Pictures of cut-away barrel riflings

[Old Dog Man]

I was just playing around today, and thouhgt some of you might like to see what happens when the rifling goes away in a barrel. I millled a 25//06 chamber and barrel I just removed from my 98 Mauser, so you can see what I see with my bore-scope. The shell is a factory Win. 120gr. load, as you can see the riflings are out past the black line on the cut-away. Hope you enjoy the pic's. Al

 

[Owen Sparks]

How many rounds did it take to wear that barrel out?

Is that the same thing as throat erosion?

 

[nofishbob]

Thanks for these pictures.

This was very educational for me as I would have thought that the rifling as shown was OK.

I imagined a shot-out throat to be missing the rifling a greater distance down the barrel.

I would have bought a rifle in that condition and never be the wiser!

Bob

 

[Jim NE]

Very interesting pics. Thanks!

Question:
Do high powered rifles have a more definite barrel life than handguns? Many folks on the revolver forum say that good quality handgun BARRELS/RIFLING can have an almost indefinite life span. Or maybe 30,000 rounds+ or something.

Decades ago, I had an old Enfield in .303 that I paid very little for - it had been sporterized and was missing the mag. It wouldn't hit the broadside of a barn. I was told at the time that the barrel had been shot out; the rifling was too worn. Always wondered how many rounds a gun like that would've needed through it to be that worn. Just curious.

 

[TurtlePhish]

(Most) Handguns don't fire at anywhere near as high a velocity as a rifle, hence the extended barrel life.

A high powered rifle's barrel life depends on the cartridge and velocity of the bullet. The Enfield was probably a combination of a poor cleaning schedule during WWII with corrosive ammo and probably had several thousand rounds through it.

 

[Owen Sparks]

What kind of barrel life can you expect out of a .25-06?

 

[Old Dog Man]

Barrel life

The useful life of a barrel depends on how hot it gets and the cal. of the rifle. I don't know how many rounds I've shot through this one, it been shot a lot since installed in 1983. The first barrel was shot out in less than 1000 rounds. Shot hot loads and did a lot of load testing, and let it get too hot. This one lasted a lot longer and still shot pretty well, but getting it ready to hand down to grandson. Al

 

[Snowdog]

Wow, 1000 rounds... that almost gives me the creeps. Good to know your second barrel well exceeded that.

Thanks for the very educational pictures!

 

[303tom]

Cool Pic`s Dog.........................

 

[Airborne Falcon]

Old Dog, thanks. BTW, what did you do with the piece you cut away?

And what the heck did you use to dissect that barrel so cleanly?

 

[Old Dog Man]

Cutaway barrel

The part that was cut away were small chips, I milled it so it could be seen clearly. I also left the copper in the bore so it would show the rifling. Al

 

[ChileRelleno]

In my opinion, that barrel is far from shot out for any purpose other than possible sub-moa accuracy.
I don't know what the lands looked like originally, but it appears to me, normal free bore area, relatively minor throat erosion (would really need a gauge), other than that looks to me to be acceptable chamber leade.

Old Dog, please school me if I need it.

That would be more than acceptable in any milsurp rifle.

 

[R.W.Dale]

So what is that close to an inch of freebore?

As far as a custom precision rifle goes yeah that tube is toast. But for a generic Bambi shooter out to 300/400 yds it probably still shoots satisfactory.

posted via mobile device.

 

[230RN]

I don't know what the lands looked like originally, but it appears to me, normal free bore area, relatively minor throat erosion (would really need a gauge), other than that looks to me to be acceptable chamber leade.

I was going to comment in about the same vein. My understanding is that a lot of high-"intensity" cartridge rifles are freebored a bit to reduce pressure. I believe the newer 5.56 NATO chambers are set up that way to reduce peak pressures a little, as opposed to the regular old .223 Remington chambers and rifling, where you could reload so as to not-quite-touch the rifling.

Terry, 230RN

 

[Old Dog Man]

Worn Rifling in Throat

The riflings were erroded so far out that the bullet 120gr would fall out of the case using my OAL guage. However the barrel would still shoot respectable groups. The reason I'm changing it out is to have it in top shape for my Grandson. The stock willl be refinished also, it's a little dinged and worn from years of use (built in 1974) just want Grandson to have a nice rifle that belonged to and was built by his Grandad. Al

 

[gearhead]

I wish I could see the condition of the leade up close. One that's getting shot out will have very muddy and indistinct edges where the rifling starts, where the impact and hot gases have beaten up the nice sharp crisp rifling. Honestly, one that's worn like that one appears to be will likely still shoot acceptably for most people.