Fire Cracking

[wkdickinson]

OK, so maybe this is a stupid question, but why is all of the fire cracking forward of the throat in my rifle (243 Win, CRB 1:8", 1,200 rds. +/-) in the grooves, lands look perfect?

 

[swimster]

This is completely a guess. But maybe some gasses are getting past the bullet in the groves and the bullets are keeping any fire cracking the lands smooth.

 

[jepp2]

but why is all of the fire cracking forward of the throat in my rifle (243 Win, CRB 1:8", 1,200 rds. +/-) in the grooves, lands look perfect?

It (the lands) will soon. Expect your are nearing the end of the accurate portion of your barrel's life.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

Fire cracking is the result of either hot lodes or normal use over a longer time period. It forms at or near the end of the rifle case. When you fire a round, hot gasses burn very hot and for the longest period of time at the mouth of of the case. To keep good accuracy in an otherwise good barrel, you seat the bullet deeper into throat of the barrel.

Fire cracking is a normal result of shooting. Many shooters have the throat re-reamed an in most cases it is like a new barrel. You may have to adjust the load and seating after having this done, as the dynamics of the barrel will change slightly.

Another cause of Fire cracking is continue shooting after the barrel gets hot. The hotter the barrel gets, the sooner you can expect to see fire cracking .

 

[pdhntr]

OK, so maybe this is a stupid question, but why is all of the fire cracking forward of the throat in my rifle (243 Win, CRB 1:8", 1,200 rds. +/-) in the grooves, lands look perfect?

You're probably letting the barrel cool too much between rounds.

Get that thing out on a good prairie dog town and you can fix those lands right up.

Jim

 

[Twicepop]

The .243 Winchester is a notorious blow torch. It has a lot of body taper, a very shallow shoulder angle and a short neck, all of these add up to "throat burner". Years back, Precision Shooting had a story about this malady, the .243 was only one of the cartridges mentioned. The .220 Swift, the 22-250 Rem, the then new 6.5X284, the .284 Win, there may have been others as well, even the 30-06 if loaded hot enough and shot often enough. I had a .243 (my last one) that after about 1200 rounds or so the accuracy started to deteriorate also.

 

[wkdickinson]

You're probably letting the barrel cool too much between rounds.

Get that thing out on a good prairie dog town and you can fix those lands right up.

Jim

I knew I was doing something wrong - thanks!

 

[PigButtons]

I knew I was doing something wrong - thanks!

I love to see a brother helping out a brother.