to get to shoot. He builds a lot of sucessful 600/1000 yard rifles - check the riflesmiths on the east coast BR matches.

YMMV, but I would not use a barrel block. Not necessary and may add wrinkles into the accuracy equation.
 
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