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bull barrel vs regular barrel
#1816662
11/09/10 08:01 AM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 558
no-guts-no-glory
OP
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OP
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What are the benefits of having a bull barrel over a regular barrel?
Would you hunt deer with a rifle that has a bull barrel?
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Re: bull barrel vs regular barrel
[Re: no-guts-no-glory]
#1816737
11/09/10 12:22 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,219
dee
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,219 |
Bull barrels don't heat up as fast and I have hunted with one but only out of a stand.
"A vote is like a rifle; it's usefulness depends on the character of the user" Theodore Roosevelt
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Re: bull barrel vs regular barrel
[Re: no-guts-no-glory]
#1816738
11/09/10 12:25 PM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 669
Canazes9
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There is almost no benefit to having a bull barrel in a deer rifle. There are some schools of thought that believe the bull barrel's extra stiffness makes it inherently more accurate, but it is not true accuracy is virtually the same all things being equal.
The bull barrel has 3 primary benefits.
1) The barrels extra stiffness resists heap warpage induced by firing multiple shots in a short period of time. Heat warpage will cause POA to drift, sometimes erratically.
2) The extra mass of the bull barrel is a much larger heat sink and there is a larger surface area. These properties allow a bull barrel to soak up a lot more shots fired w/ out getting hot enough to experience POA drift and to cool down relatively quickly.
3) The extra mass in the bull barrel greatly aids in accuracy by making it easier to hold steady and by reducing the rifles recoil. Both of these factors contribute greatly to improved accurate shot placement but have little to do w/ the Rifle's inherent accuracy.
Finally, bull barrel rifles often have features that assist w/ accurate shot placement - Wide forestocks made for shooting off a rest instead of being comfortable to carry, upgraded triggers, improved bedding systems, etc.
The extra weight, reduced recoil, better triggers (depending on make) may improve accuracy slightly in a stand with a fixed rest, but most modern hunting rifles are easily capable of shooting 1.5MOA out of the box w/ factory ammunition. In most cases that accuracy far exceeds the capabilities of the shooter at long range.
David
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Re: bull barrel vs regular barrel
[Re: Canazes9]
#1816740
11/09/10 12:31 PM
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,216
kyle1974
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Re: bull barrel vs regular barrel
[Re: kyle1974]
#1816797
11/09/10 01:02 PM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,592
kmon11
junior
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junior
Joined: Sep 2006
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Canazes9 summed it up quite well. I have deer hunted with Bull Barrel firles in the past but I sold them, accurate though they were I got tired of the extra weight. When hunting I carry the gun a lot more than I shoot it, a lighter rifle is a lot easier to carry around.
lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true Mainstream news might be fun to watch
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Re: bull barrel vs regular barrel
[Re: kmon11]
#1817049
11/09/10 02:30 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,762
psycho0819
THF Trophy Hunter
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I like varmint weight barrels when I know I won't be carrying them a lot. I just like the stability they provide. That being said, they are far from being a requirement for almost any type of hunting situation. Way more animals are taken every year by sporter weight barrels than heavy weights. It's all a matter of personal preference.
Tolerance is the virtue of a man without conviction.
The end of the world began the day it was created, and life is a sexually transmitted terminal disease.
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Re: bull barrel vs regular barrel
[Re: kmon11]
#1817104
11/09/10 02:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,450
TexasTransplant
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Some point of impact difference is not created by barrel heat but by barrel harmonics. Most people agree that bull barrels tend to have both less change in direction and more predictable vibrations each shot, so tend to have more predictable point of impact each shot (although still modified by heat). http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4136491 has some good discussion, other sources, and a video that shows what it's about pretty well (you might want to fast forward about a third of the way - it's a BOSS commercial). "The forced deformations from the high pressure gas and recoil cause the muzzle to change where it is pointing at the target when the bullet exits the muzzle." http://varmintal.com/amode.htmhttp://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/05/13/fascinating-new-benchrest-rifle/
She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.
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Re: bull barrel vs regular barrel
[Re: TexasTransplant]
#1817253
11/09/10 03:18 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,357
J.G.
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Canazes9,
Don't you mean POI to shift instead of POA? (point of impact vs. point of aim)
The first shot is worth all the rest. Deer hunting; I don't believe a bull (or cow) barrel is necessary. Your cold bore shot is what is most important, and everyone's goal is one shot = dead deer, hog, coyote, etc. My two bolt guns are .22-250 with a bull barrel, and a .308 with a heavy fluted barrel.
The 22-250 has now seen the prarie dog fields and a heavy barrel is absolutely necessary if you want to keep shooting when sporter barrels are too hot to keep going. The .308 is my target, competition, hunting rifle. It is heavier than what is needed to deer hunt with. Especially when there is walking to be done. It'll be carried several miles this week.
But I load for it, shoot it quite a bit, and am comforted in knowing that I've got a rifle that will impact a shot where I need it to. That is worth the extra weight when carrying it.
The next rifle will be another .22-250 with a heavy fluted barrel. Fluting increases surface area thereby increasing cooling effect. I am on the side that it DOES NOT INCREASE BARREL STIFFNESS. Removing stock cannot strengthen a piece of steel.
So the heavy fluted barrel is my top pick for barrel style. Different strokes for different folks is all.
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Re: bull barrel vs regular barrel
[Re: J.G.]
#1817282
11/09/10 03:26 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,836
SLT
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I have both on my RR AR's. They both shoot the same out to 200 yrds. The bull barrel does a little better farther out but not by much.
