Rechamber?

[Paddyd]

I have a 223R with about 5,000+ rounds through it that isnt as precise as it used to be. The bore still looks bright and shiny with very little firecracking. Still cleans up nice, etc. The issue is im running out of case neck to seat bullets in the sweet spot as the throat has worn away. Would I benefit from cutting some off the end and rechambering it or is it now just the proverbial tomato stake?

 

[Walt Krafft]

If doing your own work, have at it. If paying somebody to do it, get a new blank.

 

[coldboreshot]

If doing your own work, have at it. If paying somebody to do it, get a new blank.

This ^^^^^^^^^ Walt said it all. Your not going to need 100 inputs only to arrive back to this one.

 

[243winxb]

Might try a different bullet with more bearing surface?

My 9 twist liked 55 gr Nosler, till around 3000 rounds fired.
Then the 69 Sierra brought back some accuracy.

 

[jackieschmidt]

If doing your own work, have at it. If paying somebody to do it, get a new blank.

^^^^^^^^^^

 

[DR_2297]

If there isn’t enough tenon where I can cut the whole chamber off and start fresh then I prefer an unused blank. Picking everything up and indexing and getting it coaxial and hoping original chamber was cut coaxially is a royal PITA

 

[STS]

What the guys above said. That's the very reason why on most of my p-dog rifles I use varmint taper barrels with the 5 inch cylinder length. I have a .223AI that had 4200 rounds on it and was kind of rolling over the hump in accuracy. I cut 2.5 inches off of it and rechambered it. It went right back to shooting and I have put another 2000 rounds on it. I've rechambered a couple of them twice and had nearly 10K rounds on them at the barrel burial ceremony. Do it yourself, or get another blank.

 

[LVLAaron]

If there isn’t enough tenon where I can cut the whole chamber off and start fresh then I prefer an unused blank. Picking everything up and indexing and getting it coaxial and hoping original chamber was cut coaxially is a royal PITA

I set barrels back "a thread" all the time. Push the tenon forward whatever the thread pitch is, lop off the breech end the same, ream the same. Quick job. I use a 3 axis floating holder so the reamer just follows existing chamber. Gets you another 5-600 rounds out of the barrel.

 

[DShortt]

I set barrels back "a thread" all the time. Push the tenon forward whatever the thread pitch is, lop off the breech end the same, ream the same. Quick job. I use a 3 axis floating holder so the reamer just follows existing chamber. Gets you another 5-600 rounds out of the barrel.

5-600 rounds at what $$$ cost? I presume it's dependant on the cartridge also?

 

[savet06]

I have a 223R with about 5,000+ rounds through it that isnt as precise as it used to be. The bore still looks bright and shiny with very little firecracking. Still cleans up nice, etc. The issue is im running out of case neck to seat bullets in the sweet spot as the throat has worn away. Would I benefit from cutting some off the end and rechambering it or is it now just the proverbial tomato stake?

And, though you would probably do already, put a nice fresh crown on there. will help significantly with maintaining accuracy

 

[LVLAaron]

5-600 rounds at what $$$ cost? I presume it's dependant on the cartridge also?

Eh, 30 minute job. An hour if someone is supervising

 

[Bob3700]

Barrels don’t just wear in the throat area, the entire bore gets larger.
If u want to set a bbl back, do it at or a bit before 1/2 bbl life, not at the end. That bbl is toast n not worth the expense.

 

[Paddyd]

Barrels don’t just wear in the throat area, the entire bore gets larger.
If u want to set a bbl back, do it at or a bit before 1/2 bbl life, not at the end. That bbl is toast n not worth the expense.

Well it is still a consistent half inch barrel so...

 

[Bob3700]

Well it is still a consistent half inch barrel so...

If it is shooting, use it. I would not spend money to rechamber. If u can do the job yourself, have at it.

 

[LVLAaron]

keep in mind barrels get hard as diamonds... dont use your favorite steel reamer

 

[jackieschmidt]

Barrels don’t just wear in the throat area, the entire bore gets larger.
If u want to set a bbl back, do it at or a bit before 1/2 bbl life, not at the end. That bbl is toast n not worth the expense.

I kinda disagree.
I have many competition barrels that I have set back numerous times in order to keep the throat like new, and they keep shooting. One of my best 30 BR barrels has been set back four times. It started at 24 inches and is now just over 20. It’s probably seen 4000 rounds.

I will probably shoot it at the Nationals this year.

But I still say that this is only viable if you do your own barrels. For reasons already given in this thread, most Gunsmiths will not do it.

 

[Bob3700]

I kinda disagree.
I have many competition barrels that I have set back numerous times in order to keep the throat like new, and they keep shooting. One of my best 30 BR barrels has been set back four times. It started at 24 inches and is now just over 20. It’s probably seen 4000 rounds.

I will probably shoot it at the Nationals this year.

But I still say that this is only viable if you do your own barrels. For reasons already given in this thread, most Gunsmiths will not do it.

Jackie,
How many 6PPC or 6BR barrels have you competed with that have 4000 rounds thru them?

Agree that 30 cal stuff will shoot many more rounds than a 5.56 or 6mm, I have two 308 competition rifles that will go past 3500-4000 rds but those are exceptions.

Even service rifle shooters will tell you that 5000 rds thru a 223 is at the limit. Not worth fooling with to setback.