Very heavy 20" barrel on a carbon fiber A5 stock?

[Snakum]

Planning my first custom and have settled on a McMillan A5 Edge, which is super light. I had also kinda wanted a fluted no taper 20" stainless barrel (Krieger or Brux) with threaded brake so I wouldn't have to sweat POI shift during a hard run. But it occurred to me that a barrel this heavy might be very unbalanced with a super light stock.

Anyone done this - heavy short barrel on a carbon fiber stock?

How was the balance?

How did it feel shooting unsupported?

 

[Hateca]

Re: Very heavy 20" barrel on a carbon fiber A5 stock?

Lighten the barrel, your are adding barrel weight for no good reason.

 

[BobinNC]

Re: Very heavy 20" barrel on a carbon fiber A5 stock?

Snakem,

A heavy barrel, with a light stock, is like balancing a pig on the end of a shovel. However, a scope, loaded AICS 10 round mags (for example), steel rings, steel bases, and steel BM can all add weight aft, and bring your balance point back to the rear.

Also it is easier to add weight, than to take it off. So if the rifle full up is unbalanced, then add lead in the ass as needed to the stock under the butt plate.

Also what threaded brake your considering? Many brake (break?) designs add a ton (8oz.) of useless weight at the very end. Great on a 300 mag or 338 Lapua (a 20" 338 Lapua???, that will get your attention). Not so great on a 308, which needs a brake, about like a nun needs boobs, IMHO.

All in all sounds like a great project.

Bob

 

[Snakum]

Re: Very heavy 20" barrel on a carbon fiber A5 stock?

Yeah .... because I'll do quite a bit of off hand/unsupported shooting with it I'm going to have to go with an MTU profile (fluted) to keep the weight balanced.

I like a muzzle brake because it helps me stay on target. As light as this thing will be I'll definitely need one.

Edit ... as far as brand of brake, StrictlyRUM machines his own iirc. He'll be doing the rifle whether I buy an FCP McM and mod it or build from scratch.

 

[TRG65]

Re: Very heavy 20" barrel on a carbon fiber A5 stock?

I have 2 rifles built on A5 Edge stocks one has a 26" fluted #7 contour (+break) and the other has a 22" fluted #7 contour.

The 26" is more front heavy than I would prefer, and takes some definate effort to steady for position shooting. So you have to practice. The 22 is great, it just sits for position shooting and is balanced in my opinion almost perfectly. I have another rifle that is getting a Manners T4 90% carbon stock on a 24" #7 barrel. My wife has similar rifle with the Manner standard that I think weighs a little much so the carbon stock should be about perfect.

I just had the 22" set back, and when that barrel finally goes I will probably go with a 26" just so that when I practice I don't practice with the 22" and then shoot a 26 or 24 in a match.

 

[Snakum]

Re: Very heavy 20" barrel on a carbon fiber A5 stock?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Seth</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have 2 rifles built on A5 Edge stocks ... a 22" fluted #7 contour.

The 22 is great, it just sits for position shooting and is balanced in my opinion almost perfectly.
</div></div>

That's good to hear. A5 Edge and 22" #7 ... sounds like a winner.

I considered just buying the Savage 10FCP McMillan and having Jason cut and brake the barrel and pillar bedded it. Then have it trued and squared when I replace the barrel later on. But I have custom rifle fever so I'm not thinking clearly.

 

[Hateca]

Re: Very heavy 20" barrel on a carbon fiber A5 stock?

If this is a .308 or like cartridge, and you want a light weight and a balanced rifle with a 22" barrel, and you are going to use a brake to lessen recoil, you need a barrel no heavier then the Remington Varmint contour, anything else is really wasted metal.

 

[TEAMSENDIT]

Re: Very heavy 20" barrel on a carbon fiber A5 stock?

if you have custom fever, buy the stock savage mcmillan and put the money into a custom barrel instead of dumping a bunch of money into a factory tube. with bedding and a custom barrel a savage fcp with shoot as good as almost anything out their short of benchrest rifles. just my .02cents though.

 

[Snakum]

Re: Very heavy 20" barrel on a carbon fiber A5 stock?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HateCA</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If this is a .308 or like cartridge, and you want a light weight and a balanced rifle with a 22" barrel, and you are going to use a brake to lessen recoil, you need a barrel no heavier then the Remington Varmint contour, anything else is really wasted metal. </div></div>

Thanks for the info.

The idea on the barrel length was really to find out what length/contour would work best with the carbon fiber stock. Ie. 'How big can I go and still keep it balanced with the Edge stock, and at what length for a given contour to maintain that balance?' I can definitely go 20" if I can have a heavier contour.

I guess I really need to try and find someone with a Carbon fiber Edge or Manners and a heavy-barreled .308 and see how it feels, what they find when shooting off-hand etc.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[TEAMSENDIT]

Re: Very heavy 20" barrel on a carbon fiber A5 stock?

i can tell you i have a 26" fluted rem varmint contour on my fn w/manners carbon msc-t and it balances perfect fully dressed. it weighs 9lbs 12oz without all the acc. about 12lbs fully loaded.

 

[Snakum]

Re: Very heavy 20" barrel on a carbon fiber A5 stock?

Having a hard time getting info from McMillan on the Savage mold in an Edge stock. Anyone emailed or called them lately? Been told they can do it/have done it, but not getting anything further as far as cost and delivery.