17 Remington tumbling the bullets

[kzz1king]

I posted this elseware on the site also, not sure where to put it.

I have a stock, non modded Remington .17 that the bullets are tumbling. I used to use it for fox calling and had quit for years due to decline in fox numbers(mange). This past summer I decided to use it for gophers. Went out with a friend and I was spraying lead all over!! I went home and cleaned the barrel good. Went out to sight in and noticed that bullets are going through the target sideways I took it to a local gunsmith who shot some of his loads through it and they grouped fair with no tumbling.

I had been using Remington 25 bullets, his were Hornady TSX I believe. So I bought some Hornadys and still had bullets tumbling. I used Winchester 760 powder if I remember right. I am by no means a reloading expert but had been shooting this rifle with handloads for years and getting 3/4 MOA. I have no idea how many rounds have been through it as I bought it used. I am thinking that I have put 500 to 700 down the tube.

Do I need a new barrel? Thanks

 

[fdshuster]

Yes, it would probably be better suited for the "small stuff".

 

[Silverfox]

kzz1king--before you replace the barrel, I'd suggest you make sure you have all the carbon cleaned out of the barrel. Many times a carbon ring will form ahead of the chamber and that is enough to wreak havoc with your bullets and cause them to tumble. You may think you have all the copper and carbon out, but you are probably mistaken.

Use a solvent specifically for carbon removal like Bore-Tech C4, or Slip 2000 Carbon Remover, or even GM Top Engine Cleaner. Bore-Tech C4 should be available to you and that's the one I'd recommend you use first. The GM TEC could have some harmful elements in it that would do more than remove the hairs from your nose

I also use IOSSO Bore paste on stubborn carbon residuals in my bore. Just follow the directions on the container and you should do OK. If you do three or four cleanings with BT C4 and still have tumbling bullets, you may need a new barrel.

PS--If you know someone with a bore scope that will work in your .172 caliber barrel, I'd suggest you have your barrel scoped to make sure it is clean and/or doesn't have the riflings completely fried, especially in the throat area. If it looks like alligator hide in front of the chamber, you should consider a new barrel. Sometimes you can have the barrel set back and get some more life out of it, but you might be better off in the long run to just fork out the money and go for a new barrel.

 

[kzz1king]

Thanks Silverfox, I will give a good cleaning a shot.