18 replies to this topic

[CA Desert Dog]

I just received the new 24" Shilen .204 match barrel I ordered for my AR upper build. Mama Mia is that one heavy barrel. No kidding....I was expecting it to be a bit on the heavy side but this is serious heavy. The upside is that I will not be having any problems seeing my hits. I ordered the rest of the parts and they should arrive next week. As soon as I have a time window at home where there will be no interruptions (fat chance), I'll put the new baby together.I plan on mounting one of the brand brand new Hawke HK5135 VARMINT Series, 6-24 X 44 SF, 1/2 MIL DOT, side focus scopes on this baby. The shipment is on the sea now and we should have them available by the first or second week of December. They are very nice scopes and priced very competitively. I'll be using this .204 upper for ground rats and close stands. I will have to see how heavy this rig will end up after it is fully together and loaded. No matter. I am confident that this rig will shoot bug holes. The 1-9 twist is faster than other .204 barrels and will offer me the opportunity to shoot longer (Berger) bullets. Who knows, this rig may even shoot the copper junk accurately. Time will tell.For those that may be interested, the new Hawke Varmint Series will be available in the following configurations:HK5132 VARMINT 2.5-10x44SF 1/2 MIL DOTHK5133 VARMINT 3-12x44SF 1/2 MIL DOTHK5134 VARMINT 4-16x44SF 1/2 MIL DOTHK5135 VARMINT 6-24x44SF 1/2 MIL DOTI do not have pricing info on this new series as yet.

[OrneryOlMofo357]

Im gonna guess between 12= 13 lbs.. But I bet it will shoot! Good luck !

[Frank]

Yeah, my semi customed 22-250 with Douglas premium 26" target barrel, contour #7(?) weighed in at around 13 1/2 lbs fully ready to go (scope & all). Man was it a tack driving, screaming (4,000 fps 50gr bullet) machine. It slayed coyotes like a laser. And yes, I could call my shots, which really did help me on more than one coyote slayed with it.Uh, I ultimately sold it though... mostly due to that darn howitzer trailer I had to use to haul that pig on. My current predator rifles weigh in at approx 11 1/2 lbs. Still no featherweights. lolFrank

[acousticmood]

Dang Red that's one heavy rifle!I'm gonna build mine in .204 also but I'd sure like a light rifle. Looking forward to hearing the rest of the story.

[.22guy]

Looking forward to some pics of this build, sounds like it will be awesome!

[zippy1970]

I got a 24" from them too in Tac.20 . great bbl BUT I had an issue in the begining that they kept ignoring . Great bbl . Great price . But , for me , not so great on helping me after I bought their product . Why so heavy ? My gun rolls in at 11.6 #s and a # or so is due to the adj buttpad thats on it . My home built . Andy  2.jpg   17.58K   22 downloads

[JimT.]

Let us know how it performs, Red. My 6.5 Grendel has the Alexander Arms 24" heavy barrel. I haven't shot it yet but I have high hopes.

[CA Desert Dog]

I should be getting the receiver and all of the other upper parts this week. I'll also have to make up some loads because I have just been neck sizing my 204 ammo for my bolt rifle. Next, have to find the time to assemble it and it will probably be a while before I can actually get to a range. I'll most likely have to wait for Christmas break before I can sneak away. I have a load of household projects to complete before we put the house on the market.

[rude robert]

I hope your not moving too far and is the move a good thing to happen?

[CA Desert Dog]

