Sawtooth Rifles: Build #10 & 11: .308 Win F-t/r competition barrels for a BAT action

Sawtooth Rifles - Build #10 & 11: .308 Win F-t/r competition barrels for a BAT action

A set of barrels for a F-t/r competition rifle based on a BAT-B action.

Spec's:

Sawtooth Rifles #10
Action: BAT model B target action
Barrel Blank: Krieger #14 Heavy Palma, Stainless, 4 groove, 1:12" twist, finished at 29.5"
Chamber: .308 Win Darn Palma Rev B
Finish, Barrel: Cerakoted in Blue Titanium and Tungsten

Sawtooth Rifles #11
Action: BAT model B target action
Barrel Blank: Krieger #14 Heavy Palma, Stainless, 4 groove, 1:11" twist, finished at 29.5"
Chamber: .308 Win Darn Palma Rev B
Finish, Barrel: Cerakoted in Blue Titanium and Armor Black

For this project, an already chambered barrel was supplied as the model for the desired chamber depth and length (barrel weight). The goal was to simply duplicate this, and gain the ability to supply future barrels for this receiver without needing the receiver to fit each one. The supplied barrel was chambered by a fellow by the name of Lester Bruno... There was just a little bit of pressure on us for these barrels to perform.

I should also say that this particular project was pursued as a way to see where we are at as a rifle shop, as they will be evaluated by one of the top F-t/r shooters. I am very thankful to have the chance to do this, and have a friend have enough confidence in me to send me $700 worth of Kriegers and say have at it. We do have some pretty high expectations for these barrels now.

The BAT action is a masterpiece in itself.

A new tool we made during this project that allows a positive measurement of the chamber depth, by measuring the distance from the tenon shoulder to go gauge face. This measurement can be compared to the distance between the receiver face (or recoil lug face if one is used) and the bolt face, and the difference is the headspace allowance. In theory...

Our headspace measurement on the Bruno barrel = 1.0725ish.

A squared off face of the barrel blank, ready for the tenon features to be machined.

Tenon features to mate up with the BAT action.

Testing the fit of the BAT action on barrel #10. Perfect.

With the chamber mostly cut, we use the new chamber depth tool to measure where we are at and calculate how much further we need to go.

1.0725ish.

Rifle math and expensive little tools.

Another little trick is to crush a piece of silver solder between the go-gauge and bolt face, which gives you something you can measure the thickness of.

0.003"

Just hit the go button again and we have #11. Actually it takes a bit more than that...

#10 and #11, just a few more things to do.

Crown time. We used a recessed 90* target crown on these. It is simple geometry but perfection is our goal here.

The shine was taken off the barrels and then they were marked for engraving.

Lewis put the magic touch on them.

With the ends of the barrels polished and masked off, we decided to play around with a little Cerakote on them. A base coat of Blue Titanium was applied and flash cured. Some netting was applied and a second color was added.