Frustrated with Shilen 6BR.

[strut64]

I have been struggling with a Shilen barrel. It is an 8 tw, 26" st stl var/tar. I have about 1200 through it. Accuracy is inconsistent, and it fouls quickly now. Most recently, gave it a thorough cleaning with Bore Tech Eliminator then JB. After 26 rounds it was copper fouled. again. I dont know what else to try. I expected longer life.

 

[hogpatrol]

Have you borescoped it?

 

[strut64]

No and no access to a borescope.

 

[hogpatrol]

Call Shilen for guidance.

 

[benchrest]

what has been your primary load? powder?


thinking outside of accuracy/copper fouling box...
how does your crown look?
&
have you thoroughly cleaned the chamber neck as if you might have a carbon ring?

 

[Ggmac]

Have you ever had good accuracy with it ? 1200 rds is a long test . If it shot good then got bad ,I'd say improper cleaning , rust , pitted , mechanical issues . Anything else changed , ever use a stainless tornado brush ?

 

[Jimmy James]

I have a Shilen bbld 22/250 and 223 I'm not crazy about either and the 22/250 is totally disappointing. I know they supposedly sell different grade bbls and I left that up to my smith but when I can afford, the 22/250 is getting a Brux.

 

[Stan Taylor]

Have you ever had good accuracy with it ? 1200 rds is a long test . If it shot good then got bad ,I'd say improper cleaning , rust , pitted , mechanical issues . Anything else changed , ever use a stainless tornado brush ?

Question why would you use a stainless brush.

 

[Ggmac]

Question why would you use a stainless brush.

You wouldn't . Unless you wanted to ruin your barrel . I know a lot of people have and still try it . That's why it's always a primary question. Especially when a gun use to shoot or not foul . I've seen more ruined stainless barrels in my career than chromemoly . Everyone assumes stain-less barrels don't rust so they get to it later . Well later usually comes too late and it's not till you show them the pitting that they fess up .

 

[Stan Taylor]

You wouldn't . Unless you wanted to ruin your barrel . I know a lot of people have and still try it . That's why it's always a primary question. Especially when a gun use to shoot or not foul . I've seen more ruined stainless barrels in my career than chromemoly . Everyone assumes stain-less barrels don't rust so they get to it later . Well later usually comes too late and it's not till you show them the pitting that they fess up .

We'll glad to here that if a customer ordered a barrel off of me an was having trouble and told me he was cleaning with anything like that I wouldn't replace it.

 

[gambleone]

I guess that puts the brakes on the shilen i was going to get for my 22-250.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Life is too short to put more than a couple hundred rounds max on a sh**ty barrel

 

[Ggmac]

I guess that puts the brakes on the shilen i was going to get for my 22-250.

Why , Shilens are great , it's the brushes that hurt all barrels .

 

[Ggmac]

We'll glad to here that if a customer ordered a barrel off of me an was having trouble and told me he was cleaning with anything like that I wouldn't replace it.

And hopefully they would say something before a few hundred rounds , NOT 1200.

 

[group therapy]

Why , Shilens are great , it's the brushes that hurt all barrels .

IKR, I love mine, shoot lights out if I do my part!!!

 

[Stan Taylor]

And hopefully they would say something before a few hundred rounds , NOT 1200.

That's the very reason I hate seeing posts like this if you have a problem 99% of all manufacturers will replace if you have a good reason.

 

[Liven The Dream]

I have had good ones and short life ones .
Never had a Bad Krieger, Obermeyer , Brux
or JB from Portland ...

 

[Ggmac]

I have had good ones and short life ones .
Never had a Bad Krieger, Obermeyer , Brux
or JB from Portland ...

It's been my experience they all make great , good and not so good barrels . It how they handle it that counts . Given how many barrels Shilen produces , it's amazing how good , fast and inexpensive they are .
I've installed all but JB ? Some get returned before even starting machine work , only if it was shipped to me by the customer,other wise he deals with it or finds another smith .

 

[Downhill]

Have 3 Shilens. All 3 are very accurate barrels. Will buy more.

 

[strut64]

In response to above comments, I had good luck along the way with this barrel but seems to have given out at about 1200 rounds Is this a reasonable expectation. I expected more life. I babied this barrel; cleaned with bore tech eliminator, used nylon brushes exept to get at carbon build up. Used guidance from the accurate shooter website, using Berger (vld or hybrids) seirra MK and varget or RL 15. Always took pains to shoot slowly and let the barrel cool between shots. What is the normal life expectation of a good 6 BR barrel? In its day it shot some great groups.