Clues to when you think you have received a bad barrel

[Lefty Trigger]

I purchased a new 6mm BR large shank Savage barrel last year as a standby replacement. Well I got my hands on another Savage target action and decided to use it. I have it mounted and shooting but the crazy thing is,... it wont shoot? I have tried all my great loads and even resorted back to OCW testing to make sure my favorite loads are close in the new barrel. Velocity wise my loads are almost exactly the same but there is no grouping from this barrel. Best load I have got so far is a 1.840 at 200 yards with most well over 3 inches, I have tried jamming and jumping all my loads but there seems to be no discernable difference. At first I thought they sent me a "turn neck" style chamber as the brass seems tighter but measured its the same. One other thing I have noticed is the bolt is tight to open even on my whimpy loads, brass has .002 headspace clearance. New barrel and new Lapua brass being used. This new barrel only has about 140 rounds through it but I seriously think a 6BR barrel should way better than this out of the box. Not going to mention the manufacturer but it is a premium brand name. (To see who and what they decided to do for me jump to post #15)
So what would be some things to look for in a "bad" barrel? I have a bore scope on the way and should have it in a few days to check that. The crown looks "odd" but doesn't have any defects, I will try to get a close up picture of it.

Final update... jump to post 30

 

[JEFFPPC]

I have had 2 barrels that were lacking. One was a Shilen that my gunsmith called me when he set it up and said it was not straight by a bunch. Before he did anything I called Shilen.. They said if I wanted to get it chambered was up to me but the fact it was not straight did not mean it would not shoot. This was probably the tenth or so S hilen I had used, all with good results. Chambered it up, it did not shoot, was .3 barrel at its best. Sent it back, Shilen replaced it with a typical very good barrel and I still use some Shilens.The other was a long time brand name I was talked into buying. It was never competitive. I shot half a season, took it off, gave it away. If it was bought for hunting gun it would have been fine. This was on a gun that I have had multiple barrels for which for the most part shoot the same load with only seating depth adjustments makes them competitive. First thing I would do is triple check your whole rig since according to what you posted is evidently a new build. I am not sure how your referencing headspace but it sounds as if you don't have neck clearence or are not bumping your shoulders. The crown looks odd is a question, also needs looked at.Ck simple things such as base screw bottomed out or action screw bottomed out, I have seen both driving guys crazy.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

I have had 2 barrels that were lacking. One was a Shilen that my gunsmith called me when he set it up and said it was not straight by a bunch. Before he did anything I called Shilen.. They said if I wanted to get it chambered was up to me but the fact it was not straight did not mean it would not shoot. This was probably the tenth or so S hilen I had used, all with good results. Chambered it up, it did not shoot, was .3 barrel at its best. Sent it back, Shilen replaced it with a typical very good barrel and I still use some Shilens.The other was a long time brand name I was talked into buying. It was never competitive. I shot half a season, took it off, gave it away. If it was bought for hunting gun it would have been fine. This was on a gun that I have had multiple barrels for which for the most part shoot the same load with only seating depth adjustments makes them competitive. First thing I would do is triple check your whole rig since according to what you posted is evidently a new build. I am not sure how your referencing headspace but it sounds as if you don't have neck clearence or are not bumping your shoulders. The crown looks odd is a question, also needs looked at.Ck simple things such as base screw bottomed out or action screw bottomed out, I have seen both driving guys crazy.

Yes its a new build but with known good parts from a rifle that shot really well before. Same scope (Nightforce) same mounts and rings, same stock, same barrel nut and lug. Action is new to me but not new (came off of a great shooting rifle with worn out barrel) With all things considered I believe the barrel is iffy and until I find another reason thats the way I'm leaning. If I had easy access to another large shank barrel I would simply swap it out and retest. As far as headspace goes I have a set of go/no-go gauges and set loose on the go gauge. I'm just curious how many rounds a guy should waste trying to figure it out...

 

[rjtfroggy]

You have already shot more than enough. Call the barrel maker and tell them what you got and what you have done so far.
My guess is they say send it back.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

You have already shot more than enough. Call the barrel maker and tell them what you got and what you have done so far.
My guess is they say send it back.

Thats exactly what I did and they are send me a label to return it. They are not happy that I'm not happy and they want it back for testing. they said they will make it right or replace it.

 

[Ranger188]

You've had a run of bad luck with everything you've shot lately.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

You've had a run of bad luck with everything you've shot lately.

