When is the right time to change the barrel?

[gyt]

Hi guys.
I have Laklander 389 in .308WIN which is 15 years old.
I do not know how many rounds passed through it.
The inside diameter near the action is 7.65-7.66mm going to 7.65-7.64 at the muzzle.
It is impossible to group nice with it.
I am a good shooter. Is it the time to replace the barrel?
What is the maximum inside diameter in the barrel that is acceptable for 300 meters target shooting?
Thank you.
GYT

 

[turbo54]

Re: When is the right time to change the barrel?

I assume you're measuring the minor diamter, land-to-land to get those measurements?

Honestly, they don't sound too hideous.

To more directly answer the question though, if the action is good, you're good, and you've tried enough different ammo to be confident the rifle doesn't shoot, or has quit shooting, it's time for a new barrel.

A shooting buddy bought a brand new Remington that just wouldn't shoot. He put 750-1000 rounds through it last year trying to get it shooting well. He finally just had a new barrel put on it. Shoots great now.

 

[105amatt]

Re: When is the right time to change the barrel?

I change my barrel every three months or thee thousand miles.

 

[Triggerhappy]

Re: When is the right time to change the barrel?

3:30 pm

 

[opshin556]

Re: When is the right time to change the barrel?

1530 for you military guys

 

[Mike Casselton]

Re: When is the right time to change the barrel?

Depends on the accuracy level you are trying to achieve and the capability of the gun you are currently shooting. It sounds like your current setup couldn't hit the broad side of a barn from the inside...

I am not familar with the Lakelander rifles. Could you post a picture of it?

Some rifles are not worth rebarreling and you would be better off buying and shooting a Remington Varmint rifle in 308. All you would need to do is to replace the plastic stock on it with a B&C or something better.

Please give us some more information like what ammunition you are shooting, optics you are using, your rest set up and some pictures so we can help you out. Do you have a gunsmith available in your area of Israel?

And ignore the comedians. 3:30 is a good time though, it's right before most people get off of work... :^)

 

[Mike Casselton]

Re: When is the right time to change the barrel?

Gyt,
I just looked at your profile and noticed one of your hobbies is gunsmithing. Have you tried to pillar bed the action to the stock and maybe recrown the barrel?

Also, did the accuracy get worse slowly or very suddenly? If it got worse slowly, it is probably the barrel, if it was suddenly, then maybe you have a problem elsewhere.

The more info you give us, the better we can help you

 

[Blackhawk41]

Re: When is the right time to change the barrel?

I agree with mike on this on a side note have you checked the torque specs on the stock screws or scope mounts.

Is there any point of contact in the stock between barrel and action that could be throwing it off?

If you are using a scope have you done a box test on the scope to make sure its not the scope or mounts?

 

[jake6547]

Re: When is the right time to change the barrel?

yea what they said.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: When is the right time to change the barrel?

Clean the bore throughly and check the whole gun for loose components.

If patches drag when passing through the throat area, this could be an indication of a checkered throat, and is a pretty good indication that the bore is toast.

If the cleaning helped, check the crown for any evidence of uneven wear or physical damage where the crown's face and the bore's rifling intersect. This is especially common in rifles which are cleaned from the muzzle end. Use magnification, it doesn't take much to damage a crown. If there is DEFINITE evidence of excessively uneven wear or obvious damage, have the crown refinished.

If these steps don't work, I'd say the barrel needs replacing. If you're going to go ahead and have the berrel replaced, don't waste your gunsmithing money by skimping on a cheap barrel.

Greg

 

[gyt]

Re: When is the right time to change the barrel?

Thank you all.
Can't send pictures because I don't have a website.
We don't have here gunsmith at all and we can't buy a rifle.
The only option is to go abroad with the rifle to international comptition and then give it to local gunsmith to fix or change barrel.This is crazy but that is the situation.
I am sorry my hobby is goldsmiting and not gunsmiting-my mistake i corrected it.About the subject title "when is the right time... Well english is not my mother tongue but I am doing my best...
GYT

 

[gyt]

Re: When is the right time to change the barrel?

Hi
Some pictures
GYT

 

[gyt]

Re: When is the right time to change the barrel?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mike Casselton</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Depends on the accuracy level you are trying to achieve and the capability of the gun you are currently shooting. It sounds like your current setup couldn't hit the broad side of a barn from the inside...

I am not familar with the Lakelander rifles. Could you post a picture of it?

Some rifles are not worth rebarreling and you would be better off buying and shooting a Remington Varmint rifle in 308. All you would need to do is to replace the plastic stock on it with a B&C or something better.

Please give us some more information like what ammunition you are shooting, optics you are using, your rest set up and some pictures so we can help you out. Do you have a gunsmith available in your area of Israel?

And ignore the comedians. 3:30 is a good time though, it's right before most people get off of work... :^) </div></div>

Hi Mike
Lakelander is a Norway rifle.I understand that the factory closed few years ago.
My ammo is factory load only .308WIN 168 gr. match from I.M.I. My scope is Leupold 6.5-20x50 mm 30 mm tube.
Front Harris bipod rear sand bag. prone position.
Our competitions 100-200-300-500 meters.Accurate demand is 0.5m.o.a.
No gusmith and no option to buy another rifle.
I posted some pictures.
Thank you
GYT

 

[Mike Casselton]

Re: When is the right time to change the barrel?

Your rifle looks to actually be a Sako. It should be a great shooter if the barrel is not shot out.

I would give it a good cleaning to include using a carbon remover. You should be able to get carbon remover from a Marine outboard or boat dealer. Remove the action from the stock and spray the carbon remover down the barrel and let it soak for a few hours. Do this a few times scrubbing and cleaning between treatments.
Use a bore guide to prevent damage to the bore and do not use stainless steel brushes in the bore.

When you reassemble the rifle, make sure all the screws are properly tightened, but not over tightened. Your thread protector on the end of your barrel could be loose causing accuracy problems too. Check torque on the scope rings and mount bolts too.

Try everything again and if you still have accuracy problems, change the scope with one from a friend that you know holds zero well and shoot it again.

One last thing to check before you rebarrel it is to take it to a machine shop or jet engine shop and have them run a bore scope into the chamber end of the barrel to see if the first few inches of the barrel are worn out. If it is worn, you will see the wear and the lands and grooves will look like a dry lake bed

Do you have access to other ammunition?

What accuracy are you getting now at 100M?

Good luck and let us know how things are working out.

 

[gyt]

Re: When is the right time to change the barrel?

Hi Mike
We do not have access to other amunition but the I.M.I is good factory ammo-I see my friends results.
The accuracy in 100 m is:1"- 1.5".
I will try to do what you recomended and try to look at the begining of the barrel (if i will get borescope).
This friday I am going to shoot the rifle.
I will let you know the result.
Thank you and have a nice day
GYT