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Varmint Barrel VS. Standard Barrel

reedyjreedyj Member Posts: 3 ✭✭
edited December 2005 in Perry Shooter Competition Shooting and Reloading Forum
I have been shopping around for a 17 HMR.

My question- Is it worth to pay extra for the heavier varmint barrel?

Will it make that much difference in accuracy at longer ranges?

I will mostly be using it for squirrel hunting and just fooling around.

My price range is under $300.
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Comments

  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
    edited November -1
    Go for the heavy barrel...it will make ALL the difference in the world. Don't be afraid to put twice that in your optics...or more. This too, will make all the difference in the world. Good luck.

    Eric
    allamericanarmsco@frontiernet.net

    All American Arms Company

    www.galleryofguns.com
    VIP Code: AAAC

    Veteran Owned and Operated
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  • HighballHighball Member Posts: 15,755
    edited November -1
    Generally .GENERALLY...a Heavy barrel will out shoot a light barrel.

    The difference is in heating..a light barrel will heat faster..and 'walk'.

    Top line barrels are some what less suceptible to this...
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  • FrancFFrancF Member Posts: 35,279 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Savage 93-
    Best Rat gun I have ever had thats quiet and accurate.[:D]
    My 22-250 or 25-06 is just a little to loud for the back yard.[;)]

    sniper.gif
    NRA Life Endowment Member

    Soquel.gif
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  • rollnblockrollnblock Member Posts: 384 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    accuracy can be had in both barrels. Ive had 224 caliburs in both heavy and featherweight. one of my featherweights out shot the heavys. only differance is i had to let the featherweights cool down between shots.
    think about it the inside of the barrel is what matters. and the crown. the out side is for estetics and heat dissipation.
    most barrels start off as a 1 inche bar with rifleing. it is up the the custemer/gun maker to determine the final outside diameter.
    the heavy barrels take longer to heat up and also longer to cool back down.
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  • joesjoes Member Posts: 484 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    FrancF is right on, savage will shoot one hole (or pretty damn close)@ 100 yds out of the box with a heavy barrel. And something else no one has mentioned yet in addition to not heating up as quickly, is balance of the gun, the extra front end weight will stabilize the gun and better follow-through after the shoot, making a more accurate gun in most cases.
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  • reedyjreedyj Member Posts: 3 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks for the info.

    I'm convinced.
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  • deadeye46deadeye46 Member Posts: 550 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Just in case you don't want to haul around a "heavy" club,my 21" Contender carbine shoots three shots inside a dime sized circle at 100 yards.It will shoot as good as I can hold it,just my .02
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