Looking for suggestions please...

[NoahbodyImportant]

I had a new barrel (Bartlein) put on my Savage model F T/R. I had it reamed using a PTG .308 Obermeyer Match reamer.

As I was depriming I noticed "rings" on the shoulder. These rings are only after firing in the new chambered barrel. They were not there before firing.

Pictures here: http://s143.photobucket.com/user/Noahbody2007/library/308%20Lapua%20brass%20and%20new%20barrel

Is this normal? Should I be worried? The load is Lapua case with 46.5gr Varget and 155gr SMK.

Thanks in advance for the suggestions and I apologize if this seems to be a stupid question.

 

[ShootDots]

Looks to me like the 'smith did not polish the chamber after reaming... My gunsmith always puts a very high polish on the chamber he reams... I don't get rings or any other markings for that matter... However, I am just only guessing.. I am not a gunsmith by any stretch of anyone's imagination..

 

[NoahbodyImportant]

Will this be bad for the brass? Is the brass ok or will I need to polish those rings out? Will this affect accuracy?

 

[Chief 101]

If you are worried talk to the guy that did the work...doesn't look like a problem to me.

 

[ShootDots]

I will give you my "non-gunsmith" opinion... If you don't polish the chamber and you run pressures up, there is a POSSIBILITY you may have a difficult time either opening your bolt OR extracting your brass.. Here is what I do and whether it is "scientific" or not, I have no clue>>>all I know is, it works... My chambers are polished and I take very fine steel wool and "polish" my brass. My 6.5 x 47 Lapua is running pretty dang warm>>> I NEVER have problems with that cartridge or any others I shoot.. Now whether it is the "polishing" of either or both the chamber or brass that keeps it easy for me, I know not>>>it simply works..

 

[gotcha]

Excellent pics Noahbody! I'd return the BBL to the Smith (or Blacksmith) that chambered it. This is NOT the way to machine an expensive BBL and is representative of some pretty sorry work, I think. DON'T allow him to willy nilly polish the shoulder as this can very well change the fit relationship between your chamber and your die set. He obviously didn't use a properly honed finish reamer. I don't see any harm in continuing to shoot this brass, as long as, you're not experiencing any sticky extraction issues. Just an eye sore really and a continuing reminder of poor machining skills. JMHO The decision rests w/ you. ( no, I'm not a Gun Smith either) BTW I'd check to see if your bolt face is contacting the end of the BBL.

 

[BigDMT]

I agree, looks like a dull reamer and no chamber polishing. I'd just take it back to your smith with the brass and ask him to make it right. He may have actually polished it and the reamer was just that dull and gouged it that bad. Either way, he should have easily been able to see that with a bore scope upon final inspection of his work. If it's bad enough, he may have to get a new finish reamer, touch it up and reset headspace.


Your brass will probably be fine once it is fired again in a nice polished chamber. Good luck man.

 

[NoahbodyImportant]

Thank you all for the replies.

It was a new reamer I supplied to the guy that did the work.

I sent an email to that guy along with the pictures. I am waiting for his reply. He has done other barrel with no complaints.

 

[BigDMT]

Thank you all for the replies.

It was a new reamer I supplied to the guy that did the work.

I sent an email to that guy along with the pictures. I am waiting for his reply. He has done other barrel with no complaints.

Interesting. Good luck and let us know how it turns out. take care

 

[Scott Harris]

It doesn't look bad at all and I doubt it will impact function or accuracy one iota. Your option to ask your gunsmith to redo it, but it would be a waste of time IMHO. I had a barrel with much more distinct rings and it came from a chip that got caught under the reamer. Gunsmith failed to pull out clean the reamer and lubricate. It did not effect accuracy, but the brass looked pretty ugly....yours isn't even close to what mine looked like.

 

[DennisH]

Either reamer chatter or lack of lubrication during the drilling process.

I have seen the same thing.

Good point, as stated, the shoulder area of the chamber can easily be polished with all spec's remaining inline.

