Posted: 2/28/2009 2:40:03 PM EDT
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Ok guys,
I'm trying to figure out if my barrel is shot out, or what? It's a Wilson 1:8 .223 chamber. I have been trying to do something with 75 g. Hornadys,(BTHP) and 77 Noslers. I tried 23, 23.5, & 24.0 gr. of RL-15(on the Hornadys), mag length. Win brass, CCI 400 primers. They only group around 2", at best, at 100 yds. as did the Nosler 77s. I am using a scope on 18X. I retried some 53 gr sierras that used to shoot about .350" out of the same gun, at 100 yds. They now group around 1.05". These are some 5 year old reloads, from when that was my 100 yd. load(for reduced courses). I think my barrel is shot out. I'm not exactly sure of the round count through it, due to my computer crashing, and the loss(???) of my backup disc. I think it's around 4000, or so, if my memory, and math is correct. Last year I (finally) made sharpshooter, just under Expert. My shots are generally on call. I have been shooting this barrel since 2002.(yes, I know, shoot more). Do you generally see worse accuracy with the heavier bullets than the lighter ones? Any thoughts? Pete |
| 4,000 or so is about the life span of a match barrel. My Krieger 7.75" twist CM died at 4700. I wouldn't expect a Wilson to last that long. As said, give it a good scrubbing for copper fouling (Sweets 762) and dry brush the bore a dozen times with a bronze bore brush to remove any caked carbon at the beginning of the rifling. Don't do both at the same time since the Sweets will eat the brush. |
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The possibilities are many when it comes to accuracy problems.
What is your round count out of this barrel? Copper fouling shouldn't be a problem with a Wilson SS barrel but carbon in the throat could. Have you ever fired molly coated bullets out of this barrel? Have you shot bullets that were impregnated with abrasives like Tubb's final finish? Take a accurate measurement of your barrels throat with a throat erosion gauge. Not the GI type. If you don't have a throat erosion gauge, measure the over all length of a 80 gr. Sierras MK just touching the rifling. Be careful to get a very accurate reading. Have you possibly damaged the barrels crown with a cleaning rod? It don't take much even if you have a flash hider! Dave McGrath |
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Thanks for the replies.
I've never shot bullets coated with anything through it. Round count, as stated above, is in the neighborhood of 4000 rds. I have used a copper solvent on it. I didn't measure the throat when it was new, so I can't get any compairitive measurements. I clean from the breech only, so as to not damage the crown. Looks like I'm barrel shopping. Thanks again. |