Setting Back a Barrel

[Raptor]

Hey guys a quick question, how many more rounds can you get out of your barrel if you cut an inch or two off the chamber end and rechamber it again??? Does anyone have any data on this??

Maybe some of you high power shooters have done this. I would be intrested in your results. Would you in theory have a new barrel other than the heat cracking from shooting a couple of thousand rounds down it. Would the heat cracking or checking affect the usuable rounds you would get out of it if you rechambered it again???? Thanks guys!!!!!

 

[M700]

I've got a heavy contour Hart that started life as a .30 cal magnum, got set back and re-chambered, and had the muzzle cut off and re-crowned too.

Doggone thing is a .308 Win now and still shoots superbly after 6000+ rounds between the magnum and the .308 Win. I think you've essentially got a new barrel after re-chambering and re-crowning. Do believe though that you have to do the set-back fairly early, or the throat erosion goes too far down the barrel to make it possible.

FWIW, Guy

 

[Ogre6br]

Hi
I have never done it myself and the hint about the re-crown is what I have been told also.
The other thing the retired BR smith who told me about this is as long as you cut off enough to get rid of all the throat errosion and the throat cut properly into the rifling it should give you about half to 2/3'ds the life again.

He said cut the crown back about a calibre and a few thou and it should be fine.

HTH

later
P

 

[Bobs243Ackley]

I had a .234AI barrel that started life as a 26" barrel and it lasted almost 1,700 rounds. The last time that I had this barrel set back we were back to a 23.5" barrel. This barrel had been set back twice, with the barrel always re-crowned. The set backs were good for around 1,400 to 1,500 rounds before the barrel was retired for good.

Cordially,
Bob Blaine

 

[Raptor]

Thanks for the replys guys!! I talked to my smith this weekend and he says the heat cracking is about 8" down the barrel and as far as he is concerned its junk!!

I know it doesn't take long to get "Heat cracking" on any barrel so it wasn't any concern esp since I planned on taking nearly 2" off the chamber end. I figured that would get me away from any area where the heat would have been the worst. At least that was my thinking on it.

I had a 260 done about 6 years ago and after it got shot out and it was not only heat cracked about 8 to 10" down the barrel but it was black as coal!!! It was a 26" and I cut it down to a 22" barrel and it shot like a house of fire. It went from a .5 to a .3 gun but I only had it for about a year when I sold it. So I have no idea on how many rounds I could have got out of it.