Re: Bartlein barrel on Remington 700
I have a Bartlein on my GAP built Rem700SA in .260Rem. It's a great barrel on a great build, and it’s very accurate. However, I'm not sure that any one of the top end barrels is better than the other, and I'm not so sure that GAP is any better than any of the other gunsmiths who build rifles for the tactical arena.
I have several rifles (Savage, Remington, AR’s) that have various other brands of barrels and that are built by a number of other smiths, and they shoot as well or better than my GAP rifle. My GAP/Bartlein in .260 Rem seems to be finicky and only likes 142SMK's. As where my Savage .260 Rem is a disposal, and will eat whatever you feed it and send the remains down range with incredible accuracy. My point is, I believe that there are so many variables in the equation it's hard to pin-point one component as the pivotal factor in the game of accuracy. There are a bunch of guys building great rifles, and there are an equal number of barrel makers producing button and cut rifled barrels in all sorts of materials. Any of the high end barrels and a competent smith can produce a rifle that will deliver greater accuracy than you know what to do with. Is there a combination of smith, action, trigger, stock, optics, and barrel that is the holly grail? No! Get what you want, any thing less will only lead to disappointment. If you feel that Bartlein is the only real choice in a barrel than by all means get a Bartlein. Can GAP install that barrel on your action? Hell yes! And you will most likely have a very accurate rifle when it’s all said and done.
Good luck and let us all know what route you decide to go and how the rifle shoots when it’s finished.