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kmw1954
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In all honesty I am very skeptical of this round count and the reason for the so soon replacement. But I am still new to this so what do I know. If I had the answer I wouldn't be here asking this question.
buying a used barrel?
- Thread starter kmw1954
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Charlie98
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Looking at what you want to do... having to retool for a new cartridge and everything? $100 isn't going to make a hill 'o beans difference. Barrels make all the difference... if you are already questioning it, then I'd pass on it.
Look at it this way... if the barrel is exactly what the seller says it is... new barrel with less than 100 rounds through it... is it worth the price he's asking? If you have a question about the integrity of the seller (telling you the Whole Truth) or about the value of the barrel as-is, then move along.
illinoisburt
Member
Which 6mm cartridge are you looking at? There are a lot of very reasonably priced Savage pre-fit barrels floating around and custom orders from some shops aren't much more (though there is wait time).
https://www.gunpartscorp.com/category/barrels/rifle-barrels/savstevspgfld/110-barrels
https://www.shilen.com/savageBarrels.html
https://www.shawcustombarrels.com/shop/product/savage-standard-sporter/14
I understand about tweaking and breaking things apart and Savages are easy to replace. I put a new barrel on my 30-06 Savage because I wanted a 26" barrel and I could hit milk jugs at 500 with the factory barrel it came with. The barrel exchange did not occur until years later when I started to shoot longer ranges with it, and it was just a hunting rifle.
My skepticism comes in the form that the barrel may not be an accurate barrel and that may be the reason for getting rid of it so soon after a hundred rounds. But I am a skeptical person. As is usual in this forum, there will be both pros and cons. I just prefer to buy new where if there happens to be a problem I can return or exchange it. Not saying you are on a tight budget, but in general, people that are, normally end up losing more because they buy used or cheap and than are dissatisfied and are out of the money they could not afford to lose anyway and end up buying again down the road. Good luck and keep us posted.
Varminterror
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I’m not sure I think there is any cartridge out there which a shooter would consider still living past 10,000 rounds, being the same shooter which would think any barrel would be burned out by 1,000 with any cartridge. We hear guys talking about 5.56’s and 308’s with 10k+ cartridges, but these are guys blasting extreme round counts with little demand for precision. When we see those same cartridges being used by precision shooters, suddenly the claimed barrel life changes and we’re talking about replacing barrels by 4000-5000 rounds. So the blasting guys really aren’t great indicators of how long a barrel should last - it’s kinda like the difference between the guy with a pickup with 400k miles on it (being a guy who made 442k on one of mine, and 380k on another), but has replaced the transmission, is sitting on a wool blanket because the seat fabric has totally worn away, there’s a pair of vise grips replacing the driver’s side window crank handle, and has to pour in a quart of oil every time they fill the gas tank… “still driving” isn’t really the same thing as “like new.” So you have to calibrate what are your expectations for a barrel - if you’re shooting small groups, I’d run a borescope through it and examine the fire cracking and leade condition. If you’re just blasting, or wanting to plink around and do a little hunting, then maybe it’s worth considering.
Also, $100 off retail might mean very, very different things - as some barrels are $100, some are $1000. I assume we’re talking about a higher priced barrel, but since it’s a Savage, I’m wondering if it would have been somewhere around $400-450 new? If so, then a barrel with decent life left at $300-350 might be well worth that price.
I’m not certain I believe there is a 6mm cartridge on the market which makes it past 5,000 without slipping in velocity and group size. I’m only running 2815fps in my Dasher and still changing barrels at 2500 rounds, as the velocity becomes unreliable. But again, running a borescope down it would tell you all you need to know as to whether it is way over 100rnds or not.
I have bought a couple of barrels from other competitors which were ~100-150 rounds down the tube. It’s not so uncommon that we buy two barrels at a time and break both of them in, so one is ready to go when the other falls off, rather than trying to do new load work up and break in during the middle of season. But then if a guy decides to shoot a different cartridge and still has one of those “new, but broken in” barrels waiting in the wings, they sell it off. It’s like new, so it deserves a good price, and doesn’t even come with the burden of break in or load development…
So it would be nice to know more specifics - what barrel, what was its purchase price new (or what would be its new price), and what cartridge? What is the claimed reason for selling the barrel rather than making use of it?
Or, just run a borescope through it and eliminate any speculation.
Also, $100 off retail might mean very, very different things - as some barrels are $100, some are $1000. I assume we’re talking about a higher priced barrel, but since it’s a Savage, I’m wondering if it would have been somewhere around $400-450 new? If so, then a barrel with decent life left at $300-350 might be well worth that price.
I’m not certain I believe there is a 6mm cartridge on the market which makes it past 5,000 without slipping in velocity and group size. I’m only running 2815fps in my Dasher and still changing barrels at 2500 rounds, as the velocity becomes unreliable. But again, running a borescope down it would tell you all you need to know as to whether it is way over 100rnds or not.
I have bought a couple of barrels from other competitors which were ~100-150 rounds down the tube. It’s not so uncommon that we buy two barrels at a time and break both of them in, so one is ready to go when the other falls off, rather than trying to do new load work up and break in during the middle of season. But then if a guy decides to shoot a different cartridge and still has one of those “new, but broken in” barrels waiting in the wings, they sell it off. It’s like new, so it deserves a good price, and doesn’t even come with the burden of break in or load development…
So it would be nice to know more specifics - what barrel, what was its purchase price new (or what would be its new price), and what cartridge? What is the claimed reason for selling the barrel rather than making use of it?
