Re-Chamber Now or Shoot Out Barrel First.

[RangerPark]

Hello Everyone!

I've been shooting my new Remington 5R throughout the summer and I had really good results with it. I've been keeping tabs of my shooting in an Excel file, I recorded a total of 214 groups with the gun, mostly 5 round groups, from all sorts of hand loads to XM80 ball ammo. All 214 groups averaged .712 MOA. I experimented with all sorts of different hand loads and bullets, top 100 groups averaged .475 MOA, 53 groups with "Pet Loads" averaged .385 MOA, most of the shooting was done at 300 meters.

So for a factory barrel the gun shoots very well, no question.

Now this is my problem. I know my chamber is cut large. Fired brass comes out at Max SAAMI, I even get a little step near the case head indicating that not only the chamber is cut long but also large. I know this is probably causing premature wear on my brass but haven't experienced any case failures yet.

Since shooting season is practically over I'm thinking of having the barrel re-chambered to match specs over the winter. Basically have the smith bring the barrel in a whole turn, to keep the fluting aligned, and touch up the chamber with a match reamer. While we're at it I would also have the action blue printed. Should make an excellent gun even better, but could also be a waste of money.

So the question is, would any of you bother with this? Would it make more sense to shoot out the barrel first? That would be about 4000 more rounds to go. Am I going to ruin a whole bunch of brass reloading for 4000 more shots in a large chamber? Let me know what your thoughts are!

 

[cosmic]

What makes you think you are "ruining" your brass. First firing sets the brass to chamber size, with neck sizing or partial resizing after that... I wouldn't bother changing a thing - the rifle is likely shooting equal to, or better, than your abilities.
Save your money and get a new barrel when needed, commensurate with the potential improvement in your marksmanship skills.

 

[Viper26]

A new Bartlein barrel will cost you around $550 plus chambering and installation. If you're happy with the factory barrel, talk to your smith and make the decision based on the dollars. A case-head separation is no fun so at least get that checked out.

 

[Aniest]

I think the only way you will get case head separation is if you completely re-size the brass every time. The groupings you are mentioning are quite good and you may be able to move "pet-loads" to a "that barrel/gun specific load" that will go tighter yet.

I have a firearm with a similar chamber. I fire form on the bench and then neck size only after that for four more shots on that brass. I then re-full length size, check the brass well (about 2-5 out of 100 get odd crimps/marks and I throw those out) and then fire form on the bench one more time that results in about 15 more cases being thrown out. After four more firings I just junk the brass and start over because I found the loss after another re-size and fire form is about 50 more cases (or 70% loss total by now). For an oversized chamber 10 firings on cheap brass at near max pressures in not bad to me.

Depending on your brass (if I used PVRI it would last another 5-10 firings), load pressures and so forth... your mileage will vary.

 

[oneadam12]

New brass isn't worth the price of the work you are thinking about. Shoot it out.

 

[m14medic.ca]

I can tell you're the type of guy who likes things "just so".... OCD if you will!

Nobody tracks their shooting with that kind of persistence unless they got a little bit of OCD!

Aneist, is 100% correct. There is no issue that you should be concerned about. The process he describes will net you the full lifetime of your barrel with-out an out-lay of cash. A couple extra bags of brass over the lifetime of a barrel is not worth even worrying about.

but; If you are like me, knowing that your rig isn't 100% will bother you. It will keep you up at night thinking about it. Cause unknown stress and anxiety! No it isn't necessary, it won't likely make your groups any smaller either. You will use less brass over time. saving yourself at least $100 (in the long run). But you will have confidence that your rifle is 100%.

The extra $500 it would cost to get the barrel set-back, re-chambered and have the action trued is defiantly not worth the lost sleep IMHO.

If you have the $$, and want it "exactly" right, go and get the work done! If you'd rather have the $$$ for bullets, powder and primers, then don't!

John

*edit*
PS: I'm an enabler.....

 

[bsand]

I'd keep shooting until accuracy drops off on the barrel. The 5r's are really nice rifles.

 

[freedomintheskies]

If you want to push the bar up another notch then put an aftermarket barrel on it. You will be happy you did.

 

[RangerPark]

Thanks to everyone who answered, lots of great feedback and it's much appreciated!

I wouldn't bother changing a thing - the rifle is likely shooting equal to, or better, than your abilities. Save your money and get a new barrel when needed, commensurate with the potential improvement in your marksmanship skills.

I agree, I'm still a relatively new shooter, this rifle will out shoot me throughout the life of the first barrel.

A new Bartlein barrel will cost you around $550 plus chambering and installation. If you're happy with the factory barrel, talk to your smith and make the decision based on the dollars. A case-head separation is no fun so at least get that checked out.

I'm not worried about case head separation. I have the RCBS needle gauge and check sample cases before I load them. The bump is just that, a bump, it's not an actual divot or anything.

I think the only way you will get case head separation is if you completely re-size the brass every time. The groupings you are mentioning are quite good and you may be able to move "pet-loads" to a "that barrel/gun specific load" that will go tighter yet.

Agreed, I went back to neck-sizing until the cases get tight. When that happens I have my FL die set for a .002" bump, should give my brass a break.

New brass isn't worth the price of the work you are thinking about. Shoot it out.

I think you're right, brass is relatively cheap compared to gunsmithing work.

I can tell you're the type of guy who likes things "just so".... OCD if you will!

You sir a technically correct, the best kind of correct! That being said, I also think that touching up the chamber still won't yield the same result as having a new barrel with a proper match chamber, so I'll likely wait it out.

I'd keep shooting until accuracy drops off on the barrel. The 5r's are really nice rifles.

This is what I'm inclined to do at this point. And yes, the 5R's are quite nice, too bad they cut the chamber large, it would have been the perfect rifle.

If you want to push the bar up another notch then put an aftermarket barrel on it. You will be happy you did.

Agreed, consensus seems to be money would likely be better spent on a new barrel than anything else.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Thanks again everyone.