Originally Posted By: baitpileSo, on the .204 topic, what barrel would you go with for a semi custom on a 700 action? I'm thinking finished at 24" in a #5 contour, 11 tw. I like just a bit heavier barrel. Looking hard at Krieger or Pac Nor. Sorry for the hijack, just popped into my head.
To some degree it'll depend on what'll fit in the barrel channel of the stock you're using. I wanted that old school Rem 700 BDL Custom Deluxe look when I had my 20-222 built and knew the Remington walnut stock I was using would be limited as to what would fit in the barrel channel. I went with an unfluted #4 and still had to do a fair amount of stock work to make the barrel fit.
I always use a barrel contour that best fits the stock I'm using. If the stock has a larger barrel channel I'll go with a larger contour so they match. To me, nothing looks worse than a big barrel channel with a small contour that looks like a hotdog laying in a canoe. On the flip side a barrel contour that is to large for the stock will require excessive work and makes the side thin which looks equally unattractive.
My two "go to" barrel companies have pretty much always been Krieger and Hart. My 20-222 wears a 11tw Hart finished at 26 inches but I'm going to have it shortened up a couple inches so your plan of using a 11tw finished at 24in. is a good plan.
If you're in a hurry the last Hart barrel I used was delivered in four weeks from the time I placed the order till it was sitting on my doorstep. My Krieger barrels usually always take six months.
That 11tw Hart on my 20-222 shoots extremely extremely well.