[New_comer]

Howyerall!! :D

I saw this USP9 BarSto barrel at a nearby shop. Guess that, if I were to save the original polygonal HK barrel (been using a lot of lead, you know...), might as well invest in a standard rifled beater barrel.

Externally, the BarSto looks in excellent condition. Glanced inside up against the ceiling lights, it's got standard rifling alright, but then there's this 'speck' about 3/4 the way towards the muzzle. Closer inspection proved it is a pitting, about 'termite-sized' but rather deep, about 1 mm deep, crater-like.

Would that matter? Does a defect that small compromise the barrel's integrity? The 9mm is puny but at +P+ pressures (>37,500psi), it can be tough to contain.

This is the first time I saw one of these replacement barrels (everybody else sells a Glock or 1911 part :(), and I'm hoping I could take a chance with it. At $200, would it be wise?

Thanks for your help ;)

[10-Ring]

$200 seems kinda steep for a used barrel w/ signs of pitting. Did you bring it to the attention of who was selling it? It might be okay as a beater barrel, but see if you can do anything re: price ;)

Hey, if it's new, maybe you can send it back to Bar sto for replacement? Or maybe even if it isn't new, you can contact Bar sto & see what they recommend.

[Cortland]

FYI EFK Fire Dragon (http://www.efkfiredragon.com/) lists their new HKUSP 9mm barrels at $150 (and only $25 more for threads :D ) .

[New_comer]

The nice lady who attended to me can't decide on pricing, so I'll have to haggle with the store owner once he comes back...

Returning the item to BarSto may be out of the question, as we're, what... 12,000 miles away? ;)

Just in case, I'll e-mail BarSto and see what can be done :D

[stans]

Aren't BarSto barrels stainless? If it is a stainless barrel, how did it rust? I have found you kind of have to go out of you way to make stainless rust.

[only1asterisk]

BarSto isn't in the USP barrel business anymore, as far as I know. Last I heard Bruce Grey had a couple of barrels, but that was several weeks ago.

Is the barrel used? If not, I'd call Barsto and ask what they will do for you. Can't hurt, and if Barsto will replace the barrel that the store owner sells for $150 you got a deal.

I wouldn't call a Barsto barrel a beater, in fact if you end up with one, your USP may never see the original again. If this barrel has a 1mm deep flaw and is new, I wouldn't spend any money on it without Barsto replacing it.
It doesn't make any since to buy something you know isn't right.


David

[New_comer]

It's new, and stainless, and the pitting is there alright. No mistake about that...

It's situated at the 8 o'clock position, 3/4 down the length towards the muzzle, right in the middle of the rifling 'lands'. I believe it wasn't caused by corrosion, more like a defect in the forging; possibly a bubble was trapped at a critical time. Made apparent after the machining process. The 'grain' of the metal is very apparent, similar to the surface of a cracked zinc or cast pot. Point is, will the gas pressure build up sufficiently to kill the barrel? It's some distance from the chamber, about 2-1/2" from it.
It doesn't make any sense to buy something you know isn't right. It's a haggling point I can capitalize on, to reduce the price to maybe 10-20% less. Since it's stainless, I don't see the crater getting any worse over time. And a scientific opinion as to the barrel's integrity, if proven justifyiable, could turn this seeming scrap merchandise to a great buy, in a place where everything costs twice as much as in the States ...

Decisions, decisions.... ;)

[mete]

" the grain of the metal is very apparent" ?? Could this barrel be cast then machined ? Perhaps the pit is porosity from the casting that didn't clean up. I don't think the pit would present a danger and for jacketed bullets perhaps not much of a problem . But with a defect I would be willing to only pay a whole lot less than full price because there might be something else that you can't see. Offer 50% and work from there.

[Richard]

The first thing I would do is ask the owner/sales person if I can use the barrel to shoot a few rounds. If it shoots well the spot is of no consequence. You might want to E-mail Irv Stone at Bar-sto for his opinion; his address is: irv@barsto.com. I have dealt with Irv and he is one of the good guys. Regards, Richard :D

[stans]

BarSto does not make cast barrels either, theirs are made from forgings. Hmmm... barrel appears to be cast stainless and has a very visible flaw, something's not right.

[Monkeyleg]

This sounds similar to a "pit" that I saw the first time I cleaned the stainless barrel from my Kimber. About an inch from the end of the barrel, there was a hole of some kind, irregularly shaped. It concerned me at first but, after thousands of rounds through the barrel, it hasn't gotten any worse and accuracy is still excellent.

I never did find an answer as to what might have caused it.