Yeah, I gave it a good cleaning. I checked with a borescope and it was clean as a whistle. I tried checking the action screws, the scope base screws, switching scopes, and a different powder. The thing is, it extremely consistent in how bad it has shot the last two outings. I averaged 0.76 MOA extreme spread with a mean radius of 0.26 MOA once session and 0.75 MOA extreme spread with a mean radius of 0.27 the next. There were 6 5-shot groups in each session. I'm hoping it was a bad lot of bullets.
Creedmoor barrel life
- Thread starter Rebelirons
- Start date
I never had ELD-Ms go that bad and I have shot a lot of lots of them since they came out both loading and factory ammo. Stranger things have happened though so try something different changing one thing at a time. See what happens.
Yes, this has been my experience too. I've never had them go that bad either.
I have the same gun in 6.5. That round count sounds WAY low. A well cared for ( shot slow, no excessive heating , proper cleaning ) cold hammer forged 6.5 barrel ought to go 3.0- 3.5 K at least.
Good information. It looks like something else must be the cause. Yeah, I take care of the rifle and don't shoot it fast. Also, from looking with a borescope, there is hardly any fire-cracking. The bore looks good.
Have you tried seating the same bullets out a bit further? There is a group that believes seating depth doesn't matter... but I have found that it does have an effect on the radius of the groups (and in the range of about what you're describing). I might try going .010 and .020 out, just to see if your accuracy comes back before you scrap a barrel.
Yeah my last stainless 6.5 barrel shooting 140s in the 2775fps range in matches so shot hard and fast made 3200 rounds. It should definitely be getting near 3000. Try some changes and see what happens.
I have a Bartlein MOD 400 BB barrel that was chambered by Dave Tooley. I have 2600 rounds through it. I shoot only factory cartridges, mostly Hornady 140 ELDM and FGMM with the 130 grain Berger. I clean every 100 rounds. I seldom ever remove copper. I just focus on carbon removal but I don't use any abrasive cleaners.
It still shoots lights out. I am hoping to see at least 3,500 rounds before I retire it.
It still shoots lights out. I am hoping to see at least 3,500 rounds before I retire it.
I've got one that has a little over 2300 rounds through it and I'm wanting to replace the barrel. I'm having issues reaching the lands now with 140 VLDs. I did shoot it in a 600 yard F-Class comp for 2 years though and that was kinda ruff on it.
Competition is a different world from casual, slow paced recreational target shooting, for sure. I would imagine accuracy demands are far different as well.
Bullet choice too as with a bullet like the 140 VLD that needs to be up near the lands then you would have issues sooner but he could change bullets and still keep that barrel going probably another 800-1000.
My first barrel back in 2008 only went about 2400 rounds as it was a different match world back then with wanting flatter shooting and higher round count stages. The last few after that have all made 3000+.
My first barrel back in 2008 only went about 2400 rounds as it was a different match world back then with wanting flatter shooting and higher round count stages. The last few after that have all made 3000+.
Try loading a but longer. Had a barrel that wasn't doing quite as good as it had been at longer ranges 900-1200yds, loaded some .010 and .020 longer. Tested at 220yds and the longer loads really tightened up some of the loose shots from before.
This was with 140g eldm loaded close to factory length so a decent jump and apparently too much after about 1500rds.
This was with 140g eldm loaded close to factory length so a decent jump and apparently too much after about 1500rds.
