Burnt Out Barrel?

[meestermeetch]

I have a 25” medium Palma barrel in 6.5 Creedmoor, that came off my match gun. It’s got 2300 rounds on it. While it will still group at 100, it’s SDs have blown out and it’s not consistent at distance.

So... what do I do with this thing? Put it in my recycling bin? Treasure it forever by letting it collect dust in the garage? Trying to cut and rechamber seems like a lot of work for an iffy result vs a new barrel... other thoughts?

 

[Mordamer]

I have been through quite a few barrels and none of them died via the description you give. They have always maintained a good SD even when they stopped grouping good. If they still grouped good at 100 then they would group good at distance.

I suspect something else is going on and I would think the main culprit to look at is your ammo. My second thought is to clean the crap out of the barrel and try again.

How many shots did you shoot over the chrono to determine the SD is bad? Maybe too small of a sample size is just giving you misleading SD data?

How many range trips and targets did you shoot at long distance to determine it isn't consistent anymore? Lots of times I can have a range trip where nothing seems to be shooting consistent, but next time I go out in different conditions and everything is back to shooting great.

 

[Steel head]

Well your certainly in the range of seeing issues.
You could adjust your load to see if you can get your ES back in line but that probably won’t last long.
I’ve had that work in a few barrels for a little while.
Others just wouldn’t respond to anything.
Usually I just start chasing speed as they get older.

New tube is the safe bet

I use my old barrels as practice on the lathe.

 

[meestermeetch]

I do not reload so I can’t alter that. I cleaned the barrel very well at the 2100 mark, then it tanked mid match at the 2300 mark. I have already pulled the barrel and had a spare heavier barrel waiting to replace this one. If I left ~200 rounds of barrel life on the table, so be it. I didn’t clean this rifle often, only when it did something funny and that was usually every 400. I don’t have a lathe so won’t be using this for practice, I could thread it back in after my current barrel goes out and see what happens but...eh. I don’t have a bore scope.

What should I do with this 25” long steel tube that is now scrap iron?

 

[KZP]

I do not reload so I can’t alter that. I cleaned the barrel very well at the 2100 mark, then it tanked mid match at the 2300 mark. I have already pulled the barrel and had a spare heavier barrel waiting to replace this one. If I left ~200 rounds of barrel life on the table, so be it. I didn’t clean this rifle often, only when it did something funny and that was usually every 400. I don’t have a lathe so won’t be using this for practice, I could thread it back in after my current barrel goes out and see what happens but...eh. I don’t have a bore scope.

What should I do with this 25” long steel tube that is now scrap iron?

I bet someone will pay you shipping costs for it in the PX. As mentioned in the thread, people like to practice lathe work on worn barrels.

 

[uncle_smokey]

Bad ass tomato stake.

 

[meestermeetch]

I do have a mean garden...

 

[DownhillFromHere]

I don’t have a bore scope.

While your barrel is at or near normal end of life, you said you only cleaned it "when it did something funny." Maybe you have a carbon ring built to the point of causing "something funny." There's not much excuse not to have a bore scope anymore, since a Teslong is under $50. I clean my 6.5CM and .223 barrels after every 150-200 rounds, and the carbon ring from that small amount - while not thick enough to affect things yet - is tough to get out without careful cleaning using a good carbon dissolver. Lots of threads here about it. The Teslong bore scope really showed me where I needed to pay attention in my cleaning routine. Some people will say bore scopes cause more trouble than they prevent... well, again, lots of threads here about that aspect too. I wouldn't be without one now.

 

[Southern Custom]

While your barrel is at or near normal end of life, you said you only cleaned it "when it did something funny." Maybe you have a carbon ring built to the point of causing "something funny." There's not much excuse not to have a bore scope anymore, since a Teslong is under $50. I clean my 6.5CM and .223 barrels after every 150-200 rounds, and the carbon ring from that small amount - while not thick enough to affect things yet - is tough to get out without careful cleaning using a good carbon dissolver. Lots of threads here about it. The Teslong bore scope really showed me where I needed to pay attention in my cleaning routine. Some people will say bore scopes cause more trouble than they prevent... well, again, lots of threads here about that aspect too. I wouldn't be without one now.

Having seen what kind of havoc a carbon ring will cause I’m a firm believer in cleaning now. I followed that “don’t clean till things go south” mantra till it bit me in the ass. I believe a lot of this is blind leading the blind. Or I read it in a forum so it must be true. Every caliber is different and each one likes a different take away from this is know your cartridge. And 6creeds run best clean. 6.5 is obviously a bit more forgiving.

