Barrel Questions

[MIdeerhunter]

I have a 6mm remington, i have a few questions, the rifle was originally chambered in 30-06, then they put a new barrel on it and chambered it for 6mm remington, it was an old sprinfield a3, any ways, the barrel looks shiny and you can see the rifling good, accuracy is still pretty good but im starting to shoot it a lot more, how do you know when your barrel is "shot out? Can you still see the rifling? What can you do to get the rifle to shoot good again once the barrel is shot out? Get a new bbl,etc, what are some techniques gunsmiths use to fix a shot out barrel? and how much does each one cost?

[Patriot_1776]

how do you know when your barrel is "shot out?

Thank God, I have never experienced a rifle that had been shot out yet, but I've read from this forum some of the symptoms.  The most common tell-tale sign, is groups opening up from what they usually are.  Instead of 1.5" groups lets say, you now get 2" groups.  But it slowly deteriorates over time.  But if you take good care of the barrel, and not overheat it frequently, the barrel will last a very long time.

   
   

Can you still see the rifling

You will always see the rifling, but you can't tell too much by the rifling with the naked eye.  The use of a caliper is better suited, and can tell you much more.  I'm not familiar with rifling sizes and dia.  But usually, the rifling is not the best way to go on determining barrel life left.  

What can you do to get the rifle to shoot good again once the barrel is shot out?  Get a new bbl,etc, what are some techniques gunsmiths use to fix a shot out barrel?

As you said, getting a new barrel is the only thing you can do.  Once the barrel is finished, it's finished.  Unless you get your gun rechambered in a larger caliber.

and how much does each one cost?

To give you an idea on prices for a good barrel, check out Krieger's barrels at: http://www.kriegerbarrels.com/RapidCat/catalog/pagetemplate.cfm?template=/RapidCat/common/viewPage.cfm&PageId=3390&CompanyId=1246

They have price lists on barrels of different contours, and according to caliber listings.  I hope I've answered your questions.   Patriot

[Iowegan]

It's very rare to see a bore shot out on a hunting rifle. Fortunately, it's very easy to inspect because the bore wear will be at it's worst at the muzzle. This is where the velocity is the highest and wear is easiest to see. Look for rifling that gets progressively thinner toward the muzzle.

6mm do experience throat erosion. This is much harder to see, in fact usually requires a chamber casting. The throat is the area in the chamber where the nose of the bullet would be. After repeated firing, especially with a hot barrel, the throat MIGHT begin to erode from flame cutting. This is common with guns like a 264 Win Mag where barrel life is measured in hundreds of rounds. If your throat is eroded, time to scrap it.

Before you panic, there are some things you can do. First, get some Sweets 7.62 bore cleaner. It dissolves copper residue build up in the bore from jacketed bullets. A bore might look clean but the deposits will take their toll on accuracy. Next, inspect the crown with a 10X magnifier. The crown is the shaped area at the end of the muzzle where expanding gasses escape the moment the bullet clears. If the crown has the slightest damage, it will cause accuracy problems. Damage may be the result of bumping the muzzle or using a cleaning rod without a bore guide. If the crown is damaged, it can easily be repaired by recutting.

[Buffalogun]

MIdeerhunter,

Since your rifle is wearing an aftermarket barrel, I'd check the rifling twist rate, first. The 6mm Rem came out as the .244 Rem, which had a slow twist rate and would not stabilize some 100g and larger bullets.

Your rifle is chambered to the 6mm Rem, but could still have a slow twist rate and this could be affecting your accuracy.

Buffalogun

[MIdeerhunter]

If i remember correctly the twist is one in 12, also, i clean the rifle and never let the barrel over heat, and shoot maybe 2 boxes of ammo a month sometimes more or less, should the barrel wear out any time soon with proper cooling time and cleaning? Also what steps can i do to minimize barrel wear?

[Catfish]

Unless you ding the crown on the barrel the first thing to go on a barrel in the throught gets shot out to where you have to much free bore and the bullet get to much velosity befor it hits the rifleing. If you are a relodaer you can always set the bullets out farther so that you have less bullet jump. There is really no way to say when a barrel is really shot out, what it boils down to is when the groups get laeger than you are willing to settle for. Unless you shoot it alot I doubt that the barrel is really shot out.