I have a Rem 700 with a Lilja barrel in 22-250. This is my third Lilja barrel on this rifle. The others lasted about 2500 rds. I shoot 50 rounds a week using 33gr 4895 with a BIB 52gr bullet. Since I have this barrel a bad day with it was 1/2" groups. I have 28 groups under 1/4", these are honest measurements. Last week was 3 groups of 3/8" - 5 1/2" groups - 2 1 1/4" groups. Yesterday my best group was 3/4" with most at 1". Same load same, case prep,same everything. This barrel seems to not have lasted as long. I wonder why? Average velocity is about 3300 fps. Same thing happened with the other barrels, they went from great shooters to lousy all of a sudden. I only have about 1800 rounds thru this one.
Is my barrel finished
- Thread starter Poconolg
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I met a competitive shooter whose 22-250 barrels lasted around 1000 rounds. He claimed the bore was smooth for one foot in front of the throat!
Bolt guns are a bugger in trying to see what is going on in the throat. Your eye is about eight inches from the chamber. However, take the bolt out, look at the end, and see if you have any rifling in the throat. If you don't, your barrel is shot out.
One thing to try on high mileage barrels is JB Bore paste. Chemical cleaners will not remove impacted crud, it takes mechanical scrubbing to remove crud in the throat. Since this is Hail Mary time, try that. If accuracy gets worse, your barrel is toast.
Remember the radio show Car Talk guys, Click and Clack? At some level of engine deterioration, they told callers to go to the Auto Store and buy something, anything, that had on the label "Miracle" and pour it in the crank case. I think you are at the "you need a miracle" point in your barrel life.
Some will recommend seating the bullet out deeper, chasing the throat, and you could try that. But with 2500 rounds, you may have to use a cleaning rod to seat the bullet!
Bolt guns are a bugger in trying to see what is going on in the throat. Your eye is about eight inches from the chamber. However, take the bolt out, look at the end, and see if you have any rifling in the throat. If you don't, your barrel is shot out.
One thing to try on high mileage barrels is JB Bore paste. Chemical cleaners will not remove impacted crud, it takes mechanical scrubbing to remove crud in the throat. Since this is Hail Mary time, try that. If accuracy gets worse, your barrel is toast.
Remember the radio show Car Talk guys, Click and Clack? At some level of engine deterioration, they told callers to go to the Auto Store and buy something, anything, that had on the label "Miracle" and pour it in the crank case. I think you are at the "you need a miracle" point in your barrel life.
Some will recommend seating the bullet out deeper, chasing the throat, and you could try that. But with 2500 rounds, you may have to use a cleaning rod to seat the bullet!
Blue68f100
Member
Your at the round count where they have know to give up. A good starting point is cleaning the bore as said below.
Depending on how bad your leads are burned, some times the barrel can be removed and cut back. This only gains you a little more life. May not be worth the expense though.
Depending on how bad your leads are burned, some times the barrel can be removed and cut back. This only gains you a little more life. May not be worth the expense though.
AJC1
Member
I feel like barrel setbacks are for do it yourself kind of people. The expense vs gain is to high.
AJC1
Member
I feel like barrel setbacks are for do it yourself kind of people. The expense vs gain is to high.
I agree with the others--if the barrel is not actually worn out, likely the problem is carbon and/or copper fouling. Both can be removed with JB bore paste. The difficulty will be finding the bore paste. I don't know why, but there seems to be a run on the stuff. I haven't been able to find it anywhere. (Actually, and I haven't checked recently, Brownells had some 1/4 ounce containers--basically sample size. I got on their "notify me when in stock" list weeks ago and haven't heard a thing.)
Tim
Tim
AJC1
Member
You had a good one. Other than that company, Douglas, heart, or kreiger would be my picks
Blue68f100
Member
There are so many. Your barrel life with a Llija was very good, so that is an excellent recommendation.
I will say, if you develop loads with a button rifled barrel (such as Douglas or Wilson) and then use a cut rifled barrel, such as Krieger, your old loads will blow primers. Krieger barrels are much tighter.
When the USMC Rifle Team still had M14's as across the course match rifles, I walked up and talked to the Armorer's and asked about many things. One question was about the barrels they used. They used everything. Barrel makers gave barrels to the Team, and if the M14 put ten shots within 3 inches at 300 yards, the rifle was acceptable for Team use. That day they told me they had a number of different barrels on the firing line.
Call and talk to the barrel maker, ask about their tolerances in bore diameter and straightens and bore finish. If you like the numbers, buy one.
At least as important as the barrel brand is the chambering job. The chamber needs to be concentric with the bore, and, the firing pin strike right in the middle of the primer.
Absolutely, the person chambering the rifle can really make a difference. The borescope also proved that recently.
Hi Walkalong, the images you've provided above, are they of a "carbon ring" and if so, could such a carbon ring affect accuracy / precision significantly?? I just received my borescope and I'm seeing things similar... thanks...
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I know you asked Walkalong, but I am going to say, the answer is that crud in the throat does affect accuracy. Frank of Compass Lake Engineering told me how a through JB bore paste cleaning restored accuracy to barrels sent back to him. And from him, is where I learned this.
Yes, and yes, let it build up too much and it will give issues.
The crown on the same barrel at the same time. Nice
JFrank
Member
I would give it a good cleaning and then re tune your load starting with charge then check seating, if all else fails call Carson Lilja and order a new barrel. They are outstanding quality barrels.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I agree with the above, clean it with JB Bore paste and if that doesn't work you are correct, your barrel is toast.
The 22-250 is notorious for burning out barrels. Like said above, you got good life from yours. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Replace it with the same barrel.
The 22-250 is notorious for burning out barrels. Like said above, you got good life from yours. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Replace it with the same barrel.
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