Your brass, again, clean as stated above with steel wool or scotch brite using a drill. More than likely after your next shot you won't see the rings. Definitely by the third shot, all will be gone.

I know it's a disappointment, but don't worry about it. Just get it back to your smith and he should be able to fix it up within a day. Your barrel will be fine.

JMO, Dennis

 

[NoahbodyImportant]

This is the response I received:

YOU CAN TAKE A 30 CAL BRUSH AND WRAP SOME STEELWOOL AROUND IT AND POLISH THE SHOULDER OF THE CHAMBER SOME WITH A DRILL .DON'T GET CARRY AWAY.

Should I just take it to a gunsmith and have it done right? Also the crown is a little sloppy with rings. I will post pictures later.

 

[ShootDots]

I would take the whole shootin' match to a COMPETENT riflesmith OR send it to one, and have him go over it from stem to stern! That may solve some unforeseen problems, that may or may not exist, before they arise...

 

[BoydAllen]

If it works OK, I would ignore the rings and get on with shooting the rifle. I think what you have is an esthetic issue rather than a functional one.

 

[DennisH]

This is the response I received:

YOU CAN TAKE A 30 CAL BRUSH AND WRAP SOME STEELWOOL AROUND IT AND POLISH THE SHOULDER OF THE CHAMBER SOME WITH A DRILL .DON'T GET CARRY AWAY.

Should I just take it to a gunsmith and have it done right? Also the crown is a little sloppy with rings. I will post pictures later.

I was OK with everything until you added the crown has rings!

I would recommend getting it to a reputable gunsmith and have the chamber completed and also have it recrowned. Infact, have all of the previous workmanship inspected.

Dennis

 

[BigDMT]

I missed the part about the crown as well.

Boyd,
It might still shoot good, but that's not the kind of work a person pays for with their hard earned money.
Its like getting the wrong food order at a restaurant. The wrong order will probably still fill you up, but thats not what you wanted to pay for

 

[NoahbodyImportant]

Here are some pictures of the crown.

Should I have it fixed or is something that I can live with?

http://s143.photobucket.com/user/Noahbody2007/media/crown_zpsebcc2300.jpg.html

http://s143.photobucket.com/user/Noahbody2007/media/crownenlarged_zpsa1a7f3eb.jpg.html

 

[ShootDots]

Personally, I want a VERY SLIGHT bevel where the end of the barrel is going into the crown. I don't see one on your crown. Additionally, your 'smith did not polish the crown>>probably not necessary, but virtually every crown on every custom rifle I have ever seen has BOTH the bevel as well as the polish job. I am not a gunsmith, but I would not think it is imperative to have the bevel or the polish but it does say something about the guy who did your work.

 

[CatShooter]

Here are some pictures of the crown.

Should I have it fixed or is something that I can live with?

http://s143.photobucket.com/user/Noahbody2007/media/crown_zpsebcc2300.jpg.html

http://s143.photobucket.com/user/Noahbody2007/media/crownenlarged_zpsa1a7f3eb.jpg.html

That is beautiful, compared to the crown that Kevin Weaver put on a Kreiger that I waited 7 months for... the cutter was so dull, that it pushed a roll of steel over INTO the bore area.

 

[AndyTaber]

From your pictures, the rings on the crown look more like it was done for looks, rather than rough machining marks. The smiths around here generally do an 11 degree target crown. No polishing. Shoots just fine.

As for the marks on the brass, I had to go look at mine to see, and found similar marks. I would say that it probably stretched a little forming to your new chamber. After 2 - 3 firings and some polishing with 0000 steel wool, all will be good. I have never heard any of the smiths around here mention polishing a chamber after they cut it. I've watched them work and never saw them polish a chamber. They are all very fine Benchrest, accuracy guru's who do exceptional work.

Lastly, I would suggest going to the Main Message section and reading the thread "Why the persistent lack of gunsmiths?". Then come back and read some of the responses here.