6br barrel is dying...I think

[Shifty6br]

Hey guys, soooo I am sure someone has shot out a 6br barrel and looking for your xp. I am at about 3600 rds thru the tube and this past weekend at the range I noticed something concerning being in the form that I couldn't hit anything....at all. At the 500 yd range, which is usually cake walk for the old 6br, I could not get a single round on the 12" plate. My impacts were all over the place, high, low, left, right. I am guessing she is cooked.

I have not tried shooting for groups at 100 and will probably give her one more try this weekend, I did clean out the barrel, which I have not done for quite sometime. Its strange since the range visit prior she was still grouping sub moa at 500 yds. I just wanted to see what others xp were as far as barrels being shot out and round count.

Would setting back the chamber be worth it with a tube this high in round count?

Thanks ya'll

 

[tclaunch]

Not at all.

 

[AckleymanII]

Not at all.

Hey guys, soooo I am sure someone has shot out a 6br barrel and looking for your xp. I am at about 3600 rds thru the tube and this past weekend at the range I noticed something concerning being in the form that I couldn't hit anything....at all. At the 500 yd range, which is usually cake walk for the old 6br, I could not get a single round on the 12" plate. My impacts were all over the place, high, low, left, right. I am guessing she is cooked.

I have not tried shooting for groups at 100 and will probably give her one more try this weekend, I did clean out the barrel, which I have not done for quite sometime. Its strange since the range visit prior she was still grouping sub moa at 500 yds. I just wanted to see what others xp were as far as barrels being shot out and round count.

Would setting back the chamber be worth it with a tube this high in round count?

Thanks ya'll

Have you chased the lands growth over time? If so, how far off the lands are you now?

 

[dkhunt14]

If I had a barrel with that round count, I would start with a new one. Matt

 

[NC308]

Have you been seeing this happen before? Barrels don't just go all at once?

 

[ab_bentley]

If I had a barrel with that round count, I would start with a new one. Matt

And I'd mount that one on my wall, 3600rds is quite the accomplishment.

Adam

 

[snert]

Yep, I had a 22-250 just quit about 12oo rounds in. One moment in the 1/2 or less area, then within s few shots all over paper and later discovered a small piece of neck gone, likely went down barrel with a bullet.

Check your scope on a different rifle, but order a new barrel now...

 

[Shifty6br]

Have you chased the lands growth over time? If so, how far off the lands are you now?

I seat to a good jam which I found shot best with what I have, oal of 2.345 would give me hard land marks, now I am at 2.60 with very slight land marks, not very scientific I apologize, so I would say they are moving.

Have you been seeing this happen before? Barrels don't just go all at once?

I don't strictly shoot for groups much, but the last couple times I grouped at 100 I did see my groups open a little from what they were several 100 rounds prior. I suspected the barrel was getting a little salty, yet blamed the shooter mostly....

Ok thanks guys. Its pretty much conclusive she's at the end. I was just kind of surprised at how overnight the barrel just pooped out like that. The round count is high, and all things must end I suppose, thank goodness these barrels are a little easier to get a hold of compared to the last time I sprung for one.
My lgs has a bore scope, I think I am going to visit him take a look down the tube this weekend for s@g's.

My empty collection treats, missing a few but she has eaten well over the years.

 

[davidpatton]

Just pulled my BR barrel last week, it had 4700 on it. It never just suddenly went away, just went from 4 and 5 inch groups to 7-9 inches. I'd hang a big piece of paper and see exactly what you're dealing with before pulling the barrel, unless your just ready for a new one.

 

[Shifty6br]

Just pulled my BR barrel last week, it had 4700 on it. It never just suddenly went away, just went from 4 and 5 inch groups to 7-9 inches. I'd hang a big piece of paper and see exactly what you're dealing with before pulling the barrel, unless your just ready for a new one.

Definitely!! I do want to take it out again, that is the thing that kind of has me head scratching, that it just totally went to crap without any really horrible loss in accuracy. I mean you guys should of seen the impacts into the berm, all over the place like a bad game of darts!!

I'm feeling better reading about your round count, I don't compete with this rifle so I am not asking alot out of it this late in the game.

I'll check back in with results after testing a few things that have been suggested. Thank's much!!

 

[dkhunt14]

Have you been seeing this happen before? Barrels don't just go all at once?

Yes have seen it many times. Most times a piece of steel came out the throat. Seen heavy BR barrels go from shooting 10 shots in 4 inches at 1000 to shooting over 15 inches. Matt

 

[Shynloco]

If I had a barrel with that round count, I would start with a new one. Matt

+1. I got to 3900 rds in my 6br barrel before it up gave, but mostly shooting VVN133. If you've been loading hot loads or using some powders like Varget, 3600 rds is pretty much par for the course of a barrel's life. If I were you, I'd buy a new barrel as cutting and setting back isn't worth the effort as you'll still have bigger groups than you once had. Been there, done that.

