Forums46
Topics537,757
Posts9,728,731
Members87,039
|
Most Online25,604 Feb 12th, 2024
|
|
|
Is my barrel worn out?
#8515943
01/28/22 06:19 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 2,418
tenyearsgone
OP
Veteran Tracker
|
OP
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 2,418 |
Is it realistic to think it's time to replace a 5.56 barrel I got back in 2012 and have put about 1,500 rounds through give or take? Lately, I haven't been able to get any accuracy out of it, and I have cleaned the bore. I was shooting normal good performers like Sierra bullets and powders like CFE 223, 8208, IMR 4198, and H335. I have done a few rapid-fire mag dumps over the duration of owning it so maybe the life has been shortened.
|
|
|
Re: Is my barrel worn out?
[Re: tenyearsgone]
#8515956
01/28/22 06:40 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 11,403
Choctaw
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 11,403 |
I don't even think with a few mag dumps it is realistic you have shot the barrel out with just 1,500 rounds. If you have an optic I would start with it and its mount.
|
|
|
Re: Is my barrel worn out?
[Re: Choctaw]
#8515957
01/28/22 06:44 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 2,418
tenyearsgone
OP
Veteran Tracker
|
OP
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 2,418 |
I don't even think with a few mag dumps it is realistic you have shot the barrel out with just 1,500 rounds. If you have an optic I would start with it and its mount. Thanks for taking the time to help. I've never deep-cleaned it so maybe that's in order before buying another. I'll research and see what I need to get everything out. I've scrubbed the bore a few times but most of it is passing a soaked patch with Hoppe's through.
|
|
|
Re: Is my barrel worn out?
[Re: tenyearsgone]
#8515960
01/28/22 06:45 PM
|
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,987
TAB
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,987 |
Obviously this is a ar type gun, correct? What’s your observed loss of accuracy?
Was the gun shooting 1” at 100 and is now shooting 5” at 100?
I believe a well cared for 223 would go well past 6000 with reasonable accuracy
Guys that shoot ftr with a 223 that have a 190 throat shooting 90 gr bullets over full house doses of powder report 2100-2500 rounds before a barrel swap, but this is usually to maintain a 1/4-3/8 moa group.
|
|
|
Re: Is my barrel worn out?
[Re: tenyearsgone]
#8515969
01/28/22 06:57 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 285
George S
Bird Dog
|
Bird Dog
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 285 |
Check mounts, scope, bore, throat in that order.
Oderint dum metuant - Lucius Accius
|
|
|
Re: Is my barrel worn out?
[Re: tenyearsgone]
#8515975
01/28/22 07:05 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,173
Tactical Cowboy
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,173 |
The secret to a long life is to try not to shorten it.
|
|
|
Re: Is my barrel worn out?
[Re: tenyearsgone]
#8515986
01/28/22 07:23 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,771
P_102
Extreme Tracker
|
Extreme Tracker
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,771 |
This may sound silly but a ‘lifestyle ‘ change can mess with your shooting. I changed mine (for the good) a year+ ago and my shooting has improved a great deal….
Do not trifle in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
|
|
|
Re: Is my barrel worn out?
[Re: tenyearsgone]
#8515989
01/28/22 07:34 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 283
Huskerron
Bird Dog
|
Bird Dog
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 283 |
1500 rounds with nothing but Hoppes #9? After you check optics, etc I’d run a good copper cleaner down that barrel.
|
|
|
Re: Is my barrel worn out?
[Re: Huskerron]
#8516010
01/28/22 08:18 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,450
Big Fitz
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,450 |
1500 rounds with nothing but Hoppes #9? After you check optics, etc I’d run a good copper cleaner down that barrel. My thoughts exactly. OP, do you use a brush or only patches? Bet it just needs a good cleaning with a good copper and carbon cleaner.
I was wrong...on anything technical. Fitz............. is right, ya know............
|
|
|
Re: Is my barrel worn out?