Well, I finally had a chance to assemble the new Shilen barreled .204 upper. It went together pretty easily. The only tedious step is making absolutely sure that the gas tube and bolt carrier gas key line up "exactly" (using one-direction torque) so the gas key swallows the gas tube without touching the inside of the gas key on either side. It is together now and really not as heavy as I initially stated. It's no lightweight but not too bad either. I'll settle for the added weight considering the claimed accuracy potential. I am going to build some loads using 39-grain Sierras and XBR. As soon as the new Hawke Varmint scopes are in, I'll scope the upper and get it to the range.I tried to chamber the accurate loads I use for my .204 Howa but they would not chamber (I neck sized the brass). I bought a full-resize .204 RCBS die and from now on I'll be using that instead of the neck sizing die. It will be really sweet of the accurate Howa load also shoots accurately (bug holes) out of the Shilen barreled AR. I can't wait to try it out.And to Robert.....Yes the move is a good thing. We are heading for the free state of Tennessee. The house will go on the market sometime after January and we hope to move in the spring. We feel that California is way over populated and the political situation and fiscal decisions that are being made will spell trouble for the "producers" that live here. In other words, many of us will be supporting more and more people that are sucking from the government teat. I have had it with the laws, rules, restrictions, taxes, fees, illegals, traffic, etc. CA is in a big bind and we feel that new taxes & fees will surely be coming down the pike to restrain all of the good people and ruin productive small businesses here. My tax burden is off the page now and I have had enough. Between the state and the feds, I am working half the year for them (and the free govt. cheese crowd ). The fact that welfare people in this state can use their welfare debit cards to take European cruises, spend our tax dollars in Hawaii and casinos makes me sick. The system is broken and nobody in Sacramento is up to the job of fixing it. I could ramble on but you're most likely already asleep.

[Frank]

Red, I hate to see you leave, but certainly can't blame you for sure. I wish I could leave too, but unfortunately that will not be in the cards for me.

[CA Desert Dog]

Well Frank, I may leave the state but I'll still be checking in with my favorite guys. Truth is, we can't afford to stay here. I want to simplify my life and kick back. I don't think it's possible to do that here. I want a lower cost of living, lower fuel and food prices. Even at Wal Mart, I noticed that stuff (hunting stuff) was much cheaper down there.

[OrneryOlMofo357]

And Kommiefornia wants to know why small buisness is leaving. Red, as soon as I can, I too will be following suit. The Left is running this state further and further out of reach for " Working" families.... Let them glean the harvest from all of the Aliens and non workers that they so eagerly protect! This state sucks! Good luck in your Ventures. Jerry Brown.... You have Lots to Fix !!!!!!!!!!

[Braz]

I'm working on my wife to move to Arizona, but no luck as yet. But I'm not going to give up for all the reasons stated above.

[CA Desert Dog]

I'll tell ya Braz, my wife stated two years ago that she was a California girl and that there is no way she would move. I took her to Tennessee twice and she fell in love with the place. We have been back several more times and now she is chomping at the bit to move. Go figure. In 18-months, I wanna be settin' around the feed store chewin' the fat about deer, hog and turkey huntin' with some good old boys. I'ma gonna git me a small John Deere, a Harley and satisfy my country bone. Give me some good country music, some room to two-step, my boots, my darlin' and a hardwood floor. Venison, hog and turkey in the freezer and Kate's put up fruits and veggies. I'ma gonna git me a good Mountain Curr dog ta run hogs and I'll be a very happy guy. God willin', It'll all come together as planned.

[Heywood]

Well Frank, I may leave the state but I'll still be checking in with my favorite guys. Truth is, we can't afford to stay here. I want to simplify my life and kick back. I don't think it's possible to do that here. I want a lower cost of living, lower fuel and food prices. Even at Wal Mart, I noticed that stuff (hunting stuff) was much cheaper down there.

I'm sure you realize that it's all relative in terms of prices. The per-capita income in TN is less than CA. So when you see things that seem cheaper in TN than they are in CA, for the TN'ers it's still like the CA prices for CA'ers. Now obviously for retiree's / fixed income it makes sense to find the tax and low cost of living friendly states.

[CA Desert Dog]

Well, fortunately for me Heywood, my wife is 11-years younger than me. She can continue to work her California job as an account executive from her home office in Tennessee and still make her CA pay. I am attempting to make a transfer within the company I work for and possibly work out of a home office too. We shall see. Prices in general are well below those of CA and with JB as the Gov again, I am afraid things are gonna get mighty expensive around here.

[Frank]

Well Frank, I may leave the state but I'll still be checking in with my favorite guys.

Whew, good to hear that, Red... And glad you are able to make that move also. One should be able to do what they love, especially in their golden years that's for sure

[winxp_man]

I just shot my Shilen barrel in 6.8 SPC that installed on my AR and posted results in the WOA thread that I started. I have to say that I'm extremely happy with it