Years ago, I hunted ground squirrels in CA a lot. Built a 22-250 and rebarreled it several times. I had a friend I hunted varmints with in Idaho who owned a 6mm-06. He called it his "50 cents rifle". Pretty basic math: it cost about $500 to rebarrel it each time, and he got about 1,000 rounds through it before accuracy went completely out the window, so about 50 cents/shot (not counting the cost of the ammo). Had another hunting buddy in NV years back who shot a 264 Win Mag. Same logic, only the numbers were a little different. Both of them were high volume shooters, both of them rebarreled about once/year. Your barrel is a consumable, have fun and don't let the numbers scare you.I understand it's a barrel roaster, but I'm going to experiment with some "conditioning" and see if that makes any difference. In the bigger scheme of things 3 to 4 hundred dollars a barrel doesn't seem all that bad as a "consumable."
Exactly. But it takes a while for me to get "a feel" for the real potential of a barrel, it's almost an art figuring out "how much--but not too much." I'm getting a high quality match grade barrel, so it's a bit intimidating to go right at it with something like Tubb's conditioning bullets--but they do help. I'll just have to really closely examine the bore, chamber and throat and hopefully not botch it.I do it for increased velocity and reduced fouling.
It trails the bigger ones by only a marginal bit, an insignificant factor IMO since it's already got enough juice to get out there far, flat and fast. My barrel is being made with a fast twist to handle some of the recent spectacular 7mm bullets that have come out.I will be interested to hear how you do with that Shooting Times wildcat. In published data, it seems to trail the "ultra" mags and Nosler's new big case. But it should have the capacity to run with them.
I'm sure you'll be happy with it. I've shot a remmie 700 in 7mm RUM and I liked it--except at close range it can "laser beam" right through your game. I ordered a 28" heavy sporter with 8" twist and decided to try the ratchet rifling out of curiosity.I bought a barrel from him the day before yesterday, but wasnt as adventurous. I went 7mm Rem Mag. Hope it shoots well for you! What length did you choose?
Why's that? "overspin" for the jacket--or are you speaking in terms of performance on game? I was thinking mostly of Berger's newer heavy bullets.With the fast twist out of the STW, i'd shy away from the ELD line.