What's in the chamber?

[LR_Shooter]

I have very stiff bolt if I try to chamber just fired brass, neck sized or full length sized brass. Brass coming out all scratched: shoulders body and neck. Looking in the chamber I see machine marks not mirror smooth surface, and there is something in the shoulder - body junction I think it should be there. This is Savage 12 target action right bolt left eject in 6BR.

So what do you think, is this headspace issue, barrel chamber issue or both?

 

[Preacher]

No need for a chamber to look like that inside.....
It can be polished out, but I would rechamber it by someone that had a clue about doing it...

 

[LR_Shooter]

Acctually this picture was taken after I tried to polish it with J&B, I don't have picture prior to that, but it was worse.

 

[Larryh128]

The barrel needs to be set up on a lathe & polished properly. Hand polishing won't do the job. Preacher is correct & it can be cut slightly deeper & correct that issue. You'll be happy that you did.

 

[Rustystud]

1. The person who chambered the barrel most likly stopped the lathe from turing before removing the reamer. The leading edge of one of the reamer flutes cut the scratches in the chamber. I have personally experienced this myself.

2. For those who use a floating reamer holder. If you use a improperly fitted bushing the reamer will cut ridges and valleys linerally the length of the case from the shoulder to the web area.

Nat Lambeth

 

[LR_Shooter]

So I should send it back to Savage to get them replace this barrel, hmm they'll be closed for two weeks, who knows when I'll see it back...

two more pictures:

 

[rayjay]

It looks like you definitely have a problem up at the body to shoulder junction of the chamber.

 

[LR_Shooter]

Thank you guys, I do believe this is a problem which needs to be fixed. So if chamber was only checked for proper headspace, then what I have wouldn't show? I was told by CS that this rifle was checked for headspace before leaving factory and test fired 5 shots total using Lapua ammo.

 

[RJinTexas]

If you don't do something about it you'll just continue to trash your brass.

RJ

 

[LR_Shooter]

Alright, I don't have a lathe, so is there a way to get it done by hand and chamber finish reamer?

 

[Preacher]

You have a PM....

 

[LR_Shooter]

Thank you, Preacher!!! I had chance to shoot it today and had no problem with cycling its bolt! From what I understood the original chamber was cut 0.004" off center, plus the reamer marks were heavy. I feel that the Savage barrel by itself is scrap, groups were from 0.4" to 1.2" using same load, some of the fliers I couldn't explain, but I marked all the brass when flier occurred.

 

[Preacher]

Your welcome and I'm glad it worked OK for you, except for the accuracy part, and I had no control over that... Think Brux barrel next time ;D

 

[DanCarey]

"From what I understood the original chamber was cut 0.004" off center"

As measured using what means?

 

[LR_Shooter]

Well, range rod with a bushing needs to be installed in the bore to indicate center, then measurements are taken at both ends while slowly rotating. Please correct me if I'm wrong...

 

[JRS]

If you'll go to benchrest central, there are some well done photos of some Savage chambers. Not pretty

 

[butchlambert]

I'm a little dense. You put your range rod in and measure what and where? In any case I wouldn't think it would scuff your brass.
Butch

 

[LR_Shooter]

it looks very similar to this images

 

[Preacher]

Butch,
He drove on down, and then he watched me insert a Range rod in one end, and a indicator rod in the other end, and then dial in both ends to as little runout as I could get, then the long probe into the actual bore until that was running true.
The .004 was how much the outer diameter of the barrel was off from the center of the bore...
I pushed every thing fore-ward, and recut that nasty looking chamber, and sent him on his way with a nice shiny new chamber..
Thats what the thank you was for....
It sure beat waiting for Savage to reopen the doors in 2 weeks...

 

[rayjay]

Big thumbs up for Preacher !!