This has probably been covered but I’ve been using bugholes barrels which are awesome for accuracy on my origin actions but know that more smiths have the specs for origins any “competent” smith can spin up a shouldered barrel for the same price if not cheaper. The key is competent Smith I’m not going to give up the accuracy that I have been getting from Greg at Bugholes just to go to a shouldered barrel. There a couple guys here in Missouri that can do it easily Ryan Hunt and Alpha Omega Rifle Cable Morris
Bighorn TL3 barrel advice needed
- Thread starter SWWI Shooter
- Start date
I have flats milled into my barrel I still use a vise you can use the Ross Vise to swap at the range (I dont use the Ross mind you..). I use the flats and my action wrench to swap barrels.
I'm pretty sure the creator is a member here on the hide.
I use a viper vise and a bighorn action wrench at home, its a nice setup you dont even have to take the action out of the chassis. I usually switch from 223 to 6br to 6.5x47 every range trip.
I'm pretty sure the creator is a member here on the hide.
I use a viper vise and a bighorn action wrench at home, its a nice setup you dont even have to take the action out of the chassis. I usually switch from 223 to 6br to 6.5x47 every range trip.
You should check out the Origin to TL3 recoil lug conversion that Ryan Hunt makes https://huntslongrange.com/product/hlr-origin-0-150-thick-recoil-lug/?v=7516fd43adaa
I have several Origins and have used this lug quite often (barrel will headspace but may not time perfect for the label).
im playing with the opposite of this. origin barrels for a TL3 with a spacer. as soon as my TL3 gets here ill confirm it works but i have very few worries
If your going to torque your barrel to 75lbs you will still need a vise. (I dont torque mine that tight unless its something I am taking hunting or its not coming off anytime soon).
I'm curious how that will turn out, I have a shop full of TL3 barrels but no Origin barrels. I have two Origins and honestly have had great luck with them they are a little more difficult to swap with the recoil lug. The MPA chassis is nice because it will lock that lug down and make it easy to swap.
Never saw that hadn’t looked into Ryan until we shot in a squad with him down by Osage a couple weeks ago and I talked to him about prefits for a BRX. I’m playing the waiting game on a gain twist left twist barrel from Bartlein
I have two 7mm LHGT coming. Waiting sucks
The way the origin barrels are setup with the lug. Adding the spacer should be a better alternative than a small recoil lug. Time will tell.
SO is he sticking a piece of metal in somewhere in his chassis to hold the action in place? I couldn't quite tell.
Yes the mpa chassis has a spot the back at the stock that works good for that. I don't use metal I have a piece of oak that I shaoed to fit in there but hardly ever use it. I just use my action wrench with a long socket and ratchet laid down on a bench with my pad I lay on prone. The bench works pretty much like his leg does.. I don't tighten to 75lbs I get mine more in the 45-50lb range but that has always worked for me.
Edit I support the end of my rifle with my game changer while I do this to keep from scratching stuff all to hell.
I need to make a video one day lol.
How often do you really find yourself changing barrels in the field? It would seem that it’s a pain in the ass to have to rezero every time you switch barrels and calibers
I have a TL3 with a 6.5prc cf barrel from proof I am going to be using as a hunting rifle, shoots great. It is shouldered and proof is working with bighorn on these prefits which makes a great marriage.
I did order a Bartlein barrel in 6.5cm for matches as the carbon fiber was too light for that job.
I had a buddy do a spiral cut on his barrel and it came in a tenth or two lighter than my cf fwiw.
Ymmv
Hope this helps
That was the original thinking but honestly I switch for two reasons.... First I like to shoot 6BR its truly an amazing cartridge out to about 800 yards (and before everyone starts yes I have hit at 1K+ with it). Where I shoot most at there are no target indicators so seeing hits at that distance with a 6BR sucks. Once we start shooting over 800 I switch to either 6.5x47 or 6.5 Creedmoor. Or if I want nostalgia I will start with 308 or warm up with 223.
The second reason is alot of times I am really pressed for time when I shoot, once I heat the barrel up I can swap over to another caliber and continue on, letting the other barrel cool with a fan. Honestly I have done this so many times now I already know where the rezero will be and funny enough my 6br and 6.5creed are literally one click off each other I attribute it to the hawk hill blanks lol. The biggest rezero I would have would be my 223 barrel and 308 barrel but still its difference will be on an 8" target at 100yds.
I have a cheap ass harbor freight torque wrench that I am sure isnt calibrated the best but when I set it on 50lbs it is very repeatable. When I used barrel nuts I done the same thing the same way, I just loctited the nuts on the barrel.
I love Proof blanks and honestly their finished barrels. Just a heads up I have had an order with them for another TL3 6.5 Creedmoor barrel going on for about 13weeks now (usually they are much faster). When I called they said they had a machine go down the last couple of weeks or they was changing some machines out or something so that barrel will be pushed until at least the end of July so that will push me about 17 weeks if I'm lucky on a caliber/contour that almost should be a wall hanger in stock barrel. So if you are looking for fast then I would find a stocking dealer and not order directly or through experticity until they get caught up at least if you are in a hurry.
I have had a LH GT barrel ordered from Bartlein for 4 months and don’t really expect to here anything until at least September
i just ordered two. kinda like a NFA item. one day you get a call and you're like oh shit i forgot i bought a suppressor
Agree on the delay. My order went in the beginning of Feb and I got the barrel the last week of May. I figure 6.5 PRC was the issue since I still cannot get fresh brass, I pull factory honey 147 and put in my receipt. Sounds like 6.5cm is on the same delay.