Or, just run a borescope through it and eliminate any speculation.
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kmw1954
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Folks I don't mean to be so vague but I do not know if the seller may be a visitor here and it's not my intention to disparage anyone.
The barrel in question is an inexpensive one. Lists for just under $300.00 so we are not looking at a Bartlein, Brux or Krieger product. Reason for removal was to replace it with a Match grade barrel.
I have in jest teased a couple of my shooting friends that I could take one of their 2k round take-off match barrels and still probably shoot better with it than with what I am using now.
The barrel in question is an inexpensive one. Lists for just under $300.00 so we are not looking at a Bartlein, Brux or Krieger product. Reason for removal was to replace it with a Match grade barrel.
I have in jest teased a couple of my shooting friends that I could take one of their 2k round take-off match barrels and still probably shoot better with it than with what I am using now.
gotboostvr
Member
Do you know and trust the seller? 33% off is pretty reasonable for a gently used barrel.
For a Savage, especially if it's got some features I want (profile, muzzle threading, length, fluting, etc) I might roll those dice.
Varminterror
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$200 for a $300 barrel, which must be something like a Criterion? since the owner is saying they removed it to swap for a “match barrel”?
That IS a tough spot for me - buying that barrel new for $300 isn’t a terribly high hurdle, but at the same time, it likely shoots better than a factory tube, for $200, which isn’t much. I waste more than $200 per year on Oreos, so risking that on a barrel wouldn’t cause me much concern.
That IS a tough spot for me - buying that barrel new for $300 isn’t a terribly high hurdle, but at the same time, it likely shoots better than a factory tube, for $200, which isn’t much. I waste more than $200 per year on Oreos, so risking that on a barrel wouldn’t cause me much concern.
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kmw1954
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Hey now, Oreo's are a staple food. But that is funny. A waste would be lottery tickets!
Now I do also now have a line on an auction for a Savage Axis 6ARC take-off barrel that has not been fired. I already have a bolt head and brass for this one. See where the bidding goes.
Varminterror
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Is this going to be your league match rifle?
For what cartridge is the original barrel chambered?
For what cartridge is the original barrel chambered?
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kmw1954
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Original is a 6BR Norms
Not necessarily. But was meant to use as a step up to get started in the caliber. Start acquiring tools and components as presently everything I have is all 223. At this point because of the relatively short distances we shoot to I would feel comfortable with staying with the 223 though a small advantage would go to a 6mm such as the ARC or BR Norma. You and my shooting friends have encouraged the 6mm over the 223.
Only now after giving more thought it probably would not be a fair comparison of a 223 over an unknown condition 6mm to help make a decision over which one to finally settle on and spend the funds on with a better Match grade barrel..
Not necessarily. But was meant to use as a step up to get started in the caliber. Start acquiring tools and components as presently everything I have is all 223. At this point because of the relatively short distances we shoot to I would feel comfortable with staying with the 223 though a small advantage would go to a 6mm such as the ARC or BR Norma. You and my shooting friends have encouraged the 6mm over the 223.
Only now after giving more thought it probably would not be a fair comparison of a 223 over an unknown condition 6mm to help make a decision over which one to finally settle on and spend the funds on with a better Match grade barrel..
Varminterror
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This is pretty astute.
I think, in time, you’ll find the “small advantage” of 6mm’s over 223 for short range games is also, “substantial, consistent, and decisive,” but if there’s question that this barrel will underperform, Shilen and Criterion drop ins aren’t terribly expensive. You probably do have to acknowledge that any new-to-you cartridge is likely to initially lag behind your existing 223 which you have already established a foundation of high performance, until you get your feet on the ground.
It’s not a slow-twist Krieger, is it?
If the barrel only has admittedly 100 rounds through it, it was taken off for some reason. My guess would be it didn't shoot right or wasn't accurate. If you just want something to shoot or play with a used barrel would work but if you are wanting something that will be accurate that you don't have to keep tinkering with, do go cheap buy a quality barrel new.
I've taken a few barrels off after a hundred or so rounds through them.Every one was either mine or some of my closer friends,and every one had the same story.After more than a hundred rounds they wouldn't shoot good enough to even keep trying to develop a decent load for them.I had one one time on a M700 that was so bad that when I screwed it off,I took it to my 55 ton press and mashed the middle of it shut so there was no danger of anybody winding up with that tomato stake.Buying anything used can be troublesome unless you can put faith in who you're doing business with.I've bought two of the tractors for the farm my brother and I have from the midwest sight unseen.But I got lots of pictures and talked directly with the owners of them and I got good enough vibes from them that I spent the money and they were both at least as good as they were supposed to be.I've bought a lot of used guns,but only two used barrels,because if I'm going to do the work it takes to fit one the sumbitch better shoot.
daniel craig
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I shoot a rifle that was used in world war II. I've got no problem with used barrels LOL
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kmw1954
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Thanks everyone, the barrel in question has been sold but not to me. Snooze ya loose. Already have a New Savage take-off 6 ARC I am following on an auction, see where the price goes. The other barrel was a 6mm BR Norma that retails for $259.00 so that should tell some of you who mage it/sells it.
