Bartlein Barrel for 280 Remington

[sage5907]

I am getting ready to re-barrel a pre 64 Model 70 Winchester to change the caliber from 30-06 to 280 Remington. Bartlein is not currently taking on-line orders but they did call me back today and we worked out the details. They will be building a pre 64 Model 70 featherweight #1 contour barrel out of CM steel with a 284 bore, 5-R rifleing and a 1:9 twist. The barrel will be delivered in a 24 inch length and my gunsmith will cut it to 22 inches. I already have a similar rifle in 280 Remington but as this is my first Bartlein barrel and the prospect has really got me excited.

My gunsmith suggested a standard 5 groove barrel but the salesman I talked to at Bartlein told me the 5-R version was my best choice. He said it would take about 6 months to machine the barrel and I was surprised by the fast turn around. The company is running two shifts to keep up with demand. He also said they have intentionally cut back on the number of barrels being made for the large retail companies because they didn't have enough space for individuals like me. I asked if Bartlein is making barrels for the Ukraine War and he said they do have some military contracts.

 

[Chuck R.]

I've got 2 Bartlein's, and a 3rd rifle being re-barreled with another one now.

I've had very good luck with them accuracy wise and ease of cleaning. They just shoot and don't shift/spread when heating up. My favorite profile is a 2B, which is about a magnum profile, and I then shave some weight by using a Manners CF stock. I wish they'd flute them, but they won't do less than a 3B profile. My latest build is a stainless .308 (.300WM), 5R, 24" with 3/4" shank, that's going on a modified Rem 700 action in a Manners EH3 stock.

You can find the larger profiles in stock from some vendors, it took me a little while to find my latest 2B. I'm kind of surprised the wait isn't longer for the light sporters and feather-weights as they just don't do as many of them.

 

[horsemen61]

Good barrels

 

[Litetrigger]

The .280 Rem. is always a smart choice, especially for a Pre-64 M-70.

 

[horsemen61]

Yeah sounds like a great project

 

[LoonWulf]

Sounds like a fantastic build!
ive wanted to try a bartlein for a while, but just havent yet

 

[Varminterror]

I typically buy 4-5 Bartleins each year. They’re as good as any I have bought, and I’ve been through a bunch, and the Bartlein crew are great to work with. I have Bartleins in 6mm creed and Dasher, 7RM, 300wm, 338wm, 416Rug, and 458wm, and have a 37” blank coming for my 375cheytac hopefully next month.

 

[Nature Boy]

I have 2 and they live up to their reputation. Looking forward to seeing a range report when you get it put together

 

[troy fairweather]

Should be nice, what stock is that on your 70. I am wanting to rebarrel the action I picked up recently I'd like to do 280ai but not sure how it will feed so may just do a 280. Still need to pick up a floorplate and flower and spring for my action but may get a stock first.

 

[sage5907]

Should be nice, what stock is that on your 70. I am wanting to rebarrel the action I picked up recently I'd like to do 280ai but not sure how it will feed so may just do a 280. Still need to pick up a floorplate and flower and spring for my action but may get a stock first.

Troy, this stock is a McMillan pre 64 Winchester Monte Carlo that I have had for several years. I paid about $600 for the stock and it's a exact copy of the monte carlo walnut stocks that I have on my other pre 64 Winchester rifles. It works good but nothing can take the place of a quarter sawed straight grain american walnut stock. A while back I told you about a wood stock that I was planning to sell and I placed it on eBay yesterday. It's a pretty stock and a good buy but probably not what you are looking for.

 

[sage5907]

I have 2 and they live up to their reputation. Looking forward to seeing a range report when you get it put together

Nature Boy, I don't think my range reports would impress anyone. i do all of my sight-in work and shooting practice from a sitting position using a single shooting stick and I am very happy when I get a minute of angle group at 200 meters. I usually practice at 200 meters and it's common for me to shoot 4 rounds in a small group and have a single flyer slightly out of the group. It's hard to hold the rifle still and time the trigger pull so the rifle fires when the sight picture is right and do that for five consecutive shots. I call every shot so I know where the bullet hits when the rifle fires. I'm a hunter and I practice hard on steel targets out to 300 yards to make good hits hits on animals in all kinds of conditions. I usually hunt from the ground in natural cover and it's almost impossible to use the prone shooting position in Oklahoma. I belong to a shooting club and I see everyone shooting from the bench and I always wonder if they can hit anything when hunting.

 

[Casefull]

I so agree with you about shooting positions when hunting. I hunt elk in the Rocky Mountains in steep terrain. Most of my shots are standing, some off hand and some touching a tree. I count myself lucky when I can get a sitting or a prone position. Add in increased heart rate due to exertion and elevation I always test myself before leaving the range by shooting 6 inch steel offhand. Consistently hitting from that position pleases me more than 1 inch groups from the bench.

 

[sage5907]

I so agree with you about shooting positions when hunting. I hunt elk in the Rocky Mountains in steep terrain. Most of my shots are standing, some off hand and some touching a tree. I count myself lucky when I can get a sitting or a prone position. Add in increased heart rate due to exertion and elevation I always test myself before leaving the range by shooting 6 inch steel offhand. Consistently hitting from that position pleases me more than 1 inch groups from the bench.

I completely agree with you. A good practice session for me includes shooting 10 inch steel round plates using my shooting stick at 200 meters. I practice to keep my skill level up so I can quickly hit 10 plates in 10 shots. The same goes for shooting 10 inch steel round plates at 300 yards and when I hit all 10 shots in a row it really pleases me. I also practice looking into the sun, and in very cold and windy conditions. During hunting season most of my shots seem really easy and if I get a shot at 100 yards I feel like I have been cheated because I didn't get to use my skills.

 

[troy fairweather]

Troy, this stock is a McMillan pre 64 Winchester Monte Carlo that I have had for several years. I paid about $600 for the stock and it's a exact copy of the monte carlo walnut stocks that I have on my other pre 64 Winchester rifles. It works good but nothing can take the place of a quarter sawed straight grain american walnut stock. A while back I told you about a wood stock that I was planning to sell and I placed it on eBay yesterday. It's a pretty stock and a good buy but probably not what you are looking for.

Ok that's what I thought it was, any idea on the weigh of the McMillan. The wood stock you had was nice just not my style, still my get a barrel off you one day. I have a few ways in my head to build this m70 but I just don't have the money my work season is about to end and not much work until fall.

 

[sage5907]

any idea on the weigh of the McMillan.

Troy, the rifle with the McMillan stock weighs 8 pounds 4 ounces. The average weight of the exact same rifle with a wood stock is 8 pounds 8 ounces. So, I would say the McMillan is about 4 ounces lighter than a standard wood stock. That's the best I can do today.

 

[troy fairweather]

Troy, the rifle with the McMillan stock weighs 8 pounds 4 ounces. The average weight of the exact same rifle with a wood stock is 8 pounds 8 ounces. So, I would say the McMillan is about 4 ounces lighter than a standard wood stock. That's the best I can do today.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Litetrigger]

As mentioned earlier in this thread, a .280 built on a Pre-64 M-70 Winchester is a great combination. Here is one that I have hunted with for a number of years. At 8 lbs, with 23" barrel, It's not a lightweight but I've managed to tote it up some steep sheep hills from Alaskia to Asia, and places in-between. The French walnut stock and other touches were done by custom rifle guru Clayton Nelson.