Author Topic: Choosing a barrel? (Read 615 times)

TomVan · « **on:** February 03, 2005, 07:07:50 AM »

I am preparing to rebarrel my Remington 700 BDL 30-06 and am in the process of choosing a new barrel maker. Shilen is nearby and has a good reputation. I also read alot about Lilja barrels and they look good. The new caliber is going to be 6mm-06, 6.5-06, or 25-06. I haven't quit settled on which one. The purpose will be a combination long range deer/varmit rifle, primarily varmit, but also for my daughter to hunt deer with. At 12 years old she is wearing me out to go deer hunting. (I can't take my wife, she kills all the deer and I spend all my time cleaning them! She killed 4 deer the year I taught her how to bowhunt.) I would appreciate all input on barrels and caliber choices. BTW, I already have a 300 RUM for the heavy duty shooting and a .270 for my son.

gunnut69 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 03, 2005, 10:49:50 AM »

The 6mm-06 is an excellant round and is the choice of the local coyote hunters. They are quite serious some switched to the 6mm-06 from weatherby 7mm Weatherby mags. The brass doesn't require fireforming but handloading is a necessity. Ballistics are about the same as the 240 Weatherby with better brass(IMHO) and cheaper brass. The 6.5mm version is about the same but trending to heavier bullets which are probably better for game but probably not quite as good for varmits. The 25-06 is an excellant round and will fill both roles you mentioned and is a lot easier to load for as ready made brass is available. It is not quite the big game round the 6.5 is and not the varmit round the 6mm version is. None of these is a good choice for a Praire dog town.. Too much powder capacity so they'll heat the barrels quickly and none of these are noted for long barrel life. For a youngster I'd vote for the 6mm-06. It's sort of a supersized version of the 243, a round I find kids shoot well. If they don't shoot well it's not fun! And we want it to be fun. The 6mm version with light weight bullets and moderate loads will be easy to handle and easy to hit with.. For deer sized game the 100(or 95) grain Nosler partition will kill well and provide exits should tracking be needed. My daughter used a M700 BDL in 243 to kill five deer in a row. She only needed a single round each. The largest sported 8 points and a 20+ inch inside spread. He was hit from about 90 yards thru the center of the heart, ran about 75 yards and piled up. The 6mm-06 is a 243 with more powder capacity.. Good luck..

Racepres · « **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2005, 01:41:43 PM »

Do not take what gunnut69 says abt. barrel heat lightly. My 6mm'06 gets very hot , to the point of changing impact after 3 fairly rapid shots. (btw the barrel is free floated). Not for prairie dogs I wouldn't think ... but quite accurate, (if I was a better shot this would probably be my MOA rifle) and "long range capable" for cyotes , etc... Marty

Hildy · « **Reply #3 on:** February 15, 2005, 02:51:22 PM »

Id go for a Lilja 25-06 barrel.

The 25-06 can get you 3800fps with 75g Hornady Vmax's and a hot load behind it. This will kill you a yote' out to as far as you can see it. Also, factory loads are available for even more user friendliness.

On deer, the 25 caliber will take over the smaller 243 caliber of the 6mm-06. Nothing against 243, but I find that caliber bullet to be minimal for deer and at the velocities you would get out of the 6mm-06, bullet fragmentation might even occur on impact.

I have a 25-06 and wouldn't give it for anything. I have killed groundhogs in excess of 300 yards and shot a buck last year at 100y. One shot, the deer dropped instantely.