Borescoped an inexpensive AR barrel.....yikes

[flintcreek6412]

So I'm used to scoping my F class barrels to see what's up with them. Have always been cut and lapped Kreiger, Bartlein or Brux so they are always squeeky clean works of art.

Well today I took a new AR 10 out and tried to break it in but the copper was terrible and never did get a clean patch like I do on my others so I said screw it and went home with 8 shots on it. I tried to give it a good cleaning but wasn't about to spend hours getting the copper out.

On a whim I borescoped it. I have never seen anything like this before. Again, very low cost upper so expectations aren't high.

Is this normal? What is that stuff? I can't imagine its from the bullets. Any info would be great.

Its basically a plinker but I considered it for an AR tactical 300,500,600 next weekend since I haven't had the weather for good load development on new barrels for f class.

 

[TAJ45]

Teal anodizing ?

Obviously, I have no idea.

 

[joshb]

That actually looks pretty tame. Ever scope a Savage barrel?

 

[flintcreek6412]

That actually looks pretty tame. Ever scope a Savage barrel?

I have not. This is my first inexpensive barrel glimpse

 

[simo hayha]

Is this a bca barrel

 

[Tommie]

I’ve seen WAY worse. Matter of fact, that barrel’s rifling looks better than most mass-production units. Owning custom barrels like the ones you’ve mentioned will spoil a fellow.

 

[Someoldguy]

Looks to me like what you've got there is a mixture of copper and carbon, mostly on the top of the lands. As others have said, looks pretty good for a factory barrel.
I guess you could try alternating JB and copper solvent to try and get it all out, or if it shoots decent, just have fun, clean it some when you're done, and don't worry about it unless the accuracy level drops off.

 

[chop house]

case hardened? chrome lined but insufficiently plated maybe?

 

[fyrewall]

I see a long gash & huge round, flat bottom crater like gouge of approximate groove depth with a sticker at 3:30. Fouling as expected and has to be from bullets. Nice pics! Thank-you. Don't advise using foaming bore cleaner on that gas gun. Would chrome plating cover up those sharp edged defects?

 

[varget204]

Run a stiff brush nylon/brass w/copper cleaner on it,see if it comes out,looks good compared to some barrels

 

[Knotwild]

Sign in, Right click, select view image, when the image page comes up, hit control plus. Then it really looks odd, one section of land has a "hang nail" and another spot looks like a divot out of the metal. It's a shame so many AR barrels are out there with no indication of the maker.

 

[22DASHER]

That looks more like a drop of moisture then anything else...

 

[flintcreek6412]

Maybe this will help. I marked the areas that look really weird to me. Maybe there are nothing but they sure look odd to me. Like blobs of metal or something.

 

[22DASHER]

Run a couple dry patches through and see if they are still there

 

[fingers]

I had a barrel that looked like that. It looked like golden blobs. I tried everything I could think of to remove it
with no luck. This was a new unfired rifle. I sent it back to the manufacture & they sent me anew rifle that was even worse. I also sent the second rifle back and told them to either seen me a decent rife or send me my money back. They did send me a decent rifle and explanation that what had happened was when they had dipped the barrel to coat it the plugs had not sealed it allowing the coating inside. This would not have
been detectable without a bore scope & the average gun buyer would have no idea what was wrong. I hope this helps.

 

[6MMsteve]

So I'm used to scoping my F class barrels to see what's up with them. Have always been cut and lapped Kreiger, Bartlein or Brux so they are always squeeky clean works of art.

Well today I took a new AR 10 out and tried to break it in but the copper was terrible and never did get a clean patch like I do on my others so I said screw it and went home with 8 shots on it. I tried to give it a good cleaning but wasn't about to spend hours getting the copper out.

On a whim I borescoped it. I have never seen anything like this before. Again, very low cost upper so expectations aren't high.

Is this normal? What is that stuff? I can't imagine its from the bullets. Any info would be great.

Its basically a plinker but I considered it for an AR tactical 300,500,600 next weekend since I haven't had the weather for good load development on new barrels for f class.View attachment 1093658 View attachment 1093659

that looks smoooooooth to me................ look through a savage looks like those bumps at the offfffff rammmmmmmp....or the warning slots on the side of the road next to fog line....I bet those bullets say ruffff ruffff when going down a savage barrel lol

 

[GSS]

Well today I took a new AR 10 out and tried to break it in but the copper was terrible and never did get a clean patch like I do on my others so I said screw it and went home with 8 shots on it. I tried to give it a good cleaning but wasn't about to spend hours getting the copper out.

On a whim I borescoped it. I have never seen anything like this before. Again, very low cost upper so expectations aren't high.

Is this normal? What is that stuff? I can't imagine its from the bullets. Any info would be great.

Its basically a plinker but I considered it for an AR tactical 300,500,600 next weekend since I haven't had the weather for good load development on new barrels for f class.View attachment 1093658 View attachment 1093659

Interesting pictures and info.
I know you stated you gave up after 8 shots but,,
Can I ask, How did it shoot accuracy and function wise ?

It may be perfectly fine for intended purpose of shooting in AR Tactical matches.

I'd go shoot a string of 20 rounds or three from 600 and see how it shoots

G-

 

[rammac]

It's interesting how few people even noticed the defects, even after you pointed them out.

I assume that the barrel is a button barrel, if that is true then I'd say that they didn't keep the swarf out of the barrel and they pressed defects in to the lands. If they lapped the barrel then I'd say that the defects started out pretty deep and the lapping wasn't enough to remove them.

 

[flintcreek6412]

Interesting pictures and info.
I know you stated you gave up after 8 shots but,,
Can I ask, How did it shoot accuracy and function wise ?

It may be perfectly fine for intended purpose of shooting in AR Tactical matches.

I'd go shoot a string of 20 rounds or three from 600 and see how it shoots

G-

I just shoot into a dirt pile for break in and use my patches as a judge.

 

[GrocMax]

Those little blobs of moisture left inside from wet patches act like magnifying glass funhouse mirrors. Dry patch and look again.