[Re: Big Fitz]
#8516054
01/28/22 09:48 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,251
Texas Dan
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,251 |
1500 rounds with nothing but Hoppes #9? After you check optics, etc I’d run a good copper cleaner down that barrel. My thoughts exactly. OP, do you use a brush or only patches? Bet it just needs a good cleaning with a good copper and carbon cleaner. Troubleshooting 101 - Always try the simple things first.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
|
|
|
Re: Is my barrel worn out?
[Re: tenyearsgone]
#8516131
01/28/22 11:50 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,158
J.G.
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,158 |
Bore Tech Eliminator, for two wet patches. Nylon brush for 10 strokes. 10 dry patches (chamber to muzzle only). Hoppes #9 wet patch. Nylon brush for 10 strokes. Dry patches until there is nothing on them.
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
|
|
|
Re: Is my barrel worn out?
[Re: tenyearsgone]
#8516159
01/29/22 12:24 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,640
LeonCarr
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,640 |
1500 rounds...congratulations your barrel is broken in . Try a good cleaning as mentioned before doing anything knee jerk and expensive.
"Whitetail Deer are extinct because of rifles with telescopes mounted on them." - My 11th Grade English Teacher
|
|
|
Re: Is my barrel worn out?
[Re: tenyearsgone]
#8516199
01/29/22 01:16 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 11,658
GusWayne
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 11,658 |
Seems way low
But what were you getting and what are you getting?
|
|
|
Re: Is my barrel worn out?
[Re: J.G.]
#8516215
01/29/22 01:32 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,173
Tactical Cowboy
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,173 |
Bore Tech Eliminator, for two wet patches. Nylon brush for 10 strokes. 10 dry patches (chamber to muzzle only). Hoppes #9 wet patch. Nylon brush for 10 strokes. Dry patches until there is nothing on them. What’s the significance of going back to front?
The secret to a long life is to try not to shorten it.
|
|
|
Re: Is my barrel worn out?
[Re: tenyearsgone]
#8521447
02/03/22 03:53 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,276
cm250
Veteran Tracker
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,276 |
ALWAYS go action to muzzle!!!!! Can nick the muzzle crown going the other way, small nick can affect accuracy.
My Yote toys, Ruger 77 22-250 Foxpro 416B & numerous hand calls ************ God would never send Firefighters to Hell because we would put the fire out!
|
|
|
Re: Is my barrel worn out?
[Re: tenyearsgone]
#8522187
02/04/22 02:00 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,173
Tactical Cowboy
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,173 |
I would love to know how an aluminum cleaning rod is going to damage a steel muzzle crown.
The secret to a long life is to try not to shorten it.
|
|
|
Re: Is my barrel worn out?
[Re: Tactical Cowboy]
#8522206
02/04/22 02:25 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,919
maximum
Veteran Tracker
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,919 |
I would love to know how an aluminum cleaning rod is going to damage a steel muzzle crown. Abrasive debris embeds in the soft material and acts like sandpaper, much like wooden rods on old fashioned muzzleloading rifles But. . . . Only if you're scrubbing and scrubbing and scrubbing and scrubbing obsessively. Cleaning a modern smokeless burning firearm the one or two times a year that it usually needs won't harm anything. I clean when accuracy starts going away and not every day several times a day
|
|
|
Re: Is my barrel worn out?
[Re: tenyearsgone]
#8522298
02/04/22 04:15 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,562
patriot07
Extreme Tracker
|
Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,562 |
Check for carbon at the muzzle end of the chamber (where the rim of your brass seats against). That got me once. Thought I tried everything
|
|
|
Re: Is my barrel worn out?
