Gouge in Chamber

[5811]

I recently had a Proof CF barrel chambered by a local Smith for 22 creedmoor. The brass comes out with a slight raised ring on it and sometimes is very difficult to extract. Sometimes it extracts normally, sometimes I have to hit the bolt rearward with my hand.

I checked it with a cheap borescope and found what looks like a gouge in the chamber. I have 20 rounds through it using factory Hornady 80 eldx and it stacks holes nicely.

Is this an issue I can or need to do anything about? Would harder brass like Peterson or alpha help?

I appreciate any input or experiences.

 

[The Harbor Master]

If it's very difficult to extract I would think it's worth fixing... am I understanding right that the brass is expanding INTO the gouge, cause a ring bulging outward from the case?

 

[BBob]

I recently had a Proof CF barrel chambered by a local Smith for 22 creedmoor.

I checked it with a cheap borescope and found what looks like a gouge in the chamber.

Is this an issue I can or need to do anything about?

Gunsmith needs to redo the work with a replacement barrel all at his cost. I’ll add that the gunsmith should have never sent this out in that condition.

 

[The Harbor Master]

As someone who hasn't had a custom built and is not a gunsmith... is it common practice for smiths to "check their work" with borescopes? To look for these sort of imperfections?

 

[BBob]

is it common practice for smiths to "check their work" with borescopes? To look for these sort of imperfections?

I do and I would hope that they all would but it seems that judging by posts like this that many do not or they conveniently ignore it and hope it doesn’t come back. You don’t necessarily need a bore scope to see a chamber, a simple jewelers loupe in the right magnification will do as well.

 

[5811]

If it's very difficult to extract I would think it's worth fixing... am I understanding right that the brass is expanding INTO the gouge, cause a ring bulging outward from the case?

That is what I am thinking, but I am not sure.

 

[wapitibob]

As someone who hasn't had a custom built and is not a gunsmith... is it common practice for smiths to "check their work" with borescopes? To look for these sort of imperfections?

Many will or at least test fire and inspect.

 

[Slickhill]

A chip got hung on top of one of the cutting edges of the reamer and put a ring in your chamber, it happens. Depending on how much shank you have and how deep the ring is relative to case taper it could probably be set back a turn or maybe two and clean up.

 

[BBob]

^^^ That, provided the shank wasn’t fit to match a particular stock. If it was done to match your stock the barrel should be replaced.

 

[5811]

^^^ That, provided the shank wasn’t fit to match a particular stock. If it was done to match your stock the barrel should be replaced.

I'm using it in a krg bravo chassis, so no issues with the barrel channel/fit.

I appreciate the input. I'll reach out to the Smith.

 

[khuber84]

Sub par smithing. As stated, a chip welded to reamer and put a ring in the chamber wall. I've saw these same ledges or rings where the chamber was predrilled just a lil too deep before finish reaming, leaving a ring that wasn't cleaned up on final finish reaming. That's an ugly ring, likely from a chip hanging up on the reamer. This can caused by not utilizing a muzzle flush system to clean/lubricate the chamber and tooling. Other causes are excessive tooling load caused by inadequate feed rates/rpm. That gouge is fairly deep, I don't believe setting the tenon back a few turns(.125" 1/16 tenon) will be enough. The smith needs to make this right with your regardless. He may just be like oh I can polish that out, you'll have a fat out of spec chamber in that area, do not accept that remedy.

 

[5811]

Sub par smithing. As stated, a chip welded to reamer and put a ring in the chamber wall. I've saw these same ledges or rings where the chamber was predrilled just a lil too deep before finish reaming, leaving a ring that wasn't cleaned up on final finish reaming. That's an ugly ring, likely from a chip hanging up on the reamer. This can caused by not utilizing a muzzle flush system to clean/lubricate the chamber and tooling. Other causes are excessive tooling load caused by inadequate feed rates/rpm. That gouge is fairly deep, I don't believe setting the tenon back a few turns(.125" 1/16 tenon) will be enough. The smith needs to make this right with your regardless. He may just be like oh I can polish that out, you'll have a fat out of spec chamber in that area, do not accept that remedy.

He did offer to polish it out. Actually, he said he did try to polish it and thought he got it, but would polish it out if I brought it back.

What are the issues with a fat chamber around a polished area?

 

[IAm_Not_Lost]

Not sure how he will polish that out without a pretty significant bulge in the brass in the area. Instead of a small ring you’ll have a more gradual area of bulging.

Probably won’t be a major problem, but won’t help with extraction.

 

[khuber84]

He did offer to polish it out. Actually, he said he did try to polish it and thought he got it, but would polish it out if I brought it back.

What are the issues with a fat chamber around a polished area?

The guy F'd up, he's looking for the free way out. Your chamber will no longer be ringed, now it'll be bulged. Brass will have to be sized more, and hence expand more, over working cases. He needs buy you a new barrel. At that point, if I were you, I'd take that new barrel to a guy who knows what he's doing.

 

[BBob]

Actually, he said he did try to polish it and thought he got it

That speaks kind of loudly about his quality control and workmanship. Both suck IMO

What are the issues with a fat chamber around a polished area?

If it goes too big (and it probably will) you may end up with extraction difficulties and overworked brass.

He needs to run the reamer in until it cleans up and if that takes it too far down the tenon to be usable then it's new barrel time. No ifs ands or butts about it. If he will only polish it out then everyone needs to know who it is so no one uses him.

 

[waspocrew]

That speaks kind of loudly about his quality control and workmanship. Both suck IMO

If it goes too big (and it probably will) you may end up with extraction difficulties and overworked brass.

Exactly. He saw it, tried to “fix it”, then thought it was good enough to send out?

OP - I wouldn’t accept polishing as a fix. You’re just going to continue to have problems.