think my 6.5x46 Kriger Hvy Palma barrel is done?

diego-ted

diego-ted

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Apr 26, 2011
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Diego-Town
#1
I am very disappointed in my 6.5x47 Krieger Med Heavy Palma SS 30” barrel. About 1200 rounds of 130gr VLDs pushed by 38.4gr of Varget and I am pretty sure she is done!! I was expecting at least 2500 rounds out of this girl.

When I first got her she was shooting 1/2MOA now I am lucky to get 1MOA. She started acting funny after I started shooting F class. We had a few matches where we shoot back to back 20 round strings; needless to say the barrel was cooking.
I thought I might be the problem, so I had a fellow shooter who is very good get behind the rifle, the results were the same, two or three shot bug holes with two unexplained flyers. This occurred out of 6 different 5 shot groups. We checked all the usual suspects, loose rings, mount, copper, carbon fouling ECT.

I am sending the barrel and action to Charlie at High Score so he can evaluate and see if something jumps out at him. The one thing I am weary of is, I had the barrel fitted for a brake. The smith took about half the metal off the diameter for the brake. On a different gun when Highscore installed a brake he just threaded the barrel? I am not sure if this matters, but it jumps out at me as odd since half the material is gone.

I have a couple of questions, first was my expectation of 2500-3000 rounds way off base? Was it the heat from the back to back strings that screwed up the barrel?
Was this the wrong caliber for me? Is there a better caliber for barrel life with acceptable ballistics out to 1K yards? If I stay with the 6.5x47 do I need to change barrel makers maybe a Bartlin if I need to get 3K round life?

Thx for the help

Diego
 
#2
Re: think my 6.5x46 Kriger Hvy Palma barrel is done?

Diego,
I don't think expecting 3k rounds out that cartridge is out of line. That is what I'm hoping for, but 20 shot strings might be pushing any barrel.
What is your velocity?

Also on the palma contour, I think you should be able to set barrel back 3/4 inches, if it is not fire cracked far into barrel.
 
#4
Re: think my 6.5x46 Kriger Hvy Palma barrel is done?

A lot of times when using VLD's/(secant ogive) it's a good idea to follow the lands with the same seating depth as when you first worked up the load. You got some throat wear now so the lands have moved forward. Hopefully you have enough room in the mag to do so.

This is the main reason I quit using VLD's and went back to tangent ogive bullets. Tangent ogive bullets aren't so sensitive to seating depth. I shoot a 6x47 and I got tired of having to work up a new load every 4 months when using the 115 Berger VLD.

Another consideration is trying to produce the same velocity as when the load was originally worked up. Velocity loss happens as the barrel wears.

The one exception to standard VLD's are the new Berger hybrids. Best of both worlds.

It's possible you have a soft barrel. Not the first time I've heard of it.

It's not a bad idea to switch to a slower powder. Slower powders burn cooler. N-160 is one of the best powders I've used although H-4350 is common.

There might be a carbon ring in front of the chamber that can be polished out with JB.
 
#5
Re: think my 6.5x46 Kriger Hvy Palma barrel is done?

Your smith reprofiled your barrel to install a brake? Like Steve123 mentioned, check how close you are to your lands. You might need to seat the bullets longer now that your throat is wearing.
 
#6
Re: think my 6.5x46 Kriger Hvy Palma barrel is done?

Thanks guys for the suggestions.

The brake was cut for the barrel from the onset, I have not used it due to F-class rules. As for the VLDs, I checked the chamber when it started shooting funny, problem is I did not know the Berger VLDs vary up to 10 thou from base to OGIVE and I did not save the original bullet I measured my lands with. Based on the two lots of bullets I have, the best guess is I have about 10 thou of erosion.

I tried adjusting my load, I even did a new OCW and found two good loads, just have unexplained flyers that are unacceptable for competition. We have checked everything especially the scope numerous times.

Previous to this, I only cleaned with a jag and patches. Doan Treiver in New Mexico also suggested carbon fouling. I put the barrel through three days of rigorous, aggressive cleaning with a bronze brush. I soaked the barrel with both Hoppe’s 9, CLP and brake cleaner for hours on end with more aggressive brushing, the result was the same at 100 yards. I would get 3 rounds in the same hole and two flyers.

I have tried to locate competent gunsmiths in Southern California, and have come up empty, so off to Charlie it goes, he will scope in and tell me what he finds.

Diego
 
#7
Re: think my 6.5x46 Kriger Hvy Palma barrel is done?

Just thinking out loud here.... Are the two unexplained fliers forming somewhat of a second group? Is there any consistency with the fliers at all? If the answer is yes to either of those questions I would check your bedding.

If you are looking for a good smith in Cali, check out Mike Badella of BM Gunworks. He's located in Madera (just north of Fresno) and does great work!
 
#8
Re: think my 6.5x46 Kriger Hvy Palma barrel is done?

I would have to agree with dk-1. A double grouping rifle sounds like a bedding issue. For what it is worth I have used my 260 running warm for f-class and it is still a hammer at 1800+ rounds.
 
#10
Re: think my 6.5x46 Kriger Hvy Palma barrel is done?

Diego, is it skim bedded at all? I'm not familiar with that stock but assume it has an aluminum block. Did the fliers start happening after it was pulled from the stock and put back together? If so, then maybe the torque setting are incorrect. If it has been skim bedded, pull it apart and make sure there's no debris between the action or bedding.
 
#12
Re: think my 6.5x46 Kriger Hvy Palma barrel is done?

Consider switching to a jump-tolerant bullet? 140 Hybrid or 140/142 Sierras may solve your double-grouping woes. There is quite a bit of variance in ogives and it can be a headache. I used to sort my VLDs for best accuracy.
 
#14
Re: think my 6.5x46 Kriger Hvy Palma barrel is done?

Any chance the crown became damaged while cleaning? I have come across several posts were others in your same situation had the barrel crown recut. Are you removing the brake when your shooting F Class matches?

 
#16
Re: think my 6.5x46 Kriger Hvy Palma barrel is done?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: steve123</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
There might be a carbon ring in front of the chamber that can be polished out with JB. </div></div>

+1. How does the bore "feel" when you push a brush through it? Any rough spots / texture? I have had this experience myself. I don't have a borescope, but I had a rough spot just forward of the chamber, and I JB'd it out. I attributed it to carbon build up, though none of the carbon removing chemicals I tried did anything to it. Perhaps it was some kind of throat cracking (.300WSM).
 
#17
Re: think my 6.5x46 Kriger Hvy Palma barrel is done?

Don't think I could have hurt her with cleaning? The chamber felt normal. I am done guessing, the barrel and action are on it's way to see Charlie at High Score in Burque! Charlie will find the problem if there is one, and we will get it straight!

Diego
 
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