 

[2aBaC̶a̶]

What action is it off of?

 

[KnowNothing256]

+1 to the carbon ring and Teslong suggestions, carbon ring was my first thought reading OP’s kickoff post and Teslong was what I thought when he said no bore scope. It’s a $50 investment that will answer/eliminate the carbon ring possibility, and pay itself back many times over after that. I have the USB version and wish I had the WiFi version for range trips, but either is an excellent value.

 

[Mr_Happyface]

I have always wanted to throw a burned out barrel on some shitty action I bought used and turn it into a “fire forming gun. “

My first round with new brass is a throw away, usually I break in new brass with fouling shots after cleaning, but even that wastes barrel life. I’d like to preserve my new barrel.

That being said; not to thread hijack, but if anyone knows which rifle could be easily adapted to receive a 300WM AI AWSM barrel let me know!

 

[meestermeetch]

It’s off an arc nucleus

 

[celltech]

Plug up the end, fill it full of CLR and let it sit for a day. Scrub it out and give it another "shot"...

Or send it to me and I will scope it for you...haha

 

[2aBaC̶a̶]

It’s off an arc nucleus

If you decide to retire it let me know.

 

[Evintos]

Your SD's can go bad if the throat dimensions have changed enough to require you to change the amount of jump required in your loads. If you don't see a noticeable decrease in velocity with the barrel, full clean (remove all carbon and copper), then measure the throat. Determine if it's possible to load a longer overall length while still fitting in the magazine (if you use a magazine). If cartridge would be too long, cut and rechamber if you're willing to accept shortening the barrel length.

Edit: should've read further before posting. Without handloading, you could just sell the barrel or just cut and rechamber. Hard to tell if it's changes in factory ammo that could've caused your SD variation since you have no control in that process.

 

[Baron23]

What should I do with this 25” long steel tube that is now scrap iron?

Eh, tomato stake?

 

[Baron23]

Soap box derby axle

sorry, just having a bit of fun....and yes, I’m easily entertained. LOL

 

[meestermeetch]

No this thread is fire with the goofy “how should I use this” keep it coming.

Peace pipe?

 

[Dead Eye Dick]

Soap box derby axle

View attachment 7588040

sorry, just having a bit of fun....and yes, I’m easily entertained. LOL

Considering the scandal of the 70’s where the Robert Lang maker of snow skis built his nephew a ringer

So, Do you think it will make weight?? (Using a Palma weight barrel for an axel)

(Lang built a racer that used an electromagnet in the front to give the racer a head start. Car won, but kid got disqualified.).

The great Soap Box Derby scandal of 1973 - Hella Entertainment

It was 1973, Watergate was on the horizon, but first there was a Soap Box Derby scandal involving little Jimmy Gronen that shook the nation.

www.considerable.com

 

[Baron23]

No this thread is fire with the goofy “how should I use this” keep it coming.

Peace pipe?

Well, in that case...how about midget pole vaulting...well, the pole part? haha

Or, if you have a fear of heights....how about midget javelin throw...the javelin part? haha

 

[Steel head]

^^^^
Frank at school?

 

[Rlb40x]

The same thing happened to me a couple weeks ago.
I have a surgeon with a benchmark barrel, 2000-2500 rounds.
A couple months ago I noticed my proven load opened up, so I chased the lands and it came back to shooting high .2s to .3s.
I took it out a couple weeks ago to verify velocity and zero before a match next week and it went to fuck!
I blamed it on my loads, so I made some fresh ones with Lapua brass and it shot the same, groups well over an inch. I re tourqued my action screws, checked bases and rings, all was good. I gave it a good cleaning, and it still shot like shit after fouling.
I knew she was close to being gone by round count, but I was expecting it to open up to .5 then .75 and so on.
It was a smoker until it gave out.
When I had it built a few years ago I had a Rock Creek chambered for a back up so I guess it’s time.
Here’s how it shot when fairly new, Five shots at 515 yds. I couldn’t do it every time, but the gun was capable.
I’m hoping the Rock will shoot my same load so I don’t have to tear down 100 plus rounds.

 

[B4Maz]

Here’s how it shot when fairly new, Five shots at 515 yds. I couldn’t do it every time, but the gun was capable.

515 Yards seems sus....

 

[Rlb40x]

515 Yards seems sus....

Suspicious all you like, it was witnessed by three other shooters.
Also, I’m not looking for validation, I’ve won a couple national level matches.
The rifle was a true freek for a non BR gun and would shoot mid 1s at 100yds with that same batch of loads.
I simply showed it’s best group to describe how fast the barrel went to shit.
I also said I can’t do it every time.

