There are heavy barrels, light ones, medium ones, and some that are in between. It almost sounds like a Dr. Seuss story, doesn’t it?
Why are there so many various barrel profiles? We’re glad you asked because you’re about to find out what the various barrel profiles are intended for. But first, let’s start with the basics.
We generally divide barrel profiles (sometimes referred to as weights) into three basic categories, including Heavy, Medium, and Light contour barrels. Further, each style or category has its own attributes, complete with advantages and disadvantages. That said, does barrel profile really matter all that much? Well, let’s discuss.
Heavy Contour Barrels
A heavy barrel is sometimes referred to as a “Bull” barrel. It has no material machined off the outside of the barrel, which makes it a perfect cylinder. The outside diameter is constant along the entire length of the barrel. Heavy barrels have the caveat that they weigh more than any other type of barrel, begging the question, why would someone want more weight? Sometimes, if the caliber is heavy recoiling, the extra weight will help to tame the recoil, which is an obvious advantage.
Beyond that, the bull barrel has more surface area and metal, so it takes longer to heat up when being fired. That can help accuracy because as a barrel heats up, it can slightly warp, which can change where the bullet impacts the target. This is especially useful if the rifle will be used in sustained fire applications, which can cause a lot of heat.
Sustained fire is applicable to machine guns and occasionally sniper rifles. While snipers don’t always fire a lot of rounds in one engagement, it can sometimes happen. If a barrel heats up too much, it can actually be damaged by the heat.
Additionally, a heavier barrel profile is stiffer than a lighter one. The barrel’s rigidity is good because outside influences can affect it less. Tightening a sling as a shooting aid or pressure on the rifle’s handguard can cause the barrel to flex slightly (usually not enough to be visible) if it is not free-floating, which can cause the bullet’s point of impact to shift.
Cutting Weight
One way to shave off weight is to use a shorter heavy barrel. A positive aspect of doing so, aside from saving weight, is that a shorter barrel will be stiffer, which contributes to accuracy. The stiffer it is, the less it whips or flexes when the bullet travels down the barrel. Less flex can help to equal better accuracy. The downside of that is that when you start lopping off inches from a barrel’s length, the projectile’s velocity usually falls. Typically, though, it’s not as much as people might think, and often, a couple of inches off of the barrel’s length results in only a small loss in velocity, depending on the caliber. The savings in weight and length may well be worth it.
When I was a member of a tactical team, I was issued a Remington 700P in .308 Winchester. That rifle had a 24-inch heavy barrel and could shoot groups slightly under 1/2-MOA. I also had a personal Remington 700P that shot slightly tighter groups than the agency-issued model. Those heavy barrels sure did allow great accuracy.
Light/Thin Barrels
Some lightweight sporter rifles have thin barrels, sometimes referred to as “pencil barrels.” These lightweight barrels help to make the rifle lighter and less bulky. These types of barrels can be worn by all sorts of rifles, from bolt-action hunting rifles to AR-15s and other semi-autos.
While the weight savings might be nice, these thinner barrels can experience a lot of whip when the projectile is going down the barrel as the gun is fired. Another factor is that the barrel will heat up quickly after a few shots have been fired.
Medium Contour Barrels
I personally really like medium-weight barrels, as they offer the best of both worlds. They’re not too thin but not overly heavy, giving many of the advantages of both profiles and yet having few disadvantages.
My Ruger American Predator in 6.5 Creedmoor has a medium barrel, and the rifle is hefty but not overly heavy. It’s amazingly accurate and capable of less than 1/2-MOA accuracy with standard hunting ammunition.
Overall, this barrel profile is my favorite.
Other Considerations
Tapering
Some barrels are tapered, which can improve balance and handling and reduce weight. Most of the time, the taper narrows gradually toward the muzzle and can be employed on barrels of various weights, from heavy varmint hunter barrels to thinner “Pencil” type barrels, and it is sometimes so subtle that it’s difficult to notice.
Fluting
During the fluting process, grooves or channels are cut into the outside portion of the barrel. These are often straight grooves, but spiral fluting has been gaining in popularity in recent years.
Not only does fluting save weight, but it also adds surface area to the rifle’s barrel, which helps it dissipate heat and cool more quickly. Aside from the functional aspects of fluting, it also adds an artistic element to the rifle. In other words, it makes the gun look cooler!
Downsides of Fluting
The downside of fluting is that it adds cost to the rifle, and having it done as a custom feature can be expensive. Occasionally, we’ll see fluting offered from the factory, which is always a nice touch. I have a Savage MK II FV-SR rifle in .22LR that came from the factory with fluting, and I love it. To be honest, the fluted barrel made it stand out on the shelf, which is what prompted me to have a look at it in the first place. I’m glad I bought that rifle because it’s a great shooter and very accurate. The heavy, fluted barrel really delivers.
Did I “need” the fluting on the Savage .22LR? Not really, and I don’t know that it makes the rifle shoot any better. However, I’m tickled with the appearance, and the fluting raises the cool factor by a wide margin. It’s a lot of fun to shoot tiny groups with it at the range, and the weight of that heavy barrel adds a little extra weight, so the recoil on a cartridge that barely recoils at all in the first place is nearly imperceptible. It’s just plain fun!
Closing Thoughts
Different strokes for different folks make the world go round. We have the luxury of choosing between a host of barrel lengths and profiles. The ranges from lightweight to heavyweight are interesting, and it can be very rewarding to select just the right barrel profile for the task at hand.
Maybe you’re in the market for a light sporter made specifically for toting around the mountains. Perhaps you need a sniper rifle or target rifle, so a heavy bull barrel might be the best way to go. Then again, Ruger’s American Predator is a good all-around rifle to fill many tasks. Whatever the mission you’d like to fill, there’s a barrel out there somewhere that’s just perfect for the task.
