204R keyholing 32's ???

[vmaxpro]

Well this is a first for me. I picked up a new take off barrel from a savage. Grabbed a box of factory 32's and loaded some 32's as well as 40's.

Factory loads= shotgun pattern

Handloads= keyholing

Handload 40's = .6" and improving

Any suggestions?

 

[vmaxpro]

Im probably just gonna toss the barrel. Just odd that the 32's shoot like that and the 40's stabilize just fine

 

[Mark M.]

Can you tell me about the barrel

 

[vmaxpro]

New take off from a 12fv. Claims 1-12 but measures closer to 1-11. Crown looks to be fine, throat is loooong as I cant touch the lands with 32's. Also handloads were 8208 27-29 grains stepping .2 with a oal of 2.275. Every single one keyholed. Factory hornady loads didnt keyhole but were scattered. Id say 10" at 100

 

[vmaxpro]

Im not real worried, just kinda sucks as it was going to be a temp until my tac 20 comes in. I should also add that after just 3 rounds it was extremely powder fouled

 

[vmaxpro]

Just crazy how the 40's shot right threw it. But like I said not worried, just never had this issue before and curious if anyone has an answer.

 

[JSH]

I did about the same thing last year. I heard and read a lot about the factory barrels may or may not shoot 40's, but would digest the 39 Sierras well

32 factory ammo, shot out standing.
40 grain factory ammo, pretty much the same thing.

Chased speed and accuracy with my hand loads, no issues.

I would have to think it is the barrel or crown.
FYI, throat is real long in mine also. Maybe why I got away with over the top loads, lot of jump.

 

[Mark M.]

I know this is a no brainer but half to ask, how well did you clean the barrel before you shot

 

[vmaxpro]

I know this is a no brainer but half to ask, how well did you clean the barrel before you shot

No borescope, but best as I could. Right now Im leaning towards a fouling issue. 10 rounds and Ive never seen this much copper and soot before in atleast 20 years.

 

[B23]

And you are sure you didn't mix up which were the 40's and which were the 32's?

 

[vmaxpro]

And you are sure you didn't mix up which were the 40's and which were the 32's?

100% sure. The only 32's I have are the zmax, and the only 40's are the red

 

[TheOtherZilla]

My Savage 12 has started doing that. Previous great loads are shot gunning and I had 3 key hole@100. Then I had some that wouldn't even make it to the target.. . Bore scope was fugly. It's in the corner now. Haven't decided if I am going to re-barrel or just buy another rifle .
And yes I did a thorough copper cleaning..

 

[vmaxpro]

My Savage 12 has started doing that. Previous great loads are shot gunning and I had 3 key hole@100. Then I had some that wouldn't even make it to the target.. . Bore scope was fugly. It's in the corner now. Haven't decided if I am going to re-barrel or just buy another rifle .
And yes I did a thorough copper cleaning..

Intresting. Well I did find one slight difference. The 32 grain mic .2038 and the 40gr mic .2044. Sampled about 20 from each lot.
Im going to give it one last shot on friday before i toss the barrel. I can jam the 40's about .005 and have enough bullet in the neck so ill try it. Im just a little dissapointed, probably shouldnt of bought 2000 32gr bullets lol. Maybe the new barrel will like them? Well see. Regardless, its still fun

 

[TheOtherZilla]

Intresting. Well I did find one slight difference. The 32 grain mic .2038 and the 40gr mic .2044. Sampled about 20 from each lot.
Im going to give it one last shot on friday before i toss the barrel. I can jam the 40's about .005 and have enough bullet in the neck so ill try it. Im just a little dissapointed, probably shouldnt of bought 2000 32gr bullets lol. Maybe the new barrel will like them? Well see. Regardless, its still fun

Yeah I got like 1000 39 Sierras and a bunch of Speer 39's and etc etc

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I bet the chamber is cut crooked with a lands that's horribly one sided. Would need a borescope to check. 32s probably get knocked sideways when they make the jump. Coming out of the bore with uneven concentricity the muzzle blast makes them tumble.

Just a guess.

 

[pacificman]

Sounds like something very wrong with that barrel for sure! I think Ledd Slinger is on to something too!
Funny how ya have better luck with the 40 grainers and not the 32's You would think just the opposite
would be true.

 

[#40Fan]

The only bullets I have key holed were 40 grainers in a 22-250 that I was trying to max out. Any chance this is happening here?

 

[pacificman]

Usually when a bullet keyholes it is because the wrong bullet is being used for the twist rate of the rifle.
Most lighter weight bullets can be used in a rifle with a faster twist rate. Key-holing starts to become a
problem when a heavier/length bullet is used with a slower twist rifle. The OP's rifle barrel being a factory
1/12 twist should shoot the 32 grain bullets without a problem and it does not...makes me think there is
something wrong with the barrel...could be crown, chamber , or could be worn out???

 

[vmaxpro]

Usually when a bullet keyholes it is because the wrong bullet is being used for the twist rate of the rifle.
Most lighter weight bullets can be used in a rifle with a faster twist rate. Key-holing starts to become a
problem when a heavier/length bullet is used with a slower twist rifle. The OP's rifle barrel being a factory
1/12 twist should shoot the 32 grain bullets without a problem and it does not...makes me think there is
something wrong with the barrel...could be crown, chamber , or could be worn out???

How come the 40's shoot ok though?

 

[pacificman]

How come the 40's shoot ok though?

I don't know. Like I was saying it should be the other way around. The 32's should be the ones that should
be shooting better. As was said it would be nice to see inside your barrel with a bore-scope.