Rechambering Barrel

[dmg264]

I have a 6x47L that the accuracy isn't what I would like. I am thinking about rechambering to another 6BR but I am wondering if I am going to be wasting more time and bullets. Anybody had better luck with a barrel the second time around? I have about 300 rounds down the barrel.

 

[fdshuster]

dmg264: I've had several barrels set-back and re-chambered: a Savage factory 243 to 6BR. A Shilen 22-250 to 22BR. A Shilen 6ppc 24", .262" neck to a 6ppc 20", .272" neck. A Tikka 308 factory fitted to a Sako, then set-back, chamber re-cut to 308 and fitted to a Rem. 700. They all turned out well, are excellent performers and problem free. The biggest problem may be if the original chamber had been cut off center, then the reamer would tend to follow the original off center cut. At least that's what my highly skilled gunsmith with over 40 yrs. experience related to me. One of my 6BR's is nearing the end of life and that barrel will also be set-back (from 26" to 24") and a new 6BR chamber cut with my reamer. The other problem may be the question if there is enough shank diameter to take the new threads to fit the receiver. Especially critical with the varmint contour barrels that have the step-down in front of the receiver, and a reason the straight taper heavy varmint contours are good candidates for set-back.

 

[jo191145]

If you have a bum barrel its a bum barrel. I agree with Frank and his smith. If the chamber concentricity is the problem there probably are'nt many smiths that could or would know how to overcome that problem. The ones that do probably would'nt want to touch it.
That being said I never blame the barrel unless it gives me reason to do so. I know its usually me thats not getting something right. Some tubes just shoot no matter what I do wrong, some won't

 

[fdshuster]

dmg264: I'd also take it a little slow and maybe not be too anxious to re-chamber a 6-47 Lapua with only 300 rounds through it. All of those chamberings I am seeing locally at our benchrest groundhog matches are either winning or very close to it. If it were mine I'd work with it a little longer, trying different proven accuracy loads, and being certain it's not related to bench equipment, the scope, bench technique, weather/wind, etc. 300 rounds fired does not show much of a track record, for me. If I could not get it to shoot by 7 or 800 rounds fired, then, yes, I would start to consider something drastic, and I have done that with a few barrels. It could be something as simple as the barrel just needing a really good cleaning, just a thought.

 

[dmg264]

I have tried different powders-H4350, IMR 4007, and RL17. I have changed scopes and checked everything over and I haven't found anything wrong so far. About .6 moa is all I can count on. It will shoot everything ok but haven't found anything that it shoots great. The barrel cleans up real easy. Maybe I will try it a little longer and see what happens.

 

[Kenny474]

One other option that you have is to take the rifle to a smith that does good work and have him check everything over and make sure the chamber is cut true and also check the action for any possible issues. Having the crown re-cut would be a good idea as well and won't cost you a ton of money. It could just be something is a bit out of whack and can be easily fixed. Even just a small ding in the crown or the chamber being a bit off center can really have drastic impact on accuracy, as can many other small details.

Even finding someone at the range running the same caliber and having them help you try and tune the rifle a bit may help as well. From what I have read, the 6x47Lapua can be a bit finicky to get just right, more so than the BR based rounds. But once you get it in the sweet spot, it will really hammer. Finding someone that has a 6x47 that hammers and getting some advice could go a long way towards making your rifle shoot small as well.

 

[dmg264]

As far as the gunsmith goes he is top notch. He has built 5 barreled actions for me with absolutely no problems and he has built some record holding rifles also. Not saying that he can't screw up because no man is perfect but if there is something he messed up I trust him enough that I believe he would admit it.

I have tuned a lot of rifles and usually by now I'm down to the fine tuning by now or have finished development. This one has shown promise with different loads but it just will not get to the accuracy that I want.

 

[Kenny474]

Have you talked to the smith that did the work and told him you are unhappy with the accuracy? If he is unaware of any issues you are having, how is he to know? It's very hard to admit to messing up if you have no idea it ever happened. It could be a small detail he overlooked.

Anyway, talk to the smith and maybe bring the rifle in for a good look-over before you go and rechamber.

While the 6x47L is an accurate round, I have heard many stories just like this of rifles not achieving the desired accuracy. But some do very well with it, so it has to work at some point. It's probably just a bit of a finicky number and really needs to be dialed in before it will ever show it's true potential.

 

[bozo699]

dgm264,
I don't own a 6x47L ( I wish I did) but have talked to several that has or does,you probably have allready tried different things, but I have been told primers are key in getting a 6x47L to shoot. Also flashhole diameter can have a big affect on how it shoots. I hope this helps and I hope you get it to shoot soon as its no fun burning up a barrel trying to make it shoot.
Wayne.

 

[dmg264]

Lynn that's kinda what I'm thinking (bum barrel). I have had barrels that wouldn't shoot every bullet that you put in it but I have always found at least one that would shoot very well. I have tried 95 and 107 smk's, 95 and 105 Berger vld's no succes. I have never seen a fast twist 6mm barrel that wouldn't shoot with one of these bullets. I think I going to scrap this one and start over.

 

[treeman]

I bought a hart barrel several years ago in 6.5 caliber. I had much the same problem. about the best it would consistently do was from 3/4- 1 min. at 300 yards(2-3") the rifle action had performed well chambered to 7mm IHMSA so I knew that wasn't the problem. some baarrels just won't shoot really small groups. I havn't bought a hart bbl since, but that is probably silly since they do very well in short range br matches.
treeman

 

[dmg264]

I do all my load development at 300 yards and it is holding about 2". The funny thing is that it shoots everything you shove in just about the same. Every barrel that I have bought has been a Krieger except for 2. The only barrels that were not tack drivers were the 2 that weren't Kriegers. From now on I'll stick with what I know will shoot. I guess there is a reason they are almost 6 months out on delivery.