25-06 Remington Barrel Life
How long should a 25-06 Remington barrel be expected to last? Mine is 36Yrs old. I won't even guess how many rounds it has fired. 98% have been Hot handloads. I have been seeing a decrease in accuracy. It all started when I was working up 120Gr loads. I have changed scopes, changed mounts, floated the barrel. I have tried 6 different powders. I am going to try the 100Gr loads I shot for years and see if it helps.
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There are much more knowledgeable folks on here, but my experience with .22 centerfires is that the first thing to go is velocity. I had a 22-250 that started losing velocity, and had measurable throat errosion, at 1800 rounds. The accuracy was still great. A friend fried a 223 barrel (way over 5000 rounds and abused by firing long strings with a very hot barrel). The muzzle velocity was way down, but it still grouped great.
I don't know if these 2 examples are typical, but it leads me to think the change in grouping may not be due to throat errosion (the point where barrels "wear out"). I once worked with an old .257 Roberts that wouldn't group until extensive copper fouling was removed. Then it shot great.0 -
I agree, take it in for a good cleaning (including electronic Cu removal, etc). Good luck! 0 -
a few treatments with Wipe-out bore foam left overnight and see what happens. 0 -
Dancon:
What level of accuracy are you getting, and what was the baseline accuracy level that you have come to expect from this rifle.
As has been strongly suggested, I would first clean it thoroughly with Sweet's, Hoppes Benchmark, or other good cleaner that is designed to remove copper and carbon both.
Then, the next thing I would check is the crown. A worn or dinged crown can have an incredible impact on your accuracy. My gunsmith has done a number of these for me, and he charges around $45. You can first examine the crown with a magnifying glass, a cotton swab, and other means if you are reluctant to spend the money on it.
Are you using factory ammo or reloads? Regardless, temperature can have a big impact on pressure and accuracy.
In general floating the barrel is good, but what rifle is it? If you float a barrel on a rifle that was designed with a pressure point near the front of the forearm, you may need to put a glass pad under the chamber area to properly support the barrel.
As you know, barrel wear is subject to many factors, but under fairly average conditions, I would expect a 25-06 to go several thousand rounds before its accuracy tapered off much.
Please let us know what you determine, if anything.0 -
quote:Originally posted by JustC
a few treatments with Wipe-out bore foam left overnight and see what happens.
Just C;
What is the wipe out bore foam? If it is better than scrubbing with # 9, I might give it a try.0 -
This is what the liquified copper looks like as it drips from the bore. Keep the barrel at a very slight downward angle so it doesn't back feed into the action.
Wipe-out is used with nothing but a patch and jag, no brushes.
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My money is on a fouled bore. 0 -
Thanks for all the help. I have scrubbed the barrel after 30 or so rounds for the last several years. All I shoot is handloads. This started when I went to 120Gr bullets. I love them for the long shots. I have tried 2 different bullet makers and 6 different powders. It is to the point it won't shoot any 120Grs under 1 1/2".
This gun used to shoot 1/2" and under 1" at 200yds. This gun is at the several thousand round mark. I have had it 36yrs. I have never owned a rifle with a shot out barrel so I don't really know what to look for.0 -
dancon,
I'm betting, like others here, you have a fouled bore. A thorough cleaning is where I'd start. Followed by checking the crown.
Generally speaking a 25-06 can maintain competition accuracy for about 1200 rounds. Remember that's competition! Competition tends to be harder on barrels. You tend to shoot more 'hot' strings of fire than if you were just out at the range one day shooting for groups. If your rifle has given 36 years of regular shooting it has served you well. Non-competition (firing a cooler barrel less often) the barrel can last you up to 5k-7k rounds. Stupidly firing away at PD's can kill a barrel in a day shooting just a few hundred rounds.
For competition accuracy (field type) I call it .5" or less, for bench, .2". From that point you need to decide where your accuracy was at before you saw it start to fall off. Say, you shot .5" before and after you get the barrel all cleaned up it still shoots .75". That seems to be a very noticeable drop in accuracy, but in reality it's well within a non competition standard for a good shooting rifle. Please note that I have rifles that shoot 3" groups @ 100 yards and I consider that acceptable for them. They are not competition but they serve their own purpose. If this 25-06 still serves your purpose all it may take is a good cleaning. If not you may still be able to set the barrel back. If all else fails a new barrel is still less expensive than a new rifle and you can get it the way you want.
-good luck0 -
feel for a rough area in the first few inches of the bore in front of the chamber, as you are starting the patch/jag. If it is rough feeling, then smoothes out for the remainder of the bore, you have fire-cracking. It may well shoot acceptably still, but know that a new barrel is in your future.
If it is all smooth feeling and lots of copper is being stripped, then that is most likely your problem.0 -
"normal" cleaning solvents don't do much to remove copper. The Roberts barrel I had was cleaned religiously with Hoppe's #9, but it took Sweet's to get the copper out and restore accuracy. Have you used Sweet's or a brand labled specifically for copper?
As suggested, if the barrel is worn, you may feel the difference with a patch and it should show markedly reduced muzzle velocity, if you have access to a chronograph. A gunsmith with a good borescope can also see if you have throat wear or heat checking.0
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