Rifle chamber machining issue

[high country]

I am hoping to get an opinion on the chamber of a barrel that I got from McGowan barrels (stainless Howage 6mm ARC). When I first got it, the machining on the chamber was horrible, there were remnant metal chips left in the neck and obvious chatter left when I removed the chips. I returned it to McGowen for inspection and repair. They "inspected and polished" the chamber, according to their paperwork.

On receiving it back today, I inspected the chamber and there is an obvious chip/chunk missing from the front edge of the neck where it goes to the leade. They definitely cleaned it up, and it is polished fairly nicely, but that chip definitely seems like a problem. I am going to reach out to them in the morning, but am frustrated to say the least. Their barrels are reasonably priced, but it seems to me that someone inspecting this and letting it pass, twice, is questionable.

I would appreciate any insights on whether you folks would be willing to run a barrel that looked like this (recreational, not competition, but I do plan to work up loads for accuracy and use it for target work), or if that blemish would be a non-starter. I am no expert on rifle chamber machining, but have done a decent amount of chamber work on revolvers. I know that if I cut a revolver throat or forcing cone and it looked like that I would have an issue with it.
Sorry for the not-great cell phone photo, I don't have a bore scope. Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this chamber.

 

[jmorris]

I would slightly change the wording in your post (to reflect audience) and send it to the owner.

I would be interested in the response. Might get someone chewed out but thats better than a poor product "chewing" on you.

 

[high country]

I would slightly change the wording in your post (to reflect audience) and send it to the owner.

I would be interested in the response. Might get someone chewed out but thats better than a poor product "chewing" on you.

Agreed, I will certainly be cordial and give them (another) chance to fix it. They have been pretty non-responsive/non-communicative, but did turn the barrel back around to me pretty quickly once they looked at it. A round wouldn't even chamber in the barrel the first time. No idea how that made it out the door...

Primarily, I am trying to get a sense from the group here whose opinions I have come to respect of whether this blemish is a real issue or if I am being overly picky because of the prior issues. If it is just an aesthetic issue, I'll set it up and shoot it. But I hate to spend time and money chasing a load for a barrel that may have an potential accuracy or longevity issue due to that defect in the chamber.

 

[BBBBill]

If you have confirmed that it is indeed a "chip/chunk" missing and not some debris then it needs to go back.

 

[243winxb]

A nick at the end of the chamber should not be an issue. The bullet will be well into the throat, past the end of the chamber. The throat is smaller in diameter, when compared to the chamber neck diameter. Tight/long throats .2435" center the bullet/round in the chamber.
Brass will never touch the end of the chamber, when at maximum trim length.

no expert.

Makes 2 of us. i take that back. Your post below, makes me look like a GENIUS.

 

[jmorris]

Primarily, I am trying to get a sense from the group here whose opinions I have come to respect of whether this blemish is a real issue or if I am being overly picky because of the prior issues. If it is just an aesthetic issue, I'll set it up and shoot it.

If you bought it as a "blem" I'd shoot it. If you bought a new barrel without defects, thats not what you got but once you shoot or mount it, its probably yours no matter what.

 

[Blue68f100]

I am hoping to get an opinion on the chamber of a barrel that I got from McGowan barrels (stainless Howage 6mm ARC). When I first got it, the machining on the chamber was horrible, there were remnant metal chips left in the neck and obvious chatter left when I removed the chips. I returned it to McGowen for inspection and repair. They "inspected and polished" the chamber, according to their paperwork.

On receiving it back today, I inspected the chamber and there is an obvious chip/chunk missing from the front edge of the neck where it goes to the leade. They definitely cleaned it up, and it is polished fairly nicely, but that chip definitely seems like a problem. I am going to reach out to them in the morning, but am frustrated to say the least. Their barrels are reasonably priced, but it seems to me that someone inspecting this and letting it pass, twice, is questionable.

I would appreciate any insights on whether you folks would be willing to run a barrel that looked like this (recreational, not competition, but I do plan to work up loads for accuracy and use it for target work), or if that blemish would be a non-starter. I am no expert on rifle chamber machining, but have done a decent amount of chamber work on revolvers. I know that if I cut a revolver throat or forcing cone and it looked like that I would have an issue with it.
Sorry for the not-great cell phone photo, I don't have a bore scope. Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this chamber.

View attachment 1200378

Is that nick raised? So the face is not smooth? If so I would be concerned about it forcing the round out of axis. Hitting the brass before it's fully chambered.
I've cut quite a few chambers and never have I've seen that kind of damage. The only way it cam happen is being very sloppy when feeding the reamer in.

 

[high country]

Is that nick raised? So the face is not smooth? If so I would be concerned about it forcing the round out of axis. Hitting the brass before it's fully chambered.
I've cut quite a few chambers and never have I've seen that kind of damage. The only way it cam happen is being very sloppy when feeding the reamer in.

I would have bet money on it being a recessed nick based on the visual look at it. I was about to respond to your comment saying that, then thought to myself I better to verify that before I stick my foot (further) in my mouth. I felt around with a plastic pick, expecting it to catch on that spot, but it didn't... So I went ahead and gave it scrub with a nylon chamber brush and a patch, and sure enough, it must have been a machining remnant that was stuck in there... Problem solved. I ran a few dry patches through previously, but they didn't get that piece, it took the brush. I will be giving it a thorough cleaning before I put it onto the receiver.

This is why I came here looking for a second set of eyes to see if I was missing something, so thanks a million! I am still not particularly impressed with the quality of the machining on the shoulder, there is definitely some visible chatter there (visible in my original picture), but I don't think that will impact the performance as long as the chamber is in spec. I won't know that until I set it up and fire a round through it to measure. I will be sure to come update this thread once I do, so as not to leave an incomplete review of this particular company's work.

 

[243winxb]

gave it scrub

Amazing repair job.

 

[high country]

Amazing repair job.

What can I say, sometime it is the simple answer...

Hopefully my little lesson learned here will help someone else in the future - if something looks wrong in a barrel, maybe give it a good cleaning before suspecting the worst.