6mm and Proof research barrel ?

[Shadow knows]

Been a long time admirer and enjoy this forum greatly.
I am going to be having another 700 action rifle build and looking for a medium cal type hunting bullet since I got rid of my 25-06. I am looking to shoulder this rifle and walk a ways and kind of thinking a H-S stock but what I am kind of trying to find more information on is proof research barrels. I would like to go this route to save weight for the hike yet still give me play time at the range. Been sniffing around for a week with not a lot of luck.
I have crunched numbers with my LGS buddy since he is a dealer on H-S and Proof Research. He has access to other brands this is just what I think might fit a purpose.

 

[Ledzep]

I've got one, 28" long 6.5 SAUM 1:8 twist. My experience has been that it behaves just like any other match grade barrel. Accuracy was there right off the bat, in line with what I'd expect from a Bartlein or whatever other "big name". Velocity sped up after the first 150 rounds (typical). I'm somewhere around 400 rounds now, through it and it's behaving well. I was out with the rifle today practicing for antelope season.

You can typically get a lighter weight steel or stainless barrel, if you go into the featherweight contours, if weight is your only concern. That said, if you want to maintain muzzle threads, it's very hard if not impossible to beat a CF wrapped barrel for weight at a given length. The spread between a CF barrel weight, and the lightest contour that can handle muzzle threads increases the longer the barrel is.

My rifle is sitting in a Manners EH1 and topped with a March 3-24x52, so the whole package is pretty light, all things considered. I believe the bare rifle and scope (no bipod/suppressor) comes in just over 10lb IF my memory serves. Around 12.5-13lb all decked out, which is nothing when you consider I'm throwing .620 BC projectiles 3150fps. Without the suppressor the rifle balances well, and feels like a heavier hunting rifle more than a target rifle. Between the barrel, scope, and stock, I cut about 6lb out of the system from what this rifle weighed when it was a .260. Another cool thing is that I've only ever got it hot enough that I couldn't hold the barrel once, in a PRS style match. Otherwise, barrel mirage is pretty nonexistent.

Proof Research "Sendero" contour is NOT the same as Remington's "Sendero", and stocks inletted for "Rem Varmint/Sendero" probably won't fit. I'm lucky enough to have access to a 3 axis VMC and some nice CAM software so I surface machined the barrel channel myself. Besides the obvious extra cost for a blank, some smiths charge a little extra to work with Proofs for fixturing concerns (don't want to clamp/crush the CF).

That's pretty much it from where I sit. Some give/take. MUCH lighter weight for the given contour, less mirage off the barrel, expensive. Expensive to the point I don't know if I'd do a real barrel burner cartridge. "The internet" assures me I'll get 2000 rounds out of this SAUM, and that's pushing it for me. If I do another Proof, it will be a 6.5 grendel, 6.5x47, 7-08, or something like that. Mild 3500-5000 round cartridge.

 

[Shadow knows]

Great information. Barrel burner was a concern also which I have considered a 6.5 cm but now and stepping out of a range that I once had. Maybe I should go with a 243 but everything I read the accuracy goes to the 6 cm.

On a separate note I am thinking a 6.5 Grendel upper.