Bull V/S (well) not Bull?

[lostinthewoods]

Hello all.

I was wondering what are the advantages of a bull barrel over a standard taper barrel?

I know you can argue that you can gain accuracy. However you're guaranteed that you'll gain weight. Honestly, if it will shoot 1MOA at 100yds then it'll shoot 1MOA at 600yds, right?

The reason I ask is I'm thinking about sending ye ol faithful NEF handi rifle in 243 off to MD for a 308 barrel. They offer a bull and a standard barrel. The bull is heavier and pricier. The rifle will out shoot me at 100 yards in 243 I would assume that it'll do the same in 308. So why a Bull?


Thanks for your thoughts.

lost

[WRTN]

I would go with the heavy barrel for less recoil, less barrel deformation do to heat from repeated shots, less barrel vibration, and it will allow more shots in between cool off periods at least for the first round of shots. Just a much more accurate barrel for long shots. If you don't fire many if any shots over 100 yards, the taper barrel will do just fine.

[hunter63]

IMO
Bull barrels-target shooters.
Sporters(tapered) hunting/whatever.

Use what ever your comfortable with.

Practice, practice, practice.
Remember, "Beware of the man with only one gun, he knows how to use it".

[remington]

The bull barrel is very nice in the NEF. It seems very ballanced. Well, the barrel won't heat up nearly as fast. (More metal) And, it's a little steadier because of the increased weight.

[Florida_boy]

Balance might be a major factor in how it feels to you. The BB would soak up more recoil and in theory make repeat shots more consistent as it wouldn't heat up as fast.

[High_Desert]

I also want to say, What are you doing with the rifle?

If it is a hunting or SHTF rifle, then I would keep the standard taper.

I typically carry light weight single shots for hunting and the only very slight downside is they are not quite as steady on off hand shots. I still manage "minute of elk or deer " though!

HD

[Pitdog]

Standard Taper will do you just fine for all practical purposes. One barrel is NOT more accurate than the other. It is simply a matter of resistance to changing factors, such as heat. Slowness of the average target shooting session especially among single shot owners is going to be sufficiently slow to allow the barrel to not gain heat swiftly enough for you notice it in the first 3-5 rounds. After that if you shoot one right after the other, then you will notice a difference in bull and standard. Remember also, it may take longer to heat up, it will also take longer to cool down.