New barrel question-Update, thanks to Boyd Allen!

[Coonman300]

Update to thread- got the copper issue under control but was still having problems with the groups. After several discussions with Boyd Allen he had me check the bedding. There was a small amount of the bedding compound from previous barrel setup that was touching this barrel. I could slip a piece of paper between stock and barrel but I was hitting the compound about 3/4” from the action. I got a dremel and ground it down until I had good clearance to the action. Immediately Shot two groups under a half inch and a third one was .505. I couldn’t happier for a light weight deer/coyote rifle! Boyd was a ton of help as were many others with the issues I had. I greatly appreciate everyone’s guidance and advice. This is a great site!







I just had a barrel replaced on a hunting rifle. First time I’ve ever had that done and I think I have a problem. Would anyone be willing to pm me and let me ask a couple of questions? Would rather not jump to conclusions on open forum.

Thanks.

 

[David Christian]

Can you describe your suggested problem? Attach photos? Give us a general direction to your questions?

Thanks,
DC

 

[std7mag]

Asking questions is not jumping to conclusions.

All we ask is for information to possibly help.

 

[watercam]

PM inbound

 

[K22]

I've had a number of rifles rebarreled.

I've be happy to try and help you but if you used a qualified and ethical gunsmith there shouldn't be any problem with him in addressing your issues. He's probably the most qualified to answer your questions because he installed the barrel.

 

[Coonman300]

Guys, thanks so much for all the pm’s. I have received great advice and guidance from multiple members and my issue/question has been resolved for now.
This site is really amazing. I was blown away by the number of people who reached out to help and share their wealth of knowledge and experience with me. I have been on this site for about a year and have learned so much from the members. I just reload for hunting but the wealth of info here has really helped in my quest for better accuracy. I really appreciate it and am glad to involved with such a great group of people!

 

[stacy]

Guys, thanks so much for all the pm’s. I have received great advice and guidance from multiple members and my issue/question has been resolved for now.
This site is really amazing. I was blown away by the number of people who reached out to help and share their wealth of knowledge and experience with me. I have been on this site for about a year and have learned so much from the members. I just reload for hunting but the wealth of info here has really helped in my quest for better accuracy. I really appreciate it and am glad to involved with such a great group of people!

WELL SAID IF YOU CANT FIND IT ON THIS SITE IT CANT BE HAD !!!!!!!!!

 

[MislMan]

Coonman .... too bad you didn’t see fit to work your questions out in Public so others could also learn. Great bunch of folks on this forum for sure!

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Coonman .... too bad you didn’t see fit to work your questions out in Public so others could also learn. Great bunch of folks on this forum for sure!

It also does info vetting. Hard to throw bad info out on the board but real easy to send it in a pm.

 

[Coonman300]

Coonman .... too bad you didn’t see fit to work your questions out in Public so others could also learn. Great bunch of folks on this forum for sure!

MislMan- in a nut shell- I had a hunting rifle re-barreled. First time I’ve ever had that done. Upon receipt of the gun the first thing I did was check out the barrel with a borescope. There was a lot of copper in the barrel which took me by surprise. I was expecting a shiny clean barrel. Since I had no experience with this I was wondering if it was common for the smith to shoot it first or even the possibility I had been sold a used barrel. With me having no experience I did not want to appear to be throwing the gunsmith under the bus. I also wanted to get some guidance before calling the gunsmith. I had about a dozen responses from members and got similar answers from most. I contacted the smith and he said he always does one test shot before sending out the barrel. He was surprised about the amount of copper but advised me to go through the break in process we had previously discussed and if it continued to foul badly he would make it right. I plan to shoot it tomorrow and will see how it goes.

You are correct, an amazing group of people that are willing to help. I had several people send me their phone numbers and discussed the issue at length and made some friends in the process. My reason for the pm route was solely to avoid any chance of bashing the gunsmith on a matter I had no knowledge or experience in.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

One shot didnt do that. Ive seen some awful cheap barrels not even suitable for a hunting rifle that didnt do that in 10 shots. That barrel is too smooth to be that way.
How many lands and grooves are in that barrel?

 

[Will Henry]

Stainless barrel? If so, it may be the copper residue left by the manufacturing process. Some makers use a copper sulphate solution to plate the bore as a lubricant for the button (if a button rifled barrel). Typically, the copper is then lapped or polished out as the final operation; but not always. I'm not saying that's what this is but it is a possibility. Borescopes show a lot of stuff we would not, otherwise, see. WH

 

[338 dude]

View attachment 1172294 View attachment 1172295

MislMan- in a nut shell- I had a hunting rifle re-barreled. First time I’ve ever had that done. Upon receipt of the gun the first thing I did was check out the barrel with a borescope. There was a lot of copper in the barrel which took me by surprise. I was expecting a shiny clean barrel. Since I had no experience with this I was wondering if it was common for the smith to shoot it first or even the possibility I had been sold a used barrel. With me having no experience I did not want to appear to be throwing the gunsmith under the bus. I also wanted to get some guidance before calling the gunsmith. I had about a dozen responses from members and got similar answers from most. I contacted the smith and he said he always does one test shot before sending out the barrel. He was surprised about the amount of copper but advised me to go through the break in process we had previously discussed and if it continued to foul badly he would make it right. I plan to shoot it tomorrow and will see how it goes.

You are correct, an amazing group of people that are willing to help. I had several people send me their phone numbers and discussed the issue at length and made some friends in the process. My reason for the pm route was solely to avoid any chance of bashing the gunsmith on a matter I had no knowledge or experience in.

View attachment 1172294

I would be worried about my Smith if he didn’t test fire it But it definitely seems like a lot of copper for only one shot

 

[MislMan]

Coonman ... Thanks for the post and pictures (very nice). I would never have imagined getting a barrel from a smith looking like this. Kind of surprised he test shot it and didn’t look down the barrel before shipping.

 

[Ccrider]

My smith will shoot it first, unless he is doing it for me. He knows I know how to check for headspace. Then he is comfortable using go no go gauges and tells me what the clearance is. Generally, he would not let a rifle out of his shop without test firing it.
Then again, like Dusty said, that much COOPER did not come from one shot. I did not know barrel makers used copper to finish a barrel. Seems like that should clean it out before selling it. I would check with the maker to see if that is what it is.

 

[Coonman300]

Stainless barrel? If so, it may be the copper residue left by the manufacturing process. Some makers use a copper sulphate solution to plate the bore as a lubricant for the button (if a button rifled barrel). Typically, the copper is then lapped or polished out as the final operation; but not always. I'm not saying that's what this is but it is a possibility. Borescopes show a lot of stuff we would not, otherwise, see. WH

It is a Shilen stainless steel barrel

 

[Coonman300]

One shot didnt do that. Ive seen some awful cheap barrels not even suitable for a hunting rifle that didnt do that in 10 shots. That barrel is too smooth to be that way.
How many lands and grooves are in that barrel?

like a dumbass I forgot my computer so I can’t hook up my borescope and I can’t tell. I’ll follow up with the answer Monday. Thanks

 

[rardoin]

How does it shoot? If it meets your expectations then step away from the borescope and go have fun at the range.

 

[Will Henry]

It is a Shilen stainless steel barrel

And Shilen definitely laps their select match barrels to remove the copper wash but may not on the standard match grade. In any case, I don't think the copper wash you are seeing is from the barrel being shot a bunch but is an artifact left over from the manufacturing process. WH

 

[Coonman300]

Thanks for the info Will....I was not aware of that.