Time to replace a barrel

[Nature Boy]

I know I’ve been living on borrowed time with my 6BRA for a while now. Conventional wisdom would say that barrels in this chambering should last between 1,800 - 2,500 rounds and I just crossed the 2,500 mark.

However, the barrel still shoots great. Over the last few months I’ve shot in a state match, regional match and a few club matches and have done very well. Last month I shot a clean 600 with 39 X’s (that’s 60 shots sub MOA at 600 yards with 39 of them 1/2 MOA)

There’s not much of a consensus on what signs indicate a barrel is toast apart from the general “odd flyers” or “group’s opening up” but is it a gradual decline in accuracy or is it more like going over a cliff?

Last weekend I shot a club match and had 3 dropped shots late in the match that I couldn’t attribute to me or the conditions. I figured that was my sign. I decided to head to the range this week, shoot some groups at 100 yards and see how they compared to when the barrel was fresh.

I shot 3 groups of 5 each expecting to validate a decline in accuracy but that wasn’t what I found



The groups measured between 0.2 MOA an 0.3 MOA



Regardless, I’ve started to lose some confidence in my equipment and nothing good comes from that so it’s time to retire this barrel. I went ahead and made the call to the gunsmith today. I have the barrel blank so turnaround will be relatively quick. I have a regional NRA match I want to shoot come the end of April.

 

[JFrank]

Probably a good decision to replace it now. My good friend had his best barrel finally gave out during the nbrsa nationals last year. ( groups really opened up ) He had another barrel handy and got through the week with success, except enduring that couple of targets,

 

[Varminterror]

I lose speed before groups open noticeably. It's not a cliff, other than kind of acknowledging that groups and speed held firm for a lot of rounds, and then start slipping pretty reliably after the breaking point. I don't really see an appearance of inexplicable flyers either. Just speed.

BUT...

I foolishly cornered myself last season and found myself in a frustrating pickle - I had tried to skim one of my Dashers ONE more match, and it was kinda acting funny by the end of the weekend... and then I didn't get my 6 Creed broken in as planned for another match a couple weeks later and I asked for another 250 rounds out of the old barrel on my Dasher... Nope... It spit the bit by the end of the first day, and on day 2, I was fully fabricating data just based on my impacts from previous stages... I checked zero and velocity on the morning of the second day, 5 shots in the same hole, 5 more in the same hole with the magnetospeed mounted, and 1fps SD... WTH? But, "trust the bullet," and I kinda skid my way through the match with smoke boiling out of the exhaust and flames jumping out of the hood...

In other words - barrels are cheap compared to how pissed you'll be when it spits the bit at a match...

 

[viking499]

Are you planning on going back with a BRA?

I have spent part of the day comparing the BRA and the Dasher. Not sure which one I like better yet.

 

[Walkalong]

I shot 3 groups of 5 each expecting to validate a decline in accuracy but that wasn’t what I found

My Bartlien 6 Dasher started giving me some what the hecks in matches, but would still shoot tight at 100 yards.

 

[Nature Boy]

Are you planning on going back with a BRA?

Yes, sticking with the BRA.

 

[LoonWulf]

I’ve started to lose some confidence in my equipment and nothing good comes from that so it’s time to retire this barrel.

Thats an/the absolute reason to re-up imo

 

[Varminterror]

I have spent part of the day comparing the BRA and the Dasher. Not sure which one I like better yet.

Flip a coin, you won’t be wrong.

 

[Nature Boy]

Short Action Customs just notified me that my action with new barrel should be at my doorstep tomorrow afternoon.

 

[viking499]

Yes, sticking with the BRA.

Do you like the BRA better than the BR?

 

[Nature Boy]

I’ve only shot the 6BRA. I do like it for the ability to hit the higher accuracy node at ~2,930 fps, which would be a bit too much pressure for a straight 6BR.

And not having to trim brass is a bonus

 

[Walkalong]

pickle - I had tried to skim one of my Dashers ONE more match,

I did that last year, wasn’t pretty

 

[Walkalong]

Short Action Customs just notified me that my action with new barrel should be at my doorstep tomorrow afternoon.

Sweet!

I still haven’t shot the new Proof Dasher barrel yet, the muzzle brake is still sitting in the shop waiting for me to finish cleaning it up and installing it.

 

[Caplock]

What platforms are these barrels screwed on to? There's plenty of accuracy for hunting needs I could wring out of them.

 

[Nature Boy]

What platforms are these barrels screwed on to? There's plenty of accuracy for hunting needs I could wring out of them.

Mine is a heavy varmint profile Krieger barrel mated to a single shot Kelbly Stolle Panda action. Its purposes for me is strictly target duty. I suppose you could take it to the field but at 20lbs it wouldn’t be very practical.

 

[Varminterror]

What platforms are these barrels screwed on to? There's plenty of accuracy for hunting needs I could wring out of them.

Defiance actions for me. They could be set back and rechambered to another action. Mine are Bartlein M24 and MTU contours, and Proof Competition contours. I do have some Heavy Palma Bartleins also from my Seekins action which would be a little lighter for a Hunter - but still pretty heavy.




I told my wife that I wanna get creative and make some kind of artwork out of them. A buddy said he’d smash them and make Damascus knives from them - but I’m not terribly certain they’ll make the best blades. Might need to do a stacked Damascus with something which will hold a better edge.

 

[BreechFace]

I told my wife that I wanna get creative and make some kind of artwork out of them. A buddy said he’d smash them and make Damascus knives from them - but I’m not terribly certain they’ll make the best blades. Might need to do a stacked Damascus with something which will hold a better edge.

Would make for a nice walking stick. Or perhaps fashion a ball head on top for a monopod shooting stick.

Carry on, I'm just passing through listening to the adults talking here...

 

[JFrank]

Short Action Customs just notified me that my action with new barrel should be at my doorstep tomorrow afternoon.

Is this the first barrel they’ve done for you ?

 

[Nature Boy]

Is this the first barrel they’ve done for you ?

4th

 

[JFrank]

4th

I’m surprised you had to send the action, shouldn’t they have the action measurements on file by now ?

 

[Nature Boy]

@JFrank

SAC started keeping data in individual builds just after they built this rifle for me.

 

[Varminterror]

Would make for a nice walking stick.

The barrels alone are only 26” long, so they’re a lot shorter than my canes, and they weigh in around 6-7lb each. Might be a little heavy, I’d end up with shoulder and more back problems just trying to deload my leg and low back.

 

[Walkalong]

They could be set back and rechambered to another action.

Especially since they are likely in the 26" range and a hunting rifle's barrel would be shorter.

@Caplock is right, there is still other purpose life left in the barrels when they lose "peak accuracy"

 

[troy fairweather]

Anyone ever have these old barrels sent out a rebored, I know it won't be as accurate but you could have it contured to a sporter weight. Probably not worth the time or money tho if I had the equipment I'd do something.

 

[JFrank]

Anyone ever have these old barrels sent out a rebored, I know it won't be as accurate but you could have it contured to a sporter weight. Probably not worth the time or money tho if I had the equipment I'd do something.

Not something I would consider, I don’t even have the chamber set back as the cost is about the same as the original chamber crown and fit.