Author Topic: Hummmm..... Tight spots in the barrrel? - Bore Scope to the Rescue! (Read 941 times)

Bill In SC · « **on:** January 29, 2008, 03:47:59 PM »

Well, after the good review of the 6.5 Swede barrel I now wonder... $:-\$

I gave the barrel a good cleaning tonight, and after the Ed's Red soak and patch out, I then put the Butch's Bore shine to it. As I was working patches down the barrel I felt what I though were two "Tight Spots"...

After getting a good clean barrel, as I slide a tight fitting patch down the tube I can feel two distinct tight spots. putting marks on the rod, I can can feel them in the exact same spot after switching to clean patches.

I'm considering calling T/C in the morning and see what they have to say.

Anyone else ever had this problem? All my other barrels are a nice even smooth push down the tube.

Billl

sweetwyominghome · « **Reply #1 on:** January 29, 2008, 06:13:52 PM »

That is odd. I have seen very rough spots and heavy machine marks but do not recall ever encountering a random tight spot in a TC factory barrel.

I hate to hear this after seeing the groups you posted yesterday. Let us know how this unfolds.

kyelkhunter3006 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2008, 06:12:14 AM »

As long as everything is functioning safely, I'd day, "Who cares?". With the groups you were getting, I'd be fine with a tight spot or two.

sweetwyominghome · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2008, 09:17:25 AM »

Well, you do have to care if you want to remain safe. First of all, the tight spots could include a weakened area in the metal. If the structural integrity has been compromised, it may not be safe to shoot.

Also, even if it is JUST a tight spot, you have to consider than when the bullet is being swaged down to make it through there, pressures may spike. And, some bullets, such as homogenous metal offerings, may not readily swage down and could actually cause quite accident. On the other end of the spectrum, extremely soft projectiles could leave an obstruction in the bore and wreak havoc on the ensuing shot attempt.

Until the extent of the tight spot is further explored, it pays to be safe instead of sorry...

kyelkhunter3006 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2008, 10:05:37 AM »

I did say, "as long as everything is functioning safely." Of course, it could also be the other end of the spectrum. Maybe the tight spots are the correct bore size, and the rest of the barrel is over spec? I've heard of weirder things happening.... Of course the best thing is to get it checked.

Bill In SC · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2008, 01:01:03 PM »

Well... Talked to George at T/C this morning.

He was a bit concerned, and he related they check each barrel going out.

Anyhow... He has asked to do double check the bore by re-cleaning "to make sure here is not a Carbon build up"... Yeah Right....

I will give it one more shot at the cleaning, if it feels the same, back it goes...

Two different areas are noted, one about 13 inches into the barrel, and the other about 4 inches from the muzzle.

Will keep you all posted.

Bill

KN · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2008, 01:04:44 PM »

I have a 223 barrel that had a rough/tight spot in it. I could feel it the same way you described. An hour or so with some butches bore paste and elbow grease and its now one of the best shooting barrels I have. KN

Bill In SC · « **Reply #7 on:** January 30, 2008, 01:25:02 PM »

KN...

Do you mean JB Bore Paste??? Didn't know Butch's made any... I do use the Bore shine for copper removal and it works great!

I have a jar JB around here... May give that a shot and see.

kyelkhunter3006 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 30, 2008, 01:29:48 PM »

Try the JB. If there are any rough spots in the rifling, you should notice a difference after 50 or so strokes with the JB. I can tell a difference in the ease of cleaning and how the patch rides the bore in every barrel that I've used it in. If it's still feeling funny, then send it back. I thought that I read somewhere that T/C air-gauges their barrels, but don't quote me on it. If you know someone with a borescope, you might have them look at it too.

njanear · « **Reply #9 on:** January 30, 2008, 02:14:54 PM »

Quote from: sweetwyominghome on January 30, 2008, 09:17:25 AM

Well, you do have to care if you want to remain safe. First of all, the tight spots could include a weakened area in the metal. If the structural integrity has been compromised, it may not be safe to shoot.

Also, even if it is JUST a tight spot, you have to consider than when the bullet is being swaged down to make it through there, pressures may spike. And, some bullets, such as homogenous metal offerings, may not readily swage down and could actually cause quite accident. On the other end of the spectrum, extremely soft projectiles could leave an obstruction in the bore and wreak havoc on the ensuing shot attempt.

Until the extent of the tight spot is further explored, it pays to be safe instead of sorry...

