Gunsmithing .223 Remington 5R factory 24" Barrell

[TCBREINIG]

Ok need some help here I have a 223 remington 5R that has approximately 5000 rounds through it. I have always had great groups through this rifle easily 1/2 MOA with every thing I have shot from 55 grain Hornady V-MAX to 75 Grain A-MAX, after I began Loading the 75 grain amax the groups at 200 yards where regularly 1/2 to 1 inch and alot of times in the right conditions 3 shot clover leafs on paper. So after about a year and a half of a whole lot of steel shooting I did some groups on paper and my accuracy has eroded and so has the throat by .080. Basically I have pushed the bullet out trying to get it to shoot and can push it no further only .172 bearing surface left and when I measured the throat with a hornady case gauge I can feel a rough spot before it seats in the lands.
I guess my question is it possible to sqaure the receiver face and lap the lugs, set the barrel back .100 to .120 or will it require cutting more of the barrel off to fix this, or would it be more economical to buy a new barrel.

Thanks,

Thomas

 

[LRDD]

Get a new barrel spun up. Not worth the effort to set back a barrel IMO

 

[buffybuster]

Doesn't make much sense to setback a OEM barrel with 5K rounds through it, not matter how good it used to shoot. Machine time is machine time.

Buy a new contoured barrel blank and have it threaded and chambered for another 5K rounds of fun.

 

[FCS]

Good bye 9 twist factory tube, you were great but our time together has passed.

HELLO 8 or 7.7 twist custom tube!

 

[AKONA]

If the rifling is good you might get by reaming again but this means you have to cut off the shank and basically rechamber that
is not particularly easy with a 700 if one wants to do it right and have perfect headspace.
Now, if you want to make this easier you could do a little trick that is to thread the remaining of the shank and then have someone
cut you a barrel nut for the remington thread. Pac nor has one that uses the savage tool or at least they use to have one.
So this way you can ream again and short chamber and then headspace using the savage method. ..now you have to be careful with the current
thread relieve and make sure doesn't got too deep. .100 is not much but this must be done properly with the
same care as if it was new and there is no reason to suspect would not produce good accuracy like before and give the barrel a 2nd life.
I would make a larger barrel nut just like pack nor design that seems to help with support and aesthetics too.
You can only go as deep as the barrel can go before it starts to taper down and depending on your barrel profile.
For some people these things are easy because they might have a barrel vise and tools and renting a reamer to give a few turns is fine but
if you do not have this and a lathe or access to an economic job to do this then you might be better off sending for a rebarrel with a new barrel
because otherwise what is the point of spending too much money on experimentation only to find out the barrel will never shoot like before
or at least close to how it shot before.
You might like the 5R but try the Lothar Walther LW50 barrels. Those shoot like the house is on fire. Krieger, rock and others too of course.

One of the advantages of savage barrels ready to go ...
Lothar Walther


Others with more experience can comment. good luck.

 

[TCBREINIG]

Thanks, HMMM time to start selling things to pay for a re-barrell. 223AI here I come.

 

[shoot4fun]

Thanks, HMMM time to start selling things to pay for a re-barrell. 223AI here I come.

Unless you just want one, don't go 223AI. Especially if it is your "go-to" 223 rig. I own a 223AI by APA and love it but it is not my only 223 bolt gun. Sure, you can shoot plain old 223 ammo in it but the brass stays AI forever after. I suggest a Bartlien 7.7 twist 5R at 28" for maximum shooting pleasure.