dwalker460
01-23-2013, 22:32
My new pet barrel, the 16" Wilson 5.56, has a rough chamber. I have been plagued with extraction issues for a while. Tried different BCG's, cleaning, different mags, etc. with somewhat limited success. My handloads run fine, but some factory loads, especially the 45gr Winchester Frangibles, which would result in a stuck case every few rounds. Completely sucked.
Changed buffers, changed springs, tuned, tuned, and tuned some more. Rifle runs fine, then stuck case after stuck case. More suckiness.
On the good side, the barrel is just a tack driver. Very accurate.
Took the rifle out Sunday and once again, ran great on my handloads, stuck case after stuck case on the Frangible. Very frustrating. I resolved to figure out the issue, once and for all.
Monday I cleaned the chamber with a CLP, a new chamber brush/clean patches followed by a mop. Inspection with a bright light confirmed my fear. Light machine marks radially in the chamber. Dammit. Not heavy, very light but easily visible, No signs on spent brass from the machine marks, but there they were.
Called Bert from BP Tactical, ran through the whole bloody mess with him. Without having it there in his hands, he was as puzzled as I, gave me a half a dozen things to try, none of them gave me a conclusive answer. Chamber can likely be polished or lapped, and he can likely do it. My buddy John the Best Machinist on the Planet can also polish the chamber. Decided to change the barrel out for my 18" BHW barrel, and have the Wilson barrel checked and the chamber polished if it can be.
What a PITA! But it is such a nice shooting barrel that it is worth saving if it can be.
Changed buffers, changed springs, tuned, tuned, and tuned some more. Rifle runs fine, then stuck case after stuck case. More suckiness.
On the good side, the barrel is just a tack driver. Very accurate.
Took the rifle out Sunday and once again, ran great on my handloads, stuck case after stuck case on the Frangible. Very frustrating. I resolved to figure out the issue, once and for all.
Monday I cleaned the chamber with a CLP, a new chamber brush/clean patches followed by a mop. Inspection with a bright light confirmed my fear. Light machine marks radially in the chamber. Dammit. Not heavy, very light but easily visible, No signs on spent brass from the machine marks, but there they were.
Called Bert from BP Tactical, ran through the whole bloody mess with him. Without having it there in his hands, he was as puzzled as I, gave me a half a dozen things to try, none of them gave me a conclusive answer. Chamber can likely be polished or lapped, and he can likely do it. My buddy John the Best Machinist on the Planet can also polish the chamber. Decided to change the barrel out for my 18" BHW barrel, and have the Wilson barrel checked and the chamber polished if it can be.
What a PITA! But it is such a nice shooting barrel that it is worth saving if it can be.