It didn't have any rifling the first 12 ". Larry
That's what happened with mine. went to a 1000 yard match one weekend and won 3 of four relays, went back the next week to the state championship really excited and didn't win anything. Dang the luck.I have some barrels shoot their best right before they die. Usually when they die it happens quick. You will know. Matt
Just gotta top the bbl with nuthin 12" down,,,I have a Krieger 8 twist bbl that was a 6mmBR in its first life ,,,it is prolly the best bbl I have ever had,,(accurate and long lived) ,,,I shot it aprox 3000 rds as a BR and it was a "Hummer",,,(set a 3 target NBRSA 600 yd record with it),,,so I decided to retire it rather than go to a match and have it give up the ghost,,,after seeing it set in the corner for a while I decided to re-chamber it to .243 win,,,I shot it another 1500+ rds (which some say is all you can get out of a .243,,remember this bbl had 3000 rds of wear to begin with)with amazing accuracy and "then" it happend ,,,,sparks flew and it was gone,,,I show it to people and joke about having to look carefully to see any rifleing ,,it just looks dirty or smokey down the bore,,,the lands are almost gone "all the way" down the bbl,,,,I have a 22-250 bbl that looks the same,,,I try to get my money$ worth out of em,,hahaha,,,,,Shifty,,,you are in denial,,,if you can get 3,600 competitive rds out of any bbl ,,any cal,,,you shluld stop grumbling and start thanking your luky stars....shurely this is not your only bbl,,,take it to a 100 yd range near home and try it before going to an event and be overly disappointed,,,if it doesnt shoot well at 100 with a proven load,,,put on one of your xtra bbls and test it and get the gun zeroed before you drive 1/2 way across the state or the country,,,,now that I am more familiar with bbls going away I see it in 3 or 4 rounds...I usually see sparks (like fireworks) fly out of the muzzle,,,once you see/recognize it you will never forget it,,,,Roger
PS,,bbls dont just wear out at the breach and muzzel ,,,they wear out all the way down,,,just more prominent/noticeable/measureable at the throat area,,,,once they are worn sufficiently ,,the bullet will strip just like a nut on a worn bolt,,,and the sparks will fly,,,!!!!