Remington 700 bore inspection

[sacnho]

Hello All

My Remington 700 in 243 shoots poorly and finally decided to try and figure out why. It was purchased from a friend who got it new and did not shoot it much at all. I have only shot it enough to try and get it to group which I have never been able to do.(Different ammo and scopes made sure everything was tight etc.) Got a lyman borescope a couple of months ago a figured I would take a look.

Below is a link to the video of the bore. For reference this damage is located at 12 oclock. I just videoed the obvious damage and needed a little help deciphering what kind of damage this is and what might of caused it. I do recognize the checking that appears right before the rifling and from the research I have done appears somewhat normal. But the "gouges or what appears to me as major checks I would think would be anything but normal.

Thanks

 

[Shimitup]

Kind of looks like spalling from improper lubrication during rifling. I can see why it doesn't shoot. It seems like you could feel that when you run a patch down the bore.

 

[sacnho]

So I am considering a new barrel. For now I am thinking keeping it a sporter but going to 308. Any suggestions on gunsmiths to send it to?

 

[LoonWulf]

I know a great gunsmith, but he's out here in Hawaii lol.

Depending on what you want for a barrel, you could see if the barrel company will do the installation. Or you could get a remage set up and do it yourself.
I've had ERShaw rebarrel 2 rifles for me, I'll touch for their work.

 

[boom boom]

Most gunsmiths should be able to handle rebarrelling your rifle and 700 compatible barrels are around for pretty reasonable in whatever flavor of cartridge that fits your action length. There are also a bunch of takeoff barrels (often brand new) on places like gunbroker, ebay, etc. where someone bought the rifle for the action and rebarrelled the rifle in a different cartridge or a more expensive barrel that might or might not interest you.

 

[Clemson]

I suggest you go with a new barrel and not a take-off. Those take-offs were removed for a reason, and it could easily have been the same reason that you have. A .308 is a slam dunk as would be .243, 7mm-08, .338 Federal, or .358 Winchester. You might want to do a bit of upgrading to your action as in blueprinting it, installing a thicker recoil lug, installing a new trigger, etc. You can spend as much as you want to on a 700, but properly set up, they shoot very well indeed.

Bill Jacobs, Gunsmith

 

[4v50 Gary]

Lands looks good. The grooves don't contact the bullet and even a pitted barrel can shoot accurately.

Suggest you slug the bore. You may need to handload to make it accurate.

Also check the crown. Small ding in the crown will throw off a bullet.

 

[sacnho]

Lands looks good. The grooves don't contact the bullet and even a pitted barrel can shoot accurately.

Suggest you slug the bore. You may need to handload to make it accurate.

Also check the crown. Small ding in the crown will throw off a bullet.

So I had considered handloading for it but figured after finding what I thought was significant damage that it was pointless. So in the video starting at the 12 second mark is what I thought was a land that has what appears to me as gouges that are kind of half moon shaped. These gouges run down almost 2 inches. Maybe I should try some handloads as I would sure rather not have put a new barrel on this gun. As far as the crown goes no dings that I can see. There is some slight pitting approx 1 inch in from the crown however.

 

[highlander 5]

Rather than a rebarrel a reboreing might work and there is a Smith who specializes in it and for the life of me I can't think of his name but his work and reputation is quite good. The reboreing may be cheaper as well. I did a check the outfit is JES Rebore8ng