Toasted Barrel at 750 Rounds

[Stan Taylor]

For a factory barrel I see decent results in his cleaning go an shoot an see if your accuracy comes back if it don't call me an I will make you a barrel.

 

[msinc]

Before I start I want to say I don't have a flame suit on. I got the point last night. I just ran a tight patch with JB for approximately 100 strokes. Here are a few pics of the throat and crown area. The lands have moved in .014" since new. That barrel also has a Harrell's brake on. The small one with many holes. View attachment 1174237 View attachment 1174238 View attachment 1174239 View attachment 1174240

.014" is a fair amount. I don't like the cracking. Have you seated the bullets out some to see if that helps {with the barrel clean of course}?? I mean, that would be an option if you had to.
If it wasn't heat checked {the cracking visible in the photos} then it might be a candidate for a set back and re-chamber, but at this point what I am seeing is scrap it and replace. Best of luck sir!!!

 

[1shot]

After re-reading all the responses and looking at all the photos, I haven't changed my opinion about that barrel. I still looks like a bbl. with 750 rounds down the pipe, that need some serious cleaning. I compared it to one of my 6 SLR barrels that gets fed a healthy dose of RL 16 of VV N-560, both of which are hot double based powders. At 970+ rounds it looks far worse that the OP's barrel and mine is shooting just fine. Granted, it's a premium barrel and I keep it clean but the fire cracking and throat erosion is definitely worse.
I hope this helps,

Lloyd

 

[Dgd6mm]

If it was mine I possibly would clean it more first, and try to get it spotless. Second run some Tubbs Final Finish bullets down it. I've never used David's Final Finish kit but would give it a go simply because it could be an inexpensive fix and I would hate to make a tomatoe stake out of a 750 round 6br barrel, factory or not.....especially one that shot as good has this one.

 

[Joe Salt]

Now go in there with a 30 cal. bronze brush were the carbon ring is turn it about ten turns, then a wet patch and repeat till the carbon ring is gone.

Joe salt

 

[Old Navy]

What are the odds my Harrell's #15 die is going to work with the new Critorian barrel due Tues?

 

[46and2]

My Savage 12 Benchrest in 6mm BR has died a premature death. When I bought this gun new back just before Xmas it was shooting all the standard 6 BR loads in the .1 to .25 range. I was thrilled. Told myself I lucked out and got a good production barrel. At about 550 rounds is started with the shoot two good groups and then throwing one shot out in the next group. Now at 750 it shoots all over the target. I have attached a couple photos. The first I took at 200 rounds when I received my Teslong. It looked rough compared to my Shilen 6.5X47 but it was shooting. The second photo I took last night after 750 down the tube. Looks like the inside of a galvanizedView attachment 1173963 View attachment 1173963 View attachment 1173966 pipe. Called James at NSS this afternoon and ordered a 28" Criterion bull. Already have a tracking number. Should be here in Utah early next week.

I don't recall if you've mentioned it but what is your load??
If you are shooting a low pressure load, or low case density with a lot of air space it will burn dirtier in some cartridges. If you're using Reloder powder it's worse than single based powders.

What is your load by the way?

 

[Old Navy]

I don't recall if you've mentioned it but what is your load??
If you are shooting a low pressure load, or low case density with a lot of air space it will burn dirtier in some cartridges. If you're using Reloder powder it's worse than single based powders.

What is your load by the way?

30.2 Varget 107 SMK 85%
29.7 H4895 107 10%
30 #15 107 5 %
Approximate numbers.

 

[46and2]

30.2 Varget 107 SMK 85%
29.7 H4895 107 10%
30 #15 107 5 %
Approximate numbers.

I shot a factory Savage 6br for one season, it had chatter marks too but don't recall it fouling badly. The next season I bought a CBI, what a great barrel it is! They clean up easily and last a long time. You'll love it.

 

[WyleWD]

For a factory barrel I see decent results in his cleaning go an shoot an see if your accuracy comes back if it don't call me an I will make you a barrel.

+1^^^Solid advice and a really great offer. Good on you Stan.

If I live to be 200years old I'll never understand why shooters look inside a Savage barrel with all the pock marks and tool marks and say "oh, that looks good", but if they got .01% of those marks in a custom barrel they'd scream bloody murder. Poor workmanship is just that. JME. WD

 

[Joe Maisto]

I had posted a similar thread with a 500 round count down the tube when accuracy left. I took the advice of Dusty at the time which was to clean after every 5 shots and sure enough accuracy returned. I shot the barrel till about 1200 rounds when I would get a flier in my groups. I also learned that the worn brush with a patch on it and some JB and Kroil greatly accelerated the cleaning process. Just passing it on. Bruce

Most all of us in SR-BR clean after every match , soaking it while we load for the next round. I never fire more than 10 rounds , given it is only a 5 round match at each relay. 2-3 at the sighter before moving up to the record target for your 5. They don't get really that dirty, but we keep them clean for what we are trying to do. I have noticed however, that after using JB, the first 3 on the sighter are not near where they are supposed to be. I have my own thoughts on that...it does not settle down until I have 2-3 through it. Barrels all have their own personality, and this Krieger shoots well if I do what it wants.

