Speaking of barrels

[Will Henry]

This has been a weird year for me in the barrel department. I've had three barrels, all from well-regarded makers, which were flawed in minor and major ways. The first was a 30 cal which was .3064 groove diameter. That was major. Not surprisingly, pressures were a little high. I had to replace that one. The other two were barrels I had bought for my own use and they had issues with one land in each case (these were buttoned barrels, by the way). In one barrel, the tops of five lands were normally shaped but the sixth was high on the corners and low in the middle, as viewed through the borescope. We'll see how it shoots.
The last barrel is a 30 caliber in which one land is decidedly low. About .0005". When I set it up five of the lands indicated zero but the sixth was out by .0005". The grooves are consistent. I set up to chamber by just ignoring the low land. I figure the maker must have had a flawed button. I'm less than optimistic regarding the performance potential of this one, but I'll try it anyway. I just chambered it last night and haven't had a look with the 'scope yet. Might get to shoot it today. If it shoots real well, I'll be pleasantly surprised. This was going to be a potential Tack Driver barrel, but I doubt it will make the cut.
I've purchased some lower priced barrels and wouldn't have been surprised to see some variations in them. Never expected it in match grade barrels though. WH

 

[Tommie]

This has been a weird year for me in the barrel department. I've had three barrels, all from well-regarded makers, which were flawed in minor and major ways. The first was a 30 cal which was .3064 groove diameter. That was major. Not surprisingly, pressures were a little high. I had to replace that one. The other two were barrels I had bought for my own use and they had issues with one land in each case (these were buttoned barrels, by the way). In one barrel, the tops of five lands were normally shaped but the sixth was high on the corners and low in the middle, as viewed through the borescope. We'll see how it shoots.
The last barrel is a 30 caliber in which one land is decidedly low. About .0005". When I set it up five of the lands indicated zero but the sixth was out by .0005". The grooves are consistent. I set up to chamber by just ignoring the low land. I figure the maker must have had a flawed button. I'm less than optimistic regarding the performance potential of this one, but I'll try it anyway. I just chambered it last night and haven't had a look with the 'scope yet. Might get to shoot it today. If it shoots real well, I'll be pleasantly surprised. This was going to be a potential Tack Driver barrel, but I doubt it will make the cut.
I've purchased some lower priced barrels and wouldn't have been surprised to see some variations in them. Never expected it in match grade barrels though. WH

With the advent of inexpensive bore scopes I’m surprised by how many sub-par barrels are being sold to the public. Now it’s all too easy for the customer to inspect the barrel manufacturer’s work. Whether the QC guy is asleep or the company just has a don’t give a damn attitude, it takes balls to charge money for a useless barrel. Call the barrel manufacturer and get ready for all the finger pointing. I too have been burned by a barrel manufacturer who’s considered by most folks as an ultra premium company. Bore was a total sewer pipe and couldn’t stay on paper at 100 yards.

 

[Will Henry]

I've never had one THAT bad. These are minor flaws which are not easily seen, even with the 'scope. The one with the low land can be measured but not seen. I'll have a look at the throat through the 'scope before I screw it onto the action. I might be able to see a difference then. The one with the non-matching land, I might have been able to spot when I was younger, but I need magnification now. One will be on a hunting rifle; it will probably be a fine barrel in that role. The other... we'll have to see what it does. These are just things one does not often see. If the barrel makers are truly lapping the barrel, as opposed to just polishing the bore, I would expect them to catch some of these flaws, but maybe not. The tight barrel was probably made that way deliberately and mis-marked. Stuff happens. I should also mention, only one of these barrels was made within the last fifteen years, I have some old stock! WH

 

[Will Henry]

So, I had a look at the freshly cut throat with the Hawkeye borescope and I could spot the short land, barely. The tapered portion of the throat starts at exactly the same place all around but on the one land, the slope ends just perceptively sooner. I'm going to say, less than .010". Comparing that land to those on either side, the angle ends a little sooner. Other than that, the throat appears to be perfectly concentric in the grooves and on the other five lands. It will be interesting to see what effect this may have on the performance. I might get a chance to try this one this afternoon. I chambered this with my F/tr reamer and will probably just try some 155 Scenars in it to start with. WH

 

[Clancy]

I got to see a premium 4 groove barrel last year with two short lands. Talked to the manufacturer and they said just save the stub or serial number, but that we could shoot it first and see how it was of we wanted to. It shot so well I jokingly asked them if they’d make me one to match.


So, don’t panic yet.

 

[urbanrifleman]

My friend is a high master Palma shooter. He went to Gordy Gridders back in the day. I asked him, how did you know if a barrel was good?

He said "I went and shot it".

 

[Will Henry]

All of this is as may be, but I still like to not see measurable or visible flaws. Shooting soon. WH