[Re: maximum]
#8522309
02/04/22 04:24 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,173
Tactical Cowboy
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,173 |
I would love to know how an aluminum cleaning rod is going to damage a steel muzzle crown. Abrasive debris embeds in the soft material and acts like sandpaper, much like wooden rods on old fashioned muzzleloading rifles But. . . . Only if you're scrubbing and scrubbing and scrubbing and scrubbing obsessively. Cleaning a modern smokeless burning firearm the one or two times a year that it usually needs won't harm anything. I clean when accuracy starts going away and not every day several times a day Right… cause I’m sure that’s so much more abrasive than that bullet coming out at 2000-3000 fps. This would really be a good thing to test. Anybody taking bets on how many strokes it takes with a cleaning rod before a muzzle needs to be re crowned? BTW, I’m talking a modern cleaning rod, not an old steel military one.
The secret to a long life is to try not to shorten it.
|
|
|
Re: Is my barrel worn out?
[Re: Tactical Cowboy]
#8522311
02/04/22 04:25 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 23,167
Bee'z
The Beedazzler
|
The Beedazzler
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 23,167 |
I would love to know how an aluminum cleaning rod is going to damage a steel muzzle crown. when you know the right way you know. You do you though
|
|
|
Re: Is my barrel worn out?
[Re: tenyearsgone]
#8522330
02/04/22 04:53 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,562
patriot07
Extreme Tracker
|
Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,562 |
Why would you clean from muzzle to action? Not only do you risk crown damage, but you're jamming gunk back down into the action of the gun? Makes zero sense to clean that direction.
Even if you didn't damage the muzzle, it makes no sense. Risk of muzzle damage is just icing on the cake. Gunking up your trigger, the chamber, bolt head, etc are all unnecessary byproducts of cleaning the wrong direction. Maybe there's a good reason to clean the other way but I've never heard it
|
|
|
Re: Is my barrel worn out?
[Re: patriot07]
#8522337
02/04/22 05:18 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,173
Tactical Cowboy
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,173 |
Why would you clean from muzzle to action? Not only do you risk crown damage, but you're jamming gunk back down into the action of the gun? Makes zero sense to clean that direction.
Even if you didn't damage the muzzle, it makes no sense. Risk of muzzle damage is just icing on the cake. Gunking up your trigger, the chamber, bolt head, etc are all unnecessary byproducts of cleaning the wrong direction. Maybe there's a good reason to clean the other way but I've never heard it Lot more difficult to go back to front on lever guns, autos other than AR’s etc….
The secret to a long life is to try not to shorten it.
|
|
|
Re: Is my barrel worn out?
[Re: tenyearsgone]
#8522348
02/04/22 05:51 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 22,716
BigPig
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 22,716 |
If it’s a Rock River of that era then yes, we had to replace all of our Rock River duty rifles due to excessive throat erosion, most of them were around that round count.
|
|
|
Re: Is my barrel worn out?
[Re: J.G.]
#8525189
02/07/22 02:15 AM
|
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 2,418
tenyearsgone
OP
Veteran Tracker
|
OP
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 2,418 |
Bore Tech Eliminator, for two wet patches. Nylon brush for 10 strokes. 10 dry patches (chamber to muzzle only). Hoppes #9 wet patch. Nylon brush for 10 strokes. Dry patches until there is nothing on them. I wasn't able to find any Eliminator but I did get some Bore Tech CU+2 copper remover. Hopefully, it does well. I have several rifles that need to be brought back to "baseline", so I got quite a bit of cleaning to do.
|
|
|
Re: Is my barrel worn out?
[Re: tenyearsgone]
#8530769
02/13/22 11:33 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 2,418
tenyearsgone
OP
Veteran Tracker
|
OP
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 2,418 |
Confirmed that it’s finished today. Previous hand loads that shot 1/4 moa are repeatedly one 1 inch. Guess it’s on to figure out which barrel to buy.
|
|
|
Moderated by bigbob_ftw, CCBIRDDOGMAN, Chickenman, Derek, DeRico, Duck_Hunter, hetman, jeh7mmmag, JustWingem, kmon11, kry226, kwrhuntinglab, Payne, pertnear, rifleman, sig226fan (Rguns.com), Superduty, TreeBass, txcornhusker
|