Barrel question/advise - Keep, sell, re-chamber?

[Sray53TXTN]

I have a used Bartlein barrel 30" AMU profile barrel that I'm trying to figure what to do with.
Chambered in 6.5x284 has 674 documented rounds through it. All rounds loaded mid-range 2890-2940.
Threaded for a Barnard action - barrel work by Warner Tool.
1.25 to 1.1" AMU profile - sweet shooting barrel, will shoot 142SMKs very well. Won a few matches with it.

Barrel question - Keep, sell, re-chamber?

 

[jonbearman]

Rechamber it to a softer shooting 6.5 like the swede or 6.5x47 or something or even the .260 rem in it's stock form to be easier on the throat.With a good barrel like this it is worth saving it.

 

[watercam]

Too many rounds to sell for anything substantial. Cheapest is to rebore to 7mm, recut neck and shoot straight 284? Delta gunsmithing in Washington did one for me and it came back cut rifled, hand lapped and as accurate as the original caliber from Broughton.
Mike T.

 

[2644ever]

After careful borescoping, I would cut it right at the shoulder/neck junction and would either thread it for a Savage or an AR-15 receiver with a Grendel or a 6.5 BR in mind.

 

[cliffe]

sounds like you want to sell it. if you won a few matches with it, why not put it back on and win a few more. cliffe

 

[Erik Cortina]

I asked myself the same question last year, my 6.5-284 had about 1200 rounds through it and I decided to have my gunsmith cut 2" off the back of my Krieger bbl and rechamber to 6.5x47 Lapua, best decision I ever made! I went out and set a 300 yard record with it and now I have put another 1000 rounds through that barrel and it's still shooting great! It's an awsome caliber and you will get your money's worth if you rechamber to 6.5x47 Lapua, I did!

 

[Sray53TXTN]

Erik
The 6.5x47 round sounds interesting. Seems like a good selection of dies available; what do you assemble for match rounds (brass, powder, bullets, primers)?
The barrel re-chamber will leave me at around 28" and should be OK for 300-600 maybe a 1000yds.
Have you chrono'd any to see what node works best for your barrel?

 

[Erik Cortina]

I use Lapua brass, CCI 450 primers, 139 Lapua Scenars, and Reloader 17. Lately I've been testing VV N550 and it looks really promising!

My load with RL 17 runs 2930 fps. from a 28" Krieger 4 groove.

 

[therifler]

take 2" off as suggested if the barrel shoots good and the work is completed properly it will shoot as good or better . T.R.

 

[tenring]

I have had two 6.5-284 barrels go over the hill at 1200 rounds.

A re-chamber to 6.5-47 would work, but first have it borescoped. My smith told me that if the bore is not firecracked, it can be re-bored.

 

[Sray53TXTN]

I'm going to head down to my gunny on Friday and have it bore scoped and if OK (should be ok since it was loaded mid range and less than 700 rounds - maybe wishful thinking) , have it re-chambered to 6.5x47 at around 28", if ok it'll be my mid-range 300-600yd barrel.
.
REALLY Appreciate all the feedback - helped loads

I'll report back once I know - if you'd like.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Let us know, good luck!

 

[Sray53TXTN]

First chance to report back; took the barrel and had it bore scoped and there was some fire cracking in the throat area and after measuring for cut/threading/chamber in 6.5x47 Lapua and it should finish out right at 28". Going to use on my Savage dual port target action without barrel nut (Remington style).
Hopefully it will be a hammer and I can use in my 300 & 600 Mid-range matches.
Should be getting it back in the next couple of weeks.

 

[wapiti25]

I think you should send it to me and that will solve your problem.

 

[Scott Harris]

Who's gonna buy a barrel with close to 700 rounds of 6.5-284? Keep it and shoot it till it shoots no more.

 

[Sray53TXTN]

Picked up the re-chambered 6.5x47 Lapua barrel set up on my Savage Dual Port Target action, this weekend at our 1st 2011 1000yd local club match.
Gunny indicated my barrel is only the 2nd barrel cut with his new reamer (the 1st on my friend's new 6.5x47 Lapua - which shot some amazing groups at the last 600yd outing) . He said the Bartlein barrel was well taken care of and rifling's were superb, should get some great life out of it. Barrel finished at 28.5" and am going to get to the range this weekend to see how it shoots. Have some 123 SMK and Varget ready to load up unless someones got a favorite load with RL15 or RL17.

Hope this turns out to be a sweet mid-range F-Open rifle. ;D
Here's some pics:

 

[Sray53TXTN]

Got a chance to run some rounds through it today. Sierra 120 & 123 SMK and Berger 130gr VLD Hunting, Varget, Lapua brass, Wolf SRM primer.
Very happy with recommendations on keeping it ;D - Thanks to all!!!