Barrett 98B

[GJM]

I have been eyeing a Barrett 98B in .300 WM as a possible long range elk and caribou rifle. Bare rifle weighs in the 9-10 pound range, which scoped and slung up will make it heavy but not ridiculous to carry.

Anyone have experience with these?

[Sherman A. House DDS]

I do. And in full disclosure, I worked with the T&E folks at Barrett with these, and Chris Barrett is a close friend.

I'm a fan. Chris is an actual shooter and designs his rifles accordingly. It really is an ergonomic, user friendly gun. I didn't realize it was that heavy. I'm in some of the promo pics running around with it and I thought it was about seven pounds, by feel.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[45dotACP]

One does not simply buy a Barrett 98B in a caliber that isn't a 338 lapua. Very un-timmy.

-20 smoke-checks

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

[Crews]

I didn't spend Barrett money on it, but I have a similar rifle: it's also a 300 WM, with a 26" sendero profile barrel and an XLR Element. Scope is off at the moment.

I never had any intentions of toting this thing around when I put it together. But even with a 2-pound Nightforce perched on top, I was very surprised how "relatively" light and easy to handle it is.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170512/effde3e0ad9f330cf261afc3e9e90b0c.jpg

And even with the 5-rnd AI mag, it'll fit in an Eberlestock Gun Runner pack. Unless you have a large objective scope. It just barely fits in there with a 4-16x42 ATACR. The gunrunner pack is awesome, btw.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170512/626d075cd460bc50ac6ba86e16cda7f4.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DamonL]

I don't know anything about the Barret. SLG posted about this rifle on here as a rifle that looked interesting to him, or I would not have known about it. Its a similar idea at a lighter weight.

http://liveqordie.com/product/rifles-by-q/the-fix-by-q/

I don't know if the calibers available will work for you.

Found the thread:

https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?24084-The-Fix-6-5-grendel-Killer

[Lost River]

Crews,

Your .300 looks a lot like mine:

26" Light Palma

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/IV_Troop/Rifles/P1000740_zpsofl6hj1h.jpg (http://s18.photobucket.com/user/IV_Troop/media/Rifles/P1000740_zpsofl6hj1h.jpg.html)



Looking forward to a range report on the Barrett.

[GJM]

Stopped by Sportsman's today, and they had the Ruger Precision rifle, Tikka Tac A1 in the chassis, and the Savage equivalent.

Wow, glad I handled before I bought, as I can't see hunting with something that heavy. The Tikka was every bit as heavy as the Ruger Precision rifle. The Savage was a bit lighter, but felt cheap by comparison, and the safety was unusable for quick shooting.

What is up with that Q, fix, or whatever they are calling that new rifle referenced earlier in this thread?

[SecondsCount]

Stopped by Sportsman's today, and they had the Ruger Precision rifle, Tikka Tac A1 in the chassis, and the Savage equivalent.

Wow, glad I handled before I bought, as I can't see hunting with something that heavy. The Tikka was every bit as heavy as the Ruger Precision rifle. The Savage was a bit lighter, but felt cheap by comparison, and the safety was unusable for quick shooting.

What is up with that Q, fix, or whatever they are calling that new rifle referenced earlier in this thread?

https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?24084-The-Fix-6-5-grendel-Killer

I have not seen or handled a Q but it looks to me like they aggressively removed a lot of material from the stock and barrel to save weight which is nothing new. What is new is the design of the bolt action itself.

They are taking pre-orders and it is not available in 300 WM at this time.

What distances are considered long range hunting?

[GJM]

https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?24084-The-Fix-6-5-grendel-Killer

What distances are considered long range hunting?

Good question, but I know it when I see it. I feel 0-300 is my sweet spot for trad bolt hunting rifles, but I go to 400 under special circumstances. Last year, I had to shoot further when I harvested my elk. Would like something that made 400-500 yards feel like 300 in a trad bolt.

It is ironic, that currently a semi-auto .308 weighs considerably less than a bolt in a chassis.

[LittleLebowski]

I'd just get a traditional style .300 and have it trued and slicked up a bit.

[GJM]

I'd just get a traditional style .300 and have it trued and slicked up a bit.

I already have what I think is the nicest light .300 WM hunting rifle in the world.

[SecondsCount]

I'd just get a traditional style .300 and have it trued and slicked up a bit.

That is what I was thinking but the reality is that GJM needs a Barrett 98B. Maybe not for hunting per say, but he needs one to reach out to 400 and beyond:D

[GJM]

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg251/GJMandes/mulie2_zps644df500.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/user/GJMandes/media/mulie2_zps644df500.jpg.html)

[Lost River]

Good question, but I know it when I see it. I feel 0-300 is my sweet spot for trad bolt hunting rifles, but I go to 400 under special circumstances. Last year, I had to shoot further when I harvested my elk. Would like something that made 400-500 yards feel like 300 in a trad bolt.

It is ironic, that currently a semi-auto .308 weighs considerably less than a bolt in a chassis.