 

[slm9s]

I've always wanted to put some of my tired barrels as the handles on my reloading presses (cut down to the right length with the muzzle break on top)

 

[Sniperwannabee]

just rebore it into a 308

Reboring

Classic Barrel and Gunworks Reboring

www.cutrifle.com

reboring barrels will give you lots of practice @Steel head

 

[Steel head]

Interesting
Almost tempted to get them to bore and rifle one of my dead 7mm’s
$250.

 

[Sniperwannabee]

Interesting
Almost tempted to get them to bore and rifle one of my dead 7mm’s
$250.

im thinking the exact thing ive heard of it people doing it for a while but dont know anyone thats done it

 

[slm9s]

Lots of people have used JES to rebore hunting rifles. Search on 24hourcampfire for threads.

 

[chevy_man]

I have been through quite a few barrels and none of them died via the description you give. They have always maintained a good SD even when they stopped grouping good. If they still grouped good at 100 then they would group good at distance.

I suspect something else is going on and I would think the main culprit to look at is your ammo. My second thought is to clean the crap out of the barrel and try again.

How many shots did you shoot over the chrono to determine the SD is bad? Maybe too small of a sample size is just giving you misleading SD data?

How many range trips and targets did you shoot at long distance to determine it isn't consistent anymore? Lots of times I can have a range trip where nothing seems to be shooting consistent, but next time I go out in different conditions and everything is back to shooting great.

I had it happen with a 25-06 with a few thousand rounds. Would still print .75" at 100, but 12" at 400. No real idea on round count other than proof mark of 1969, and I rebarreled it over 40 years later. Bore scope showed the lands worn damn near smooth for 6" after the throat. How it still shot that good up close I have no idea, but I'd guess the rifling wasn't getting enough spin with the missing inches to fully stabilize causing the crazy fliers as distance increased. I couldn't hit the 600 yard plate anymore when I noticed it.

 

[Dolomite_Supafly]

Plenty of "shot out" barrels can be reused, I do it all the time. I have one that is 26" long, I think I paid $65 shipped for it. It is a quality, brand name barrel. After scoping it and coming up with a plan I can remove 99% of the problems and still have 20" of very good barrel. And by good I mean better than any factory barrel I have ever scoped. I am using it to build myself a 20" 6ARC barrel for my AR and I bet it will shoot as good as any factory barrel.

BTW, anyone with "shot out" barrels that they are going to toss, I will gladly pay shipping to me.

 

[Deleted member 10043]

Suspicious all you like, it was witnessed by three other shooters.
Also, I’m not looking for validation, I’ve won a couple national level matches.
The rifle was a true freek for a non BR gun and would shoot mid 1s at 100yds with that same batch of loads.
I simply showed it’s best group to describe how fast the barrel went to shit.
I also said I can’t do it every time.

If you shoot at the national level and even won a couple than you should know the barrel past retirement a while back. I don't know why you are speaking to the general population. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost be your three witnesses.

 

[Deleted member 10043]

Plenty of "shot out" barrels can be reused, I do it all the time. I have one that is 26" long, I think I paid $65 shipped for it. It is a quality, brand name barrel. After scoping it and coming up with a plan I can remove 99% of the problems and still have 20" of very good barrel. And by good I mean better than any factory barrel I have ever scoped. I am using it to build myself a 20" 6ARC barrel for my AR and I bet it will shoot as good as any factory barrel.

BTW, anyone with "shot out" barrels that they are going to toss, I will gladly pay shipping to me.

This isn't Sanford and Son.

 

[Rlb40x]

If you shoot at the national level and even won a couple than you should know the barrel past retirement a while back. I don't know why you are speaking to the general population. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost be your three witnesses.

Different guns, different discipline.
Reading comprehension much Clown?
I stated it’s the first barrel that laid down suddenly.
Please block me, I don’t argue with Doppy Clowns.

 

[Dead Eye Dick]

Boy this went from “lets have some fun” to a real s - - t storm in a hurry

 

[Deleted member 10043]

Different guns, different discipline.
Reading comprehension much Clown?
I stated it’s the first barrel that laid down suddenly.
Please block me, I don’t argue with Doppy Clowns.

No. I will refuse to block you.

 

[Deleted member 10043]

Boy this went from “lets have some fun” to a real s - - t storm in a hurry

No it hasn't.

 

[theLBC]

maybe your jump got too long?