 

[Martin52]

My Savage 12 Benchrest in 6mm BR has died a premature death. .. At about 550 rounds is started with the shoot two good groups and then throwing one shot out in the next group. Now at 750 it shoots all over the target.

A further thought on this - the impact of time between cleaning.

200 rounds over a weekend then cleaned versus 200 rounds fired say 50 rounds/week over 4 weeks and cleaned after a month.

The second scenario is probably going to give the carbon more opportunity to harden in the bore and be more difficult to remove.

Was the barrel cleaned after 550 rounds and what happened after that in terms of number and timing of rounds fired and timing of cleaning ?

 

[1shot]

It doesn't matter if I'm just confirming a load that I tested last week with
10-12 rounds or shot a 60 shot match with sighters. I run several wet patches down the bore while it's still warm to get that carbon out BEFORE it gets hard. In the long run I save myself a lot of time cleaning that I can be doing other things. I'm not a big fan of brushes, but will use them when necessary.
I find I rarely have to resort to brushes by getting the carbon out when it's still warm.
I hope this helps,

Lloyd

 

[Bruce W]

Another thing I learned here. Get cleaner in the bore right after the last shot while the barrel is still warm. This also reduces the scrubbing when you get home.( posted the same time as 1shot) Bruce

 

[foxguy]

I have a Savage F-Class 6MM BR, I recently purchased one of the teslong endo scopes. I have been cleaning regularly after each shooting outing. I learned my cleaning regiment was not good enough. I was getting most of the copper out but was leaving a lot of the carbon especially in the first first 6 or 8 inches. The rifle was still shooting well enough to shoot in the mid to High 190's on a F-Class 600 yard target. Oh, and was I ever surprised to see the fire cracking.... yep it's there and the rifle was still shooting good. Guess you have to shoot them with a good known load to know if the rifle is loosing its accuracy, and as you shoot you have to be aware that the preferred bullet seating depth is changing thru the life of the barrel.

I have given the barrel a good scrubbing now and will be keeping a better eye on my cleaning going forward. Just remember they can still shoot with some carbon fouling in them. I too have read on this site that barrels were shot out only for the rifle owner to learn that the barrel really needed a good scrubbing and afterwards it returned to shooting really well.

Added- 1400 rounds + on this barrel. Looking forward to getting another 1000 on it.

 

[Link]

So the 1 - 2 pictures in post 78 are carbon rings, correct? How about a picture after cleaned?

ty Don

 

[foxguy]

Picture 1 - lands and groove
Picture 2 - Carbon Ring
Picture 3 - Lead area of chamber
Picture 4 - Crown area - just in front of it.

Frank- I'm guessing these are after cleaning with the JB.??
If so?, I'm thinking the barrel needs cleaning with a good bore solvent and a solvent wet brass brush. I would stroke the barrel 10-15 strokes and then put another wet patch thru it, repeat as needed until clean.
on picture 4 - the Crown area it appears there is still some copper fouling in that area. Thats how it appears to me, But I have to say I'm new to this barrel scoping business also.

I too would clean it more and go out and shoot it with the load that shot so well before. You may have to verify where your bullet touches the lands and seat to the same distance off of or into the lands as before.

Wishing you the best and good shooting, if this barrel will still shoot, save the other barrel for the future.

 

[YEW PLUCKER]

There is NOTHING wrong with your barrel. Give it a good cleaning. It has lots of life left in it.

 

[Hohn]

If it was mine I possibly would clean it more first, and try to get it spotless. Second run some Tubbs Final Finish bullets down it. I've never used David's Final Finish kit but would give it a go simply because it could be an inexpensive fix and I would hate to make a tomatoe stake out of a 750 round 6br barrel, factory or not.....especially one that shot as good has this one.

I ran a full Final Finish kit down the bore of an inexpensive Savage and while I don't have a borescope, the cleaning rod does not lie. You can absolutely feel how much smoother it is and also it cleans much more easily now.

 

[Bruce W]

If you use final finish you will need to recheck your bullet to the lands measurement as it will be different after you use that product.i used it in a rem xp 260 rem. Barrel cleaned alot easier afterwards . Bruce