No doubt! Starting to think all my rifles have covid and are dying!

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Got my return label and the barrel is off. Had it all packaged up and got my bore scope today so I unpackaged the barrel to look. Glad I did because I found this bad spot down 10 1/4 inches from the chamber end? Not sure what I'm looking at but it's clearly a bad area. Found no other issues and the crown is actually an illusion where I thought it was cut poorly, it's not.

 

[Old Navy]

Looks the inside of a galvanized pipe.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Looks the inside of a galvanized pipe.

Weird to because its just one spot in an otherwise good barrel,.. I guess? No matter its going back and we shall see what they say...

 

[JFrank]

I normally ask ( how’s it shoot) but from your description I’ll pass.
Good to hear they’re taking care of you.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

I normally ask ( how’s it shoot) but from your description I’ll pass.
Good to hear they’re taking care of you.

The barrel I took off,... which has well over 4000 rounds with the lands shot out so badly that 105gr bullets fall out of the case before reaching the lands... It shot better! I kept hoping that it would come around after break-in but there was no improvement. The new barrel was the same except it was 2 inches longer so I figured my loads that worked out well would be the first place to start, I was wrong. I even fell back and started over running a few OCW tests to see if I was even close. My velocity numbers were close but no groups would form and I tried every bullet I have from a 75gr V-Max to 108gr Berger BT's. Now that I have my own bore scope I have been checking everything I own and here is my 6.5x47 Lapua barrel, (same manufacturer) and this barrel has just passed the 950 round mark. Its just starting to show the slightest amount of fire cracking.

 

[Dgd6mm]

All I can say is it happens. I know the troubles you have gone thru. Whoever the barrel maker is, which I have a good idea because I have followed your issues in the past, I hope and believe they will make it good.

Don Dunlap

 

[TAJ45]

I had a cut rifled bbl that my smith and bud could not get to shoot....after chambering w same reamer that had produced a LOT of zeros and ones. It looked like it had been reindexed half way down and started over.....neither of us have any idea whatsoever how it could be machined that way, even if we tried.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Update as of 8-7-20 The company, Criterion barrels is going to replace the barrel. I dont think they know exactly what happed but they said in an e-mail that they think a bullet "blew up" in the throat? Is that a thing? I dont recall any shots NOT making it to paper?? They are currently building me a new barrel exactly like the old one minus the internal damage.

 

[TAJ45]

Can't beat that.

 

[cmillard]

Criterion makes great barrels. They will take good care of you

 

[STS]

Got my return label and the barrel is off. Had it all packaged up and got my bore scope today so I unpackaged the barrel to look. Glad I did because I found this bad spot down 10 1/4 inches from the chamber end? Not sure what I'm looking at but it's clearly a bad area. Found no other issues and the crown is actually an illusion where I thought it was cut poorly, it's not.

View attachment 1192871 View attachment 1192872 View attachment 1192873

That looks like a dirt inclusion in the steel.

 

[xswanted]

I purchased a new 6mm BR large shank Savage barrel last year as a standby replacement. Well I got my hands on another Savage target action and decided to use it. I have it mounted and shooting but the crazy thing is,... it wont shoot? I have tried all my great loads and even resorted back to OCW testing to make sure my favorite loads are close in the new barrel. Velocity wise my loads are almost exactly the same but there is no grouping from this barrel. Best load I have got so far is a 1.840 at 200 yards with most well over 3 inches, I have tried jamming and jumping all my loads but there seems to be no discernable difference. At first I thought they sent me a "turn neck" style chamber as the brass seems tighter but measured its the same. One other thing I have noticed is the bolt is tight to open even on my whimpy loads, brass has .002 headspace clearance. New barrel and new Lapua brass being used. This new barrel only has about 140 rounds through it but I seriously think a 6BR barrel should way better than this out of the box. Not going to mention the manufacturer but it is a premium brand name. (To see who and what they decided to do for me jump to post #15)
So what would be some things to look for in a "bad" barrel? I have a bore scope on the way and should have it in a few days to check that. The crown looks "odd" but doesn't have any defects, I will try to get a close up picture of it.

Is it the right twist for your bulletin of choice?

I had a gun done last spring and it showed up with the wrong twist. Was really confusing but finally could tell bullets weren’t going through the target straight.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

It ended up being a bad barrel, but the twist was correct. 8 twist for 105 class bullets.