About 6 months ago I got my 16” SDM profile 223 Wylde 1:8 barrel that I ordered direct with WOA. I built it using a BCM upper (thermofit) that I trued the receiver face on and bedded with green Loctite. The handguard is a free floated SOLGM M89 and the I’m using a Riflespeed adjustable gas system with an H2 buffer in the stock. I’m using a LaRue MBT-2 trigger in the lower. The rifle has a NightForce NX8 2.5-20 scope on it. The rifle has been dead nuts reliable from day 1 and eats anything I put in it without issue.
The problem is that it’s not accurate, the best 5 shot groups being 1.2-1.3” (match quality factory ammo and some of my best hand loads). It has about 200-250 rounds through it. I have a Bartlein 20” SDM profile 1:7.7 4 groove by CLE that I built with the EXACT components and it shoots sub 1/2” 5 shot groups with multiple factory loads and a bunch of my hand loads.
Ive bore scoped this rifle and I saw two potential issues (see pictures):
1) There are radial machining marks left in the leade/throat area from when the barrel was chambered by WOA.
2) The gas port cuts through an entire groove and gets copper build up which shows as a single blue streak on my cleaning patches. The copper accumulation is also visible with a bore scope even after a heavy cleaning with JB + Kroil and Patchout+ accelerator.
I’ve sent an email to WOA to try to get some help. This rifle was not intended to be a blaster and I expect much better from this barrel. I have a Proof waiting in the wings to replace it if things don’t get resolved soon.
Ive posted the “put out or get out” results from my test of the WOA today, before this test I did the heavy cleaning, so the barrel was pristine. The top row, far right “55 ZMax TAC” was the first set shot with one of my best loads, the first three went into the same hole, the 4th was at 2 o’cloc, the 5 dropped 1.5”. I then shot the 69 FGM, then 73 FGM, then 77 FGM, then 53 VMAX. I then let the rifle cool down for 45 min or so and then shot AAC 77 TMK, then 77 SMK, then 77 OTM, then AAC 55 VMAX, and lastly another set of my 55 Zmax load (bottom right).
Thoughts on what the issues may be?
Thanks,
ZA
The problem is that it’s not accurate, the best 5 shot groups being 1.2-1.3” (match quality factory ammo and some of my best hand loads). It has about 200-250 rounds through it. I have a Bartlein 20” SDM profile 1:7.7 4 groove by CLE that I built with the EXACT components and it shoots sub 1/2” 5 shot groups with multiple factory loads and a bunch of my hand loads.
Ive bore scoped this rifle and I saw two potential issues (see pictures):
1) There are radial machining marks left in the leade/throat area from when the barrel was chambered by WOA.
2) The gas port cuts through an entire groove and gets copper build up which shows as a single blue streak on my cleaning patches. The copper accumulation is also visible with a bore scope even after a heavy cleaning with JB + Kroil and Patchout+ accelerator.
I’ve sent an email to WOA to try to get some help. This rifle was not intended to be a blaster and I expect much better from this barrel. I have a Proof waiting in the wings to replace it if things don’t get resolved soon.
Ive posted the “put out or get out” results from my test of the WOA today, before this test I did the heavy cleaning, so the barrel was pristine. The top row, far right “55 ZMax TAC” was the first set shot with one of my best loads, the first three went into the same hole, the 4th was at 2 o’cloc, the 5 dropped 1.5”. I then shot the 69 FGM, then 73 FGM, then 77 FGM, then 53 VMAX. I then let the rifle cool down for 45 min or so and then shot AAC 77 TMK, then 77 SMK, then 77 OTM, then AAC 55 VMAX, and lastly another set of my 55 Zmax load (bottom right).
Thoughts on what the issues may be?
Thanks,
ZA