While this all sounds great, I would bet that 99% of the shooters out there NEVER check their bores to the extent that Bill did - and I haven't heard of many dramatic failures like you mention. While it does pay to be safe instead of sorry, just realize that only 1% of the shooting population even gets concerned with such

.

kyelkhunter3006 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 30, 2008, 02:28:19 PM »

I was thinking the same thing with my initial post. After all, for decades, how many people have been shooting .323" bullets in the 8x57 Mauser out of barrels that were reamed to the original .318" dimensions of the round/rifle? Same goes with .310" bullets in the 7.62x39 being shot out of .308" US made barrels? But, I digress, if you have concerns, it's best to send it in to T/C.

Bill In SC · « **Reply #11 on:** January 30, 2008, 04:36:54 PM »

Well.... After a few hours of Kroil, JB Bore Paste and Ed's Red, the "Ruff/Tight" spots are still there. I can feel some difference, but they are still very pronounced. One about a 1/3 into the barrel and the other about 2/3's.

This is one of those time I wish I had a bore scope to get a good look in there.

Off to T/C it goes. We shall see how this turns out as these are "Special Run" barrels for Midway.

Bill

Keith L · « **Reply #12 on:** January 30, 2008, 09:53:36 PM »

I am sure if TC finds something concerning you will get a new barrel. I wonder what you have. I would bet it is a burr raised by rifling, and not an irregularly bored barrel. Most likely that would be loose and not tight in a couple of places. But if they find a problem you can bet you will never know what it was.

Bill In SC · « **Reply #13 on:** January 31, 2008, 11:07:35 AM »

Well, I checked with our guys in the quality department at the plant today to see if they had a bore scope.... They Did!!!

I signed it out for the evening and just got done scoping the barrel........

Huge burrs in the lands! Copper hanging off them and that was after an hour working the JB in the bore... It's ugly....

Two distinct areas are bad.

I wish I could take some photos and post them.

While I was at it, just for grins and giggles I ran the scope down a M96 Swede I have. Smooth as a baby's behind. Lands and Groves sharp and clean.

So.... Packing it up and shipping it back. I plan on calling them in the morning and tell them what I saw/found out.

Thanks for the tips guys....

Bill

KN · « **Reply #14 on:** January 31, 2008, 12:40:34 PM »

I did mean to say JB, not Butches. Sorry, KN

sweetwyominghome · « **Reply #15 on:** January 31, 2008, 12:44:49 PM »

Thanks for the update. That certainly makes you wonder how a barrel like that could ever get past quality control inspections -- or if that barrel ever was inspected at all...

But I have seen new Remingtons on which the bolt could not close (empty, I might add), guns with chambers so rough that a round could not enter, scope base holes drilled crooked (at an angle, I should say) and a Winchester that was sent out with the wrong bolt.

I just hope you get a replacement that shoots well.

Keith L · « **Reply #16 on:** January 31, 2008, 02:27:18 PM »

If people make it they can foul it up. I am glad you were able to scope it and let us know. I wonder how many other barrels in that run were bad.

Bill In SC · « **Reply #17 on:** January 31, 2008, 03:30:39 PM »

Keith...

My thoughts exactly! If they had a problem in the production process, a bunch more could be suspect.

T/C said they patch every barrel, but I really questioned that in my mind because the bore was filthy when I opened it up new last week. That's when I first felt the bad spots cleaning it out to test fire. Guess it got worse after all the copper fouling sticking to the bad spots.

I have been kicking around the idea of notifying Midway of a "Possible" quality problem... in their latest shipment they received from T/C.

I have over 12 different T/C barrels, and they are great. Like you said... "If people make it, they can foul it up!" Working in the automotive industry for a major parts supplier, how well do I know that.

Bill

30-06man · « **Reply #18 on:** February 02, 2008, 07:31:33 PM »

If I were you I would contact Midway just to be on the safe side. This is the first time I have heard of this in a T/C barrel though.

sweetwyominghome · « **Reply #19 on:** February 03, 2008, 12:42:22 PM »

Bill-

Right after your first post on the barrel, I went to the midwayusa site and neatly ordered one for myself since I had a new frame en route. I held off for whatever reason and am glad I did.

I did find a 26" 308 WCF for $211 at Grafs and grabbed it. It appears to have potential, but I will have to do a trigger job on this frame before I do any further shooting. Seven pounds is just not acceptable for any trigger on my guns, so I'll work that out next week. I could just take a frame off another setup, but I prefer to dedicate a frame to a particular barrel, and once I have it shooting to my liking, I don't usually swap out anything.

I'd still like another 6.5x55 but am waiting for another review to see if this may have been isolated to one particular barrel or something that affected the entire batch.