I think a substantial part of what I emphasized in bold is a matter of making sure the stock fits you extremely well for field shooting, minimizing recoil through mechanical means (to allow you to concentrate on the fundamentals) and the right optic. I realize that probably sounds obvious, but sometimes the forest gets overlooked for the trees.

A McMillan Sako Hunter pattern stock works for me (and apparently many others due to its popularity). It has both a high cheek piece and a slight palm swell, which aid in getting a natural, repeatable shooting position.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/IV_Troop/Rifles/IMG_1875_zpsrlroxemc.jpg (http://s18.photobucket.com/user/IV_Troop/media/Rifles/IMG_1875_zpsrlroxemc.jpg.html)




The T3 .300WM pictured above was set up for longer range shots on big game in less than ideal conditions. It is not as fun to pack as my favorite little .308 carbine, but it will get the job done at extended ranges, and it beats the heck out of carrying a 15.5# chassis rifle.

Previously I had set my steel IPSC steel plate at 450 to confirm dope, and the data was on, so I found a spot on a rock face and sent 3 quick shots.

Bearing in mind that I only shot one group, and that really (statistically speaking) doesn't mean too much, but the 3 rounds dropped into about 2&3/4"s at just past 600 yards. That is under .5 MOA for a hunting bullet. However, all the shots on paper averaged out to a more realistic 3/4 MOA.



http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/IV_Troop/Targets/IMG_1877_zpsgtef5jvp.jpg (http://s18.photobucket.com/user/IV_Troop/media/Targets/IMG_1877_zpsgtef5jvp.jpg.html)


For me, I will take 3/4 MOA from a magnum chambered, sub 10# hunting rifle any day.

For what you seek, with a max range of 500 yards, under ideal conditions, I don't think you could go wrong with a T3 mag, dropped into a McMillan, with a muzzle brake. No, it is not a high end custom rifle, with all the bells and whistles, but it will fill the freezer.

[LittleLebowski]

If I had the money, I'd just throw money Hansohn Brothers and get The Fix: http://liveqordie.com/product/rifles-by-q/the-fix-by-q/

[GJM]

I think a substantial part of what I emphasized in bold is a matter of making sure the stock fits you extremely well for field shooting, minimizing recoil through mechanical means (to allow you to concentrate on the fundamentals) and the right optic. I realize that probably sounds obvious, but sometimes the forest gets overlooked for the trees.

A McMillan Sako Hunter pattern stock works for me (and apparently many others due to its popularity). It has both a high cheek piece and a slight palm swell, which aid in getting a natural, repeatable shooting position.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/IV_Troop/Rifles/IMG_1875_zpsrlroxemc.jpg (http://s18.photobucket.com/user/IV_Troop/media/Rifles/IMG_1875_zpsrlroxemc.jpg.html)




The T3 .300WM pictured above was set up for longer range shots on big game in less than ideal conditions. It is not as fun to pack as my favorite little .308 carbine, but it will get the job done at extended ranges, and it beats the heck out of carrying a 15.5# chassis rifle.

Previously I had set my steel IPSC steel plate at 450 to confirm dope, and the data was on, so I found a spot on a rock face and sent 3 quick shots.

Bearing in mind that I only shot one group, and that really (statistically speaking) doesn't mean too much, but the 3 rounds dropped into about 2&3/4"s at just past 600 yards. That is under .5 MOA for a hunting bullet. However, all the shots on paper averaged out to a more realistic 3/4 MOA.



http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/IV_Troop/Targets/IMG_1877_zpsgtef5jvp.jpg (http://s18.photobucket.com/user/IV_Troop/media/Targets/IMG_1877_zpsgtef5jvp.jpg.html)


For me, I will take 3/4 MOA from a magnum chambered, sub 10# hunting rifle any day.

For what you seek, with a max range of 500 yards, under ideal conditions, I don't think you could go wrong with a T3 mag, dropped into a McMillan, with a muzzle brake. No, it is not a high end custom rifle, with all the bells and whistles, but it will fill the freezer.

What muzzle brake, what scope, and is the barreled action drop in or do you bed it?

[Trigger]

Here is a very nice used alternative to the 98B. In 300WM.

http://www.eurooptic.com/Sako-TRG-42-Kit.aspx

[Lost River]

What muzzle brake, what scope, and is the barreled action drop in or do you bed it?

I did not bed this rifle, or my .308.

That said, one thing I have noticed is that McMillans can be "hit and miss" as far as if the stocks will be truly drop in. I have done a very slight amount of sanding on mine in the barrel channel area to make sure they were truly free float. Plus in the case of my .308 I went to Tacoma Screw and purchased some high grade screws, cut them to length, applied lock-tight and torqued to a consistent inch-pound setting.

The brake is a Harrells brake BTW. They are quite effective. They are not fancy in the slightest bit, and have some sharp edges that could be knocked off, but they work well and are inexpensive. I don't normally care as much about the inexpensive part, when it comes to setting up firearms (within reason), but in this case, you get a very good product at a great price.