You can call 'bull####' all you like. I know better than you apparently! I have experienced significant chatter marks with this tool on some barrel steel. I DID NOT say it doesnt cut concentric if the correct pilot is used!!! I am implying that the cutter will cut very concentric with the correct pilot and if that tool was used (as I am certain it was) the bore is not perpendicular to the muzzle face and as a result the cut appear eccentric. Fwiw...you would also get similar results as the OP's rifle exhibits if no pilot or an undersized pilot was used and it wouldnt matter if the bore was perpendicular to the muzzle or not...
It's possible guntech misread your post a little and came to that conclusion... I highly doubt any bullsh*t calling would happen if we were sitting around with coffee. Forums are a strange game -- that's why I write so much and so detailed (but often, people can't really get the gist on an iphone).
I'm not naming the company here, because I don't want this to show up in a search -- and I don't want to spread any bad reviews without this being totally resolved first. Mistakes happen at otherwise competent companies. I often see forums light up with #####ing and complaining about a faulty thing too early -- and they often get resolved just fine. Ultimately, the maker is doing infinitely more good than bad in the gun market -- and they deserve the benefit of the doubt. I did seriously hint at the maker in a previous post and it should be easy to figure out.
Please don't say the name here yet. I have had a careful look at an un-fired late 60's Winchester lever gun -- and this thing is miles better; the Winchester looked more like a cheap replica of a Winchester.
I do know how to measure things -- and this bore is pretty much deadly square to the muzzle. To measure concentricity, I made an accurate brass pilot or plug that fits the bore to measure against with a Mitutoyo depth gage. That's how I came up with the .001" (at most) concentricity of the outside and the bore -- and judging the muzzle end square is easy with a square.
Guntech put the fears in me about removing the barrel myself -- plus I don't know if the threads are locked with adhesive. I'm going to pursue a warranty repair. I'll see how that goes. If that doesn't work, I will find out about thread locker -- and it'll be easy.
I appreciate all the input. It's a curious mystery.
My vote is a non-piloted cutter was used. Buy why?
I had a crazy thought: What if the crown is like this on purpose. If crowns don't do much other than move groups around (IF...)... Maybe it was shooting too damned high (or whatever) at the test firing. How would one ever repair it?
At least you won't have to deal with Snapshot.
