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About 2 years ago I picked up a Bergara HMR in 22-250. It comes from the factory with a 1/9 twist and a #6 contour, 24" barrel.
I immediately changed out the factory stock for a Grayboe Ridgeback. At that point, the rifle was ok, but it was just such a long and heavy rifle for night hunting coyotes. I took it on several hunts and killed a few yotes with it, but I just wasn't that excited about the rifle anymore. And for over a year, that big girl has stayed in the safe while I went out coyote hunting with other rifles.
Fast forward to last week when I was introduced to Alex @AME Firearms. I tell Alex about my 250 and my displeasure with the long barrel and we make an appointment for me to drop it off so he can work his magic.
I dropped off the rifle on Sunday and I get a message last night that the rifle will be ready to pick up this morning! That's less than a 4-day turnaround!
Alex removed my Surefire brake, removed the barrel, cut off 6" of the barrel, down to 18", put an 11-degree crown on the muzzle, threaded the barrel, timed the brake by cutting back the shoulder, reinstalled the barrel and checked the head space.
I picked up the rifle today and I'm blown away by what a difference it made in having the barrel cut down. The rifle is better handling, lighter and, looks incredible!
I know...I know, how does it shoot? The 3-shot group below is the one and only group I shot this afternoon. This was shot with factory Nosler ammo, through an iRay thermal at a hand warmer at 100yds. The one shot not touching the other two was the cold bore shot.
Anyways, I couldn't be happier with my decision to have this barrel cut down. And I can't recommend Alex enough.
I immediately changed out the factory stock for a Grayboe Ridgeback. At that point, the rifle was ok, but it was just such a long and heavy rifle for night hunting coyotes. I took it on several hunts and killed a few yotes with it, but I just wasn't that excited about the rifle anymore. And for over a year, that big girl has stayed in the safe while I went out coyote hunting with other rifles.
Fast forward to last week when I was introduced to Alex @AME Firearms. I tell Alex about my 250 and my displeasure with the long barrel and we make an appointment for me to drop it off so he can work his magic.
I dropped off the rifle on Sunday and I get a message last night that the rifle will be ready to pick up this morning! That's less than a 4-day turnaround!
Alex removed my Surefire brake, removed the barrel, cut off 6" of the barrel, down to 18", put an 11-degree crown on the muzzle, threaded the barrel, timed the brake by cutting back the shoulder, reinstalled the barrel and checked the head space.
I picked up the rifle today and I'm blown away by what a difference it made in having the barrel cut down. The rifle is better handling, lighter and, looks incredible!
I know...I know, how does it shoot? The 3-shot group below is the one and only group I shot this afternoon. This was shot with factory Nosler ammo, through an iRay thermal at a hand warmer at 100yds. The one shot not touching the other two was the cold bore shot.
Anyways, I couldn't be happier with my decision to have this barrel cut down. And I can't recommend Alex enough.
