Heavy varmint barrel...
 

Is there a superior reason to go with a heavy varmint barrel?

I've narrowed it down to a .22-250 for coyote.

I am having trouble deciding to spend more on a great scope or spend more for a heavy varmint barrel?

RE: Heavy varmint barrel...
 

the heavy barrel would be a little better if you are varmint hunting when you will get many shots in a short time period and notwalking for miles.the heavybarrel takes longer to heat up. but for predator hunting for coyotes ,cats, etc the lighter the better. you don't want to drag a 10 pound gun threw the woods for 8 or 10 hours. i would go for the sporter barrel and get the best scope you can afford. out of all the guns that i own i carry a ultra light youth model h&r single shot .223 the most for coyotes. it weights less than six pounds with a scoped mounted. you can carry this thing all day and hit just about anything want within a couple hundred yards with no problem. the reason i use a youth model is when you have all your heavy winter clothes on and sitting in a snow bank the gun length is perfect.

RE: Heavy varmint barrel...
 

You know, all my life i wanted a heavy barrel rifle. I thought they just plain look kaooooool. Well about 3 years ago I bought myself a brand new .243 in a heavy varmint barrell. Well i can tell you I will never buy one again. The thing is just to damn heavy ! and with a 26" barrell it's just to much gun. But damn does it look good ! LOL
Never again. Function before form, from here on out.

RE: Heavy varmint barrel...
 

The thicker the barrel the stiffer it is. This means less barrel movement when the bullet is traveling through the bore so your bullets exit the bore closet to the same spot in the barrels movement each time. All things being equal this translates to tighter groups and better consistancy.

A heavier barrel also takes longer to heat up when firing multiple rounds. This leads to longer barrel life and less "bullet walking" as the barrel heats up. However, it will also take longer to cool down if you do get it hot.

A lighter barrel is easier to carry from place to place but generally looses accuracy quicker due to heating up quicker.

My decision would be made with my intended purpose for the gun in mind. If I were going on prarie dog shoots where I would be stationary for long periods of time then the heavy barrel would win out. If I were going to need to be mobile with this rifle then a lighter weight barrel would win out.

If you want the best of both worlds get a heavy barrel but fluted. The flutes save weight, add rigidity to the barrel and aid in cooling due to the added surface area exposed to air.

RE: Heavy varmint barrel...
 

for a 22 250 i would go a heavy barrel, my cousin owns one and it heats up after just 2-3 shots, he has a savage witha 26" heavy fluted barrel, its not that bad to carry around on a day of gopher hunting. With high felocity cartridges i would deffinatly go with a heavy barrel.