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Gidday Folks
I have a lightweight Bartelin barrel on hand that I've been holding off using for any sort of competition rifle because most of the very light barrels I've had in the past start opening up with 5 plus shots. However on reflection I don't think I've ever had a really high end lightweight barrel . . . can these sorts of custom barrels reliably hold zero as they warm up??
Depends on the cartridge it is chambered for. If .22LR it's not a problem.
What cal and twist rate ?
6.5 and 1:8. Am leaning towards a grendel chamber . . .
Quality custom barrels are still subject to the same thermodynamics as non-custom barrels.
If there are two rifles that weigh the same, and the barrels are identical to one another except one is thinner or thicker, they will shoot identical to one another until heat becomes a problem.
Really it is heat that is the deciding factor as well as the heavy barrel making you more steady.
So a thin barrel can shoot accurately, but if you shoot more than about 3 shots in a row, they will not keep up with a heavy barrel in regards to accuracy.
I shot my 260 Tikka with the standard lite barrel in quite a few competitions and even shot a couple of times at an NRA/F class range.
Even with 10 shot strings the groups didn't open up too much or wander around, yes the barrel was bloody hot but it performed admirably.
I wouldn't choose a thin barrel for competition use but it can be done.
The reason light weight barrels perform worse than heavy barrels is they are more prone to reacting to the unequal stress from the barrel manufacturering process. Bartlein arguably make the best barrel in the world and their process impart the least amount of stress practically possible during manufacture, so in theory you shouldn't have any issues.
Frank Green is the owner of Bartlein barrels, he posts on a few US gun forums of you do some Googling you'll probably find some information around this topic.
I believe he doesn't like fluting barrels, especially very thin ones due to the possibility of inducing uneven stresses in the barrel.