Is my chamber cut crooked?

[moosemoose]

I took some pictures of a chamber cast from a barrel of mine that is giving me some trouble. There are 6 pics in all, one of each of the lands. Pay attention to the throat area. I hope all of the pictures post, if not I'll post on the next thread.

http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/moosemoose/6thland_1.jpg[/IMG]

 

[mason]

doesn't look good to me,send it to a known gunsmith or just some pictures.Factory barrel, what make? can we see a pic from the end looking down. being lead when you tap it out this might be the crook your seeing. just my 2 cents.

 

[moosemoose]

.223 caliber custom barrel I'll not say who made it yet, I'd like to give them the opportunity to make it right.

 

[Fred Bohl]

Jeff,

I hesitate to do an assessment from pictures. I would normally do my own chamber cast and verify with a bore scope exam. However, from your photos I'll offer the following opinions:

1. The reamer was not piloted or had a very undersized pilot - no pilot rub marks on the lands.

2. The reamer was badly worn - throat cut was shallow not enough material removed and front of neck section shows bad finish.

3. The reamer was not well aligned with the bore - uneven removal of lands and front of neck section.

If your going to give the smith a chance to re-do, I would expect him to provide a replacement barrel blank and a new reamer for you to inspect before the work is done and a chamber cast of the finished new chamber.

 

[moosemoose]

Thanks Fred

 

[skeetlee]

why not let us know who to stay away from? I sure wouldn't want to have to got through the trouble you are having. That sucks man!! What kind of trouble were you having that lead to your suspension? Lee

 

[moosemoose]

This is my first 223 in all my years I've never shot one. I always heard about their inherent accuracy so I figured ragged hole groups should be easily achieved at under 200 yards with a good action and stock and scope.

This barrel would never do that consistantly, very frustrating.

How did I realize something was amiss? The first loaded round I chambered was tight with the bullet seated to the load data COL.

I thought at the time, great no long throat! these custom barrel makers believe in short throats. As I shot it and would leave the range I always left thinking this barrel should shoot better.

A couple of weeks ago a coworker was having trouble with a little .223 handi rifle he had owned for years and shot to the point of nearly shooting out the barrel. It seems that the little rifles accuracy was degrading and he wanted me to look at it for him.

I cleaned the bore for about 4 hours, and looked at the throat area with a magnifying glass. Horrible gouges through out the bore. Bought some cerrosafe and made a chamber cast and the throat was so long that a 50 grain bullet could not be seated out far enough to touch the lands. I loaded some very long seated bullets and shot a darn good group at 100 yards with it. How could this common little worn out rifle shoot that well in spite of all its shortcomings? That is when I made a cast of my chamber and that is where I am today.

I will tell you all who made the barrel when this is resolved, for the most part I've read posts and articles that have not been kind to this company on this site. Having said that I think you probably aready know who they are and are staying away from them.

By the way my friend dosen't reload and I bought the little handi rifle from him... it really is handi. Thanks for the response skeetlee.

Jeff

 

[clowdis]

Using a piloted reamer it is impossible to misalign a chamber with the bore if the proper size bushing is used. If the reamer is misaligned or offset in the tailstock you will wallow out the the back end of the chamber making it oversize as the barrel spins around the reamer, but the front near the throat will still be centered because the pilot will hold it in the center of the bore, provided the pilot fits the bore. There are many other things that can be done to screw up a chambering job such as using a pilot that is too small,which usually results in chatter) or screwing things up with with emery cloth or not cleaning the chips and gouging the surface. I don't see anything obvious except the one place where it seems the throat has been polished too much in the bottom photo. It isn't always the 'smiths fault if a barrel doesn't shoot well. Have you discussed the problem with him?

 

[gunrx]

By looking at the pics, it appears that this chamber was cut with a reamer that has no leade or throat on it. This is sometimes desired in a reamer for the AR-15's due to magazine/short OAL. Once the chamber is cut, a throater is run to the desired depth. I'm thinking that your smith probably forgot to run the throating reamer?

 

[JayIdaho]

I cast two Ruger 25-'06 chambers, a 77V and a 1V. Both had long freebores and both had off-center chambers. That was apparent due to the difference in leade beginnings.
Those were the last CF Rugers that I've ever owned.
I think that your problem has been identified by several posters. I can't imagine getting a chamber that far off center. Undersize pilot and crappy lathe set-up could do it, I guess.

 

[moosemoose]

There are 2 more pictures on part II of this thread. I had the suspicion that what you boys are saying is in fact what happened. My inexperience allows me to come here and listen to your opinions, and I want to thank all of you.

The barrel was bought already chambered as I do not live near a reputable gunsmith to my knowledge. I have started a dialog with the people I bought it from, and I should hear back from them tomorrow.

Jeff