Author Topic: Hunter class barrel contour question (Read 654 times)

MarkW · « **on:** February 10, 2005, 10:52:44 AM »

Hunter class rules call for a hunting style barrel that is tapered from chamber to muzzle and no bull barrels allowed. I have a small bore rifle that makes weight but has a fairly heavy barrel which has a typical two part taper (a steep section at the chamber which blends into a shallow section to the muzzle) and is around 19" long. There are no straight sections and it is not fluted. My question is what is the definition of a bull barrel and are there any barrel diameter dimensions that need to be met. The rifle shoots very well and I am hoping to be able to use the existing barrel. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

MarkW

dave imas · « **Reply #1 on:** February 10, 2005, 11:37:57 AM »

Hi Mark,

This can be tough or easy depending on how you want to approach it. Taper isn't really defined in the rules so one can just say that if it is smaller at the muzzle than it is at the breach it is tapered. With that said if one were to show up with a barrel that was 1.00" at the chamber and .995" at the muzzle, although tapered, this might be frowned upon. my barrel goes from .900 to .681" over 25.5" an extended sundberg taper from Lilja. Most custom barrels are similar in taper. basically... if it looks like a hunter barrel you will probably be fine.
dave imas

MarkW · « **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2005, 04:52:38 PM »

Dave,

Thanks for the input. The barrel is on a 40x action so it starts at 1.200 then tapers to 0.860 in about 2 inches of barrel length. It then tapers from there out to 0.795 at the muzzle. By letter of the law, I believe it is legal, however, I do not wish to stir up a hornets nest by just showing up with it. The way the rule is worded, it sounds like as long as it is tapered to the muzzle and makes weight, everything should be ok. However, sometimes what is written and what is meant are two different things.

Mark

dave imas · « **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2005, 07:09:17 PM »

yup. you hit it on the head... by the strictest definition you are absolutely legal... with that little bit of a taper, however, you will probably get sideways glances from some folks. you are legal tho so if it is what you got, that is what i'd shoot. i can promise you it is gonna bother them much more than it is gonna bother you.
good luck and better shooting.
dave