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Custom barrels really help

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jonoMT View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jonoMT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Custom barrels really help
    Posted: November/12/2012 at 22:47
I was out at the range running a load that I've run through two other rifles before, one of which (a Rem. 5R .308 Win) also had a 24" barrel. I always got a consistent 2725 fps with it in that rifle. With the Rock Creek 24" stainless on my new rifle, that same load is running 2795.
Although today I only ran 16 rounds through it, the barrel also looks very clean. There's no sign of copper when I shine a bright light down the tube. None of my other barrels have ever not shown some. This barrel definitely cleans up faster. Not that I do that very often. I did a careful break-in...as in not over-doing it. I cleaned every round for the first 10, then shot and cleaned after 3, another 3 and four. These days, my cleaning routine consists of running a round 2" patch soaked in Sweet's 7.62 up and down the barrel 5X, followed by a dry patch on a bore spud, another 5X with the Sweets and a dry patch. If that's not enough, I'll repeat one more time. I then run a patch soaked in CLP through on an undersized spud and leave it that way until the next time I shoot.
Reaction time is a factor...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/13/2012 at 06:22
Yep, no doubt about it.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/13/2012 at 08:03
Have you tried Barnes cleaner? Less messy than Sweets.
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supertool73 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/13/2012 at 09:12
Easy cleaning is one of the best parts of a custom barrel IMO.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/13/2012 at 09:54
cleaning is over rated. Cool
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bitterroot Bulls Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/13/2012 at 10:40
I have a custom barrel on my 7-08.  It doesn't seem to foul at all.
-Matt
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sgt. D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/13/2012 at 10:47
Originally posted by Bigdaddy0381 Bigdaddy0381 wrote:

cleaning is over rated. Cool
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stevey Ducks Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/13/2012 at 16:06
I have seen some barrels that were so rough inside that 5 shot groups went from sub 1 inch to over 3 inches in less than 20 rounds and that was slow fire keeping the barrel moderately warm. Lots of blue glop drained out of these barrels using foaming bore cleaner
 
On the other hand premium custom barrels deliver consistent accuracy for many rounds, some up to 100 or more.
 
I am not a serious barrel cleaner and probably spend about 5 minutes a week per barrel. Carbon build up just infront of the chamber seems to be a greater factor rather than copper fouling.
 
Having a rifle with a 1st rate barrel is a real pleasure and rifles that are favorites eventually get nice custom barrels having precise chambers & headspace. Also a good time to get a different caliber.
 
 
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supertool73 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/13/2012 at 16:14
Originally posted by Stevey Ducks Stevey Ducks wrote:

some up to 100 or more.
 

 


Of the two hand lapped tubes I have had, 100 would be the extreme low end.  500 to 1000 would be more like it. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/14/2012 at 06:39
Originally posted by supertool73 supertool73 wrote:

Originally posted by Stevey Ducks Stevey Ducks wrote:

some up to 100 or more.
 

 


Of the two hand lapped tubes I have had, 100 would be the extreme low end.  500 to 1000 would be more like it. 


I'm not going to stir the pot about me hand lapping every barrel I have custom or not before they are even shot, but yes I have rifles I have never cleaned and have 1200+ rounds plus and they are shooting as good as the day I bought them and still don't need cleaning.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stevey Ducks Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/15/2012 at 23:25
sure glad I qualified my statement with the word "more"
 
on a related issue I think barrel break in procedures are useless
 
I clean my barrels about 100 rounds or so whether they need it or not because they look nice when I look through them. I attempt to see light interference rings but the rifling might make these difficult to see.
 
Carbon & other crud is annoying and can not be helpful.
 
A bullet shot through a fouled barrel will likey hit where it is aimed where one fired from a cleaned barrel will not.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote stickbow46 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/16/2012 at 09:25
I have a custom made barrel on my T/C 460 by MTM,I was told to season the barrel even though the tube came lapped [40 rounds recommended].I also have a Remmy 243 tube made by Hart & Bob told me to just go shoot & clean every 25rds.
 
Seems to me it's like asking the question, should I lap my rings?Everbody has their own way of what works & what doesn't.
 
Me,I will season the barrel at the same time I'm zeroing my scope.This saves money & lets me have my chicken soup [can't hurt].
 
After that I clean my rifle every time I go to the range then finish by shooting 1 round so as not to have one of those nasty,shinny tubes.Must work as I haven't had a problem in 45yrs of on & off shooting!
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jonoMT View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jonoMT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/05/2012 at 12:26
The one reason I will do a minimal break-in on a custom barrel is the reamer marks from cutting the chamber. There's likely to be an unavoidable and almost microscopic edge on where the chamber meets the lands. All I do is shoot 1 and clean for the first ten rounds. And my cleaning is just running a bore spud with a 2" round cotton patch on it soaked in Sweets a few strokes back and forth (never coming more than 1/8" out of the muzzle. Then a clean patch.
 
Every shot was used to help sight in the rifle or confirm muzzle velocities and accuracy. In between shots, since I like to make sure the barrel is dried out, I'd shoot 20 rds of .22 LR. I often bring the .22 for something to do, especially if trying to dope cold bore shots at 300. My range has 200 and 300 together so I'll humble myself with .22 practice @ 200. I repeated the process for the next ten shots, except switching to 3, 3, 3, and 4 between cleaning. Then I called it done. I wouldn't expect to clean again until accuracy dropped off...maybe 200 rounds or so. If the barrel has been out in the field all day, as in hunting in trees and snow, I'll run a patch with CLP on it using an undersized bore spud.
Reaction time is a factor...
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