They are places out there that sell a proof barrel but it has been chambered by that other place. I believe in Proof Research, I also believe in Bartlien and Lilja
They are places out there that sell a proof barrel but it has been chambered by that other place. I believe in Proof Research, I also believe in Bartlien and Lilja
Just curious those of you that have them. What are you paying for quality shouldered barrels Bartleins would be my preference from quality smiths such as Hunts. I have 4 bughole bartleins and I think they were all right under $650 threaded not including the nut or wrench. I’d rather have a shouldered barrel if it was around the same cost and quality. My 6brs shoot 1000 and beyond easily.
Mile high is where I got mine. It was a blank, had it sent to my guy who will have is finished.
I do not have mine back yet, it’s been there a week. I suspect $300. This will be my 2nd barrel on the TL3
keystone or PVA $650 for shouldered
buy blank and send to a smith. $330 for blank and $350-400 for smith depending
I’m only asking because I’m going to get a 2nd barrel for my origin a 223 and I’m not sure where to get it
I will probably send keystone my Bartlein GT LT after looking at there sight but they don’t carry Bartlein so I guess I’d have to buy one in 224 and send to them also
or just let him use his barrels...they're hammers, even the buttons. ask @padom not worth the extra money just to have bartlein written on the shank for a few minutes before the smith scrapes it off
I’ve had all the different brands and they all shot well but I haven’t found a barrel that cleans as good as Bartlein I might me talked into to a Krieger just to save the hassle
In my opinion (and its just my opinion..) I would take a Hawk hill over a bartlein and a Krieger for that matter.
I would also take a Proof over a Bartlein but thats mainly because the price that I cant announce because its part of the deal on experticity for a cut rifled stainless steel TL3 barrel is absolutely stupid low. Any of the cut rifled barrels are going to do fine your going to get similar performance out of all of them. The only downside to a Proof barrel chambered by them is they really have limited chamberings and good luck getting anything other than a saami chamber.
I fully intend on having Keystone make me a 224 valk barrel in a month or two in a button rifle just for shits and giggles. I have friends who got the 6mm's when he was doing the 2 barrel specials and they are truly hammers. The one 6 Creedmoor is one of the fastest barrels I have ever seen.
I would also take a Proof over a Bartlein but thats mainly because the price that I cant announce because its part of the deal on experticity for a cut rifled stainless steel TL3 barrel is absolutely stupid low. Any of the cut rifled barrels are going to do fine your going to get similar performance out of all of them. The only downside to a Proof barrel chambered by them is they really have limited chamberings and good luck getting anything other than a saami chamber.
I fully intend on having Keystone make me a 224 valk barrel in a month or two in a button rifle just for shits and giggles. I have friends who got the 6mm's when he was doing the 2 barrel specials and they are truly hammers. The one 6 Creedmoor is one of the fastest barrels I have ever seen.
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I have a proof ss savage barrel in 6 creed. Nicest cleaning barrel I have ever had. But when proof chambered it they gave it about 3 miles of freebore. So it definitely likes the heavy bullets.
I think I’m going to try a button rifle barrel in 223 from Keystone it’s just a 2nd barrel I still have my Bartlein 6br so if it doesn’t work I’ll take it off and use it in the off season for practice
I just ordered a McGowen barrel. I may regret it but if I can get it to shoot 1/2 moa, I'll be happy and for a bit over $400 Cerekoted, I figured I would give it a try. It will at least get me shooting and once I see how all of the components fir together, I can make more expensive adjustments as/if needed.
No, not shouldered. I think I'm going to order the Bighorn 12 point nut to go on it. I have it from 2 different guys at Bighorn that you don't need to have a torque wrench, just use a normal wrench to crank it on and go. I suppose if I intended to take it on and off all the time, I would get a torque wrench to be consistent but for now, I will try it without.
Yep, they are on my "to buy" list along with an action wrench.
I have done what you’re getting ready to do and it’s a great decision. I have the McGowen barrel and a Bighorn Barrel Nut. Rifle is chambered in 6 XC and, now that I’ve developed the right load and the barrel is broken in, it consistently shoots sub 1/2 MOA. If you’re curious, I’ll send you the target pic (5 three shots groups).
Sure, if you want to share pictures, I'll look. Also wouldn't mind seeing how the barrel nut looks installed. Not a lot of those pictures on line.
I use shouldered pre fits for my TL3 from Ryan Hunt @ Hunts Long Range. I can swap barrels in 7 minutes from start to finish (complete rifle, breakdown, swap, reassembly) in a SAC vise at home.
I sent him a few pieces of fired brass and he got my new one so close that I don't even have to touch my sizing die between barrels to match shoulder bump. He typically uses/stocks Hawk Hill, but can do whatever you want
I sent him a few pieces of fired brass and he got my new one so close that I don't even have to touch my sizing die between barrels to match shoulder bump. He typically uses/stocks Hawk Hill, but can do whatever you want
This is the McGowen Barrel with Bighorn Nut in my Nucleus Action. Groups are from this set-up.
I had it in an MPA Chassis and am getting ready to put it in a KRG just to see how I like it. Also changing the trigger from a Triggertech Special to a Diamond just for comparison.
Lastly, the smallest black dot in the targets (inner most of the concentric circles) is 0.408" in diameter.
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Nice, thanks for sharing. Feel free to sell me your Triggertech Special at a good price
We shoot 5 shot groups around here or they dont count. Lolol