Anyone can own a fancy gun but can you shoot it ?
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Re: bull barrel vs regular barrel
[Re: J.G.]
#1817289
11/09/10 03:28 PM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 669
Canazes9
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Tracker
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Fireman
Yes POI, not POA - I got sloppy ww/ my post.
TT,
Yes some folks believe that the stiffer barrel will produce reduce better harmonics and thereby improve accuracy. However, there is also a lot of evidence that it the stiffness is not important, just the repeatability of the harmonics. Repeatability is not really affected in a single shot cold bore situation - only multiple shots w/ heat induced barrel wqrpage.
Later today I'll try and dig some more info up on this.
Regards,
David
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Re: bull barrel vs regular barrel
[Re: Canazes9]
#1817347
11/09/10 03:39 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,357
J.G.
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Fireman
Yes POI, not POA - I got sloppy ww/ my post.
TT,
Yes some folks believe that the stiffer barrel will produce reduce better harmonics and thereby improve accuracy. However, there is also a lot of evidence that it the stiffness is not important, just the repeatability of the harmonics. Repeatability is not really affected in a single shot cold bore situation - only multiple shots w/ heat induced barrel wqrpage. I believe there's some truth to this as well. That helps illustrate why when finding "the" long range load occurs when the barrel is flexed upward and paused prior to decending back down thereby allowing the bullet to leave the barrel at its most stable position within the wave. (Yes barrels flex when a round is fired)
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
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Re: bull barrel vs regular barrel
[Re: J.G.]
#1817382
11/09/10 03:47 PM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 35,191
Brother in-law
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I take my heavy barrells all day long for stand hunting and some walking. There are just to many long range specialist tha use heavy barrel's for some reason.
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Re: bull barrel vs regular barrel
[Re: J.G.]
#1817396
11/09/10 03:50 PM
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 32,604
sig226fan (Rguns.com)
duck & cover
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duck & cover
Joined: Nov 2005
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One shot only applications make for very little difference once each rifle is tuned appropriately.
I actually hunt with three guns. A standard weight barrel when a variety of situations may develop; A bull barrel 26in rifle when long range is expected, or precision is needed, especially from a blind or stable platform and where I don't have to carry the thing.... a semi-auto compact carbine for quicker action shots.
Hunting my primary stand in west texas this year, where I can hunt deer at 100 to coyotes at 1000+ out the other window, I'll have the big savage. But that blind has a garage under it where the four wheeler parks, literally.
Hunting the river stand where we don't take vehicles the last half mile, and it has terrain changes, the shorter carbine or lighter standard weight rifle will get the call.
In my case, the standard weight barrel is also stainless, so it gets some bad weather duty as well.
I have had to turn down shots with both, holding the 26in Savage as pigs run by me, and holding the 16 inch carbine looking at Muy Grande on top of a South Texas bluff at 400m.....
Most DEER hunters will never appreciate the difference in a bull or heavy barrel in hunting conditions.
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Re: bull barrel vs regular barrel
[Re: sig226fan (Rguns.com)]
#1817504
11/09/10 04:15 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,641
redchevy
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Like said above the bull barrel wont heat up as fast. The major thing I think is that it cuts down on recoil.
That said, I have a rem 700 sendero and it shoots great, but I hate the stock, it is not fitted at all, no cheek piece, it doesnt fit well, I want to get a different stock for it someday.
matt
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: bull barrel vs regular barrel
[Re: redchevy]
#1817509
11/09/10 04:17 PM
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 32,604
sig226fan (Rguns.com)
duck & cover
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duck & cover
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 32,604 |
If I changed stocks, I'd want an adjustable stock; custom stocks tend to be hard to use in multiple stances. I actually keep pretty basic stocks on mine, to allow for some adaptability.
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Re: bull barrel vs regular barrel
[Re: sig226fan (Rguns.com)]
#1817546
11/09/10 04:29 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,267
Sirrah243
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I use to carry a bull barrell all over the country side when I was varmit hunting and they have their advantages as stated but the big disadvantage is weight.
If you hunt a stand and your walk to the stand isnt far then go with a bull barrel, they are a lot easier to hold on target.
�A hunt based only on the trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.� -Fred Bear
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Re: bull barrel vs regular barrel
[Re: Sirrah243]
#1817738
11/09/10 05:27 PM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,065
exoticbob
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hard to beat a bull barrel rifle when just stand hunting. it really keeps the rifle from moving as much when lining up the crosshairs.
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Re: bull barrel vs regular barrel
[Re: no-guts-no-glory]
#1817759
11/09/10 05:33 PM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,262
RICK O'SHAY
THF Trophy Hunter
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What are the benefits of having a bull barrel over a regular barrel?
NONE
Would you hunt deer with a rifle that has a bull barrel?
sure I'll hunt with anything I've got ! Would I buy one to hunt with, NO
DISCLAIMER ATTENTION: Your decision should NEVER be based SOLELY upon my advice, recomendation, or opinion.
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Re: bull barrel vs regular barrel
[Re: RICK O'SHAY]
#1833500
11/15/10 01:07 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 107
ghollow
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 107 |
My daughters all shoot a rifle with a bull barrel. Mainly because of the reduced recoil. The gun is a Ruger M77 6mm. One of the most accurate rifles I have ever owned. It shoots sub-MOA with factory ammo.
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