Alex

 

[expiper]

Shifty,,,you are in denial,,,if you can get 3,600 competitive rds out of any bbl ,,any cal,,,you shluld stop grumbling and start thanking your luky stars....shurely this is not your only bbl,,,take it to a 100 yd range near home and try it before going to an event and be overly disappointed,,,if it doesnt shoot well at 100 with a proven load,,,put on one of your xtra bbls and test it and get the gun zeroed before you drive 1/2 way across the state or the country,,,,now that I am more familiar with bbls going away I see it in 3 or 4 rounds...I usually see sparks (like fireworks) fly out of the muzzle,,,once you see/recognize it you will never forget it,,,,Roger
PS,,bbls dont just wear out at the breach and muzzel ,,,they wear out all the way down,,,just more prominent/noticeable/measureable at the throat area,,,,once they are worn sufficiently ,,the bullet will strip just like a nut on a worn bolt,,,and the sparks will fly,,,!!!!

 

[Shifty6br]

Shifty,,,you are in denial,,,if you can get 3,600 competitive rds out of any bbl ,,any cal,,,you shluld stop grumbling and start thanking your luky stars....shurely this is not your only bbl,,,take it to a 100 yd range near home and try it before going to an event and be overly disappointed,,,if it doesnt shoot well at 100 with a proven load,,,put on one of your xtra bbls and test it and get the gun zeroed before you drive 1/2 way across the state or the country,,,,now that I am more familiar with bbls going away I see it in 3 or 4 rounds...I usually see sparks (like fireworks) fly out of the muzzle,,,once you see/recognize it you will never forget it,,,,Roger

No grumbles, I am elated that this particular tube has shot so well for so long, I grin and point that out to my shooting buddies everytime we do some trigger time together. I have had some real good experiences with this barrel and it has performed well for me, I guess you can say I am kind of attached emotionally to this particular bbl ......maybe your right I am in denial...so hard to let go. Someone please tell me everything is going to be ok lol

I am thinking a visit to the gunsmith who chambered this guy with a look thru his bore scope would be a novel idea at this point.

 

[bsumoba]

If my F-Class barrels went past 1,000 rounds, I would start thinking about pulling it off and only using it for local matches. At 1,400 rounds in my 284 Shehane, the throat looks pretty firecracked typically. You can certainly go more, but the risk of the barrel going out on you at a big match (that you just spent a lot of money and time to go to) just goes up a lot after 1,000 rounds, especially if it was run like a F-Class gun.

In my tactical rifle, my 6.5 creedmoor typically goes 1,300-1,800 rounds before I yank them off. When it starts to shoot outside of consistent 3/8-1/2" groups at 100 yards, it is time to retire the barrel. Again, they can go more, but if I am trying to win a match, then why not go to a match with a rig that gives you the best chance?

 

[1shot]

Barrels are like tires on a race car. Usable, disposable items.
Say goodbye to and old friend and hello to a new one.

Lloyd

 

[Steelnecktie]

If you could cut 1/2" of so off muzzle and recut crown, I would try that first.

 

[ASbobcat]

Hey guys, soooo I am sure someone has shot out a 6br barrel and looking for your xp. I am at about 3600 rds thru the tube and this past weekend at the range I noticed something concerning being in the form that I couldn't hit anything....at all. At the 500 yd range, which is usually cake walk for the old 6br, I could not get a single round on the 12" plate. My impacts were all over the place, high, low, left, right. I am guessing she is cooked.

I have not tried shooting for groups at 100 and will probably give her one more try this weekend, I did clean out the barrel, which I have not done for quite sometime. Its strange since the range visit prior she was still grouping sub moa at 500 yds. I just wanted to see what others xp were as far as barrels being shot out and round count.

Would setting back the chamber be worth it with a tube this high in round count?

Thanks ya'll

I am shocked that you only got 3,600 rounds out of a BR barrel! I would get my money back from whoever sold you that obviously inferior piece of junk.

 

[Longtrain]

3600 Rounds? Not really unheard of in 6 BR, but probably entering old age. I compare wear of a 6BR to a 308 Win, 3600 not impossible.

A lot depends on what bullet, powder, speed compo you're shooting. If you have a bore scope, what does the bore look like? Hard to tell really what's going on without one. Lyman's bore scope are cheap and does give you a good idea what the condition is inside.

My Dasher shows some wear after 1000 rounds, but still hammers to 1K, so the proof is on the paper, I would clean it really, really well, shoot for groups and see what happens. 100 yards may not be far enough, I would look at 300 yards, as that distance will give you an idea of remaining accuracy. My guess, it may shoot ok after a scrubbing, then crap out again, if that happens it's toast IMO.

I only set one barrel back, it gave it more life, but not another lifetime. For what you'll spend to have a gunsmith pull it, cut it, re-chamber it, you're close to a new barrel. I don't set them back any more, but that's my call.

 

[savagedasher]

Around 3200 rounds my dasher died shoot score at 100 . I had 19 10 with16 of then x . 20 shot was a ugly 9 21 was another ugly 9 but to the opset side Then a 8 And 8 the last 2 just the score ring . Stopped to my smith when he bore scoped. It didn't have any rifling the first 12 " . So yes a barrel can just die. Larry