Originally Posted By: pyscodogI have a buddy that claims the inside of a Savage barrel looks like an old sewer pipe. Amazing that they shoot so good.
My reason for the original question is "Someday", for my last hurrah,I'd like to build/have built, a really nice hunting rifle. Its all just a pipe dream now but someday!! I would really like to get a "great" barrel for it.
A friend of mine and writer for PS Mag, the late Bob Jourdan, had a Savage Low Profile Varmint in 204 Ruger. He showed me some groups, appox 30 different loads, averaged around .570" for 5 shots. He told me that was very impressive for a factory rifle, but knew he could milk more out of the cartridge with a Hart Barrel. About a year later i stopped by to see him and had remembered to ask him about that project. He pulled out about 40 groups from the 204 Hart barrel. They averaged .490".... Sometimes better is just a few hundred dollars away.
Ive seen buddys spend thousands of dollars just to gain 10hp on a hotrod.
Though Bob did achive better I dont know if it was worth it. IMO, I dont worry about switching a barrel until its accuracy falls beyond my expectations. And like you, I also dream of a day when I finally have enough reason to get myself a "Custom Barrel". The need has just not risen enough to justify the expense.