Borescoped an inexpensive AR barrel.....yikes

[LCazador]

So I'm used to scoping my F class barrels to see what's up with them. Have always been cut and lapped Kreiger, Bartlein or Brux so they are always squeeky clean works of art.

Well today I took a new AR 10 out and tried to break it in but the copper was terrible and never did get a clean patch like I do on my others so I said screw it and went home with 8 shots on it. I tried to give it a good cleaning but wasn't about to spend hours getting the copper out.

On a whim I borescoped it. I have never seen anything like this before. Again, very low cost upper so expectations aren't high.

Is this normal? What is that stuff? I can't imagine its from the bullets. Any info would be great.

Its basically a plinker but I considered it for an AR tactical 300,500,600 next weekend since I haven't had the weather for good load development on new barrels for f class.View attachment 1093658 View attachment 1093659

That's a very good factory barrel! I've bore scoped much worse.

 

[GSS]

GSS said: ↑
Interesting pictures and info.
I know you stated you gave up after 8 shots but,,
Can I ask, How did it shoot accuracy and function wise ?

It may be perfectly fine for intended purpose of shooting in AR Tactical matches.
I'd go shoot a string of 20 rounds or three from 600 and see how it shoots

G-

I just shoot into a dirt pile for break in and use my patches as a judge.

Thanks,
Do you plan on trying it with at least one or two strings of 22 rounds from 600 yards set up as an NRA AR Tactical Rifle as you intended to see how it actually shoots?

Be interested to hear how it does.

Some copper buildup wouldn't bother me too badly and maybe it will get better over time.

What Manf. is the barrel?

G-

 

[JBT47]

I’ve had quite a few custom barrels that took more than 8 rounds during break in before they stopped coppering. Keep shooting it and clean it frequently and it may do what you need it to do.

 

[Ggmac]

So I'm used to scoping my F class barrels to see what's up with them. Have always been cut and lapped Kreiger, Bartlein or Brux so they are always squeeky clean works of art.

Well today I took a new AR 10 out and tried to break it in but the copper was terrible and never did get a clean patch like I do on my others so I said screw it and went home with 8 shots on it. I tried to give it a good cleaning but wasn't about to spend hours getting the copper out.

On a whim I borescoped it. I have never seen anything like this before. Again, very low cost upper so expectations aren't high.

Is this normal? What is that stuff? I can't imagine its from the bullets. Any info would be great.

Its basically a plinker but I considered it for an AR tactical 300,500,600 next weekend since I haven't had the weather for good load development on new barrels for f class.View attachment 1093658 View attachment 1093659

Did you clean it before shooting ? Copper is sometimes used as a lubricant ( wrong term but can't remember the correct one ) for the button to be pulled or pushed thru in the rifling of the barrel .

That actually is a very nice barrel .

 

[flintcreek6412]

Did you clean it before shooting ? Copper is sometimes used as a lubricant ( wrong term but can't remember the correct one ) for the button to be pulled or pushed thru in the rifling of the barrel .

That actually is a very nice barrel .

Yes I did clean it before shooting. It was pretty dirty because I guess they test fire it at the mfg.

 

[jwink]

This why after purchasing a sweet borescope and looking in a few of the barrels of some of my better shooting guns that I have set in the cabinet out of sight and won't bring it out unless something is terribly wrong.

 

[hogpatrol]

Late to the party but I have the same thoughts, what's wrong with the barrel? Looks OK to me. If it shoots good, disregard what it looks like.

 

[Someoldguy]

The images of the interior of a barrel are akin to looking in a mirror. Only the observer can decide if they are satisfied with what they see.

Many go on to make an awful mess of things.

 

[GerryM]

get put the bore paste, and see what it looks like after a good scrub.

 

[Jet]

That barrel looks fine. Go shoot it and report back.

 

[GSS]

Yes I did clean it before shooting. It was pretty dirty because I guess they test fire it at the mfg.

I'll only ask this one more time in case you don't want to respond to either or both these 2 questions...

Do you plan on trying it with at least one or two strings of 22 rounds from 600 yards set up as an NRA AR Tactical Rifle as you intended to see how it actually shoots?

Be interested to hear how it does.
Some copper buildup wouldn't bother me too badly and maybe it will get better over time.

What Manf. is the barrel?

Maybe / hopefully you are out shooting 22 round strings thru it or planning tome to get out and shoot some 22 rd strings thru it and report back as I'm here typing

G-

 

[KevinThomas]

Just as an aside, you DON’T want to see a “mirror finish” inside a barrel. If you do, you can almost count on some serious fouling issues. Smooth, yes, no major issues, but not mirror polished guaranteed metal fouling in the worst way.

The pics you posted on this barrel don’t look too bad, but bore scopes can be very misleading about how a gun will shoot. Th visual image is just one clue, and may not reflect what th gun is, or is not capable of on the range.

 

[JBT47]

What brand is the barrel? Factory barrels usually look much worse.

 

[flintcreek6412]

It's a factory PMA so very budget friendly thus expectations were not really high. That said, I'd still like to get MOA out of it but time will tell.

 

[vmaxpro]

I was expecting waaaaaayyy worse than those pics. Take a look at a new remington, or savage friggin things file the bullet down damn near to the lead. Hand lapped spoil you everytime but you get what you pay for!

 

[GSS]

It's a factory PMA so very budget friendly thus expectations were not really high. That said, I'd still like to get MOA out of it but time will tell.

Thank you for responding to answer the questions of what Barrel Manf it is...

I have never heard of PMA

Please let us know here how it shoots once you get a few 600 yard strings thru it. Should make an sweet AR Tactical class rifle.

 

[Beau]

It's a factory PMA so very budget friendly thus expectations were not really high.

Do you mean PSA?

 

[bluealtered]

I'll go back to joshb's post, you never ever bore scope a savage barrel because this is what the factory barrel will look like, (and other inexpensive barrels as well.) Years ago on another site which had some of the factory savage shooters on it this subject came up and one of the factory shooters showed a bore scope photo of his off the rack barrel that was on his factory match rifle he was using at that time.

It looked as bad or worse than than these photo's. However savage won most of their match's that year world wide. I learned many years ago that you simply clean any new rifle well and then try it and see what you bought, this goes for any inexpensive brand. That barrel might do better than you think.

 

[ratbuster]

A little off subject but in my limited experience looking a several dozen Savage barrels with a borescope there are vast differences depending on model. Their low end budget rifle barrels are very rough....look like railroad track city. On the other hand the more costly long range and target rifles barrels look more like hand lapped custom barrels.

 

[flintcreek6412]

Do you mean PSA?

LOL....Oooops.....Yes