Indications of a worn barrel

Being the owner of a re-barrelled No1 MK3 and a 1945 No4T, what indications would indicate a barrel coming to the end of its useful life apart from throwing shotgun patterns.

I do not think they all of a they just start throwing shotgun patterns rather a build up of wear unless the crown has been damaged between shoots or you have changed something in your loads, I have tried loads that just wont group worth a hand full of wheat so have standardized. Has something come loose, been knocked. My T had 2 problems I discovered A. The screw front trigger guard was bottoming out and the whole action only just perceptively rocked fore and aft (Shotgun grouping) B. When I pulled the weapon down because the previous owner had shot it in this state the draws were absolutely stuffed. All has since been rectified and I am yet to get back out with it to develop what it likes to digest in the way of loading as I exclusively use in all my 303's now the 174SMK's.

The smoke trace when you look down the bore from the chamber end is not apparent in the 5:30 ~6:00 o'clock position, a quick but not definitive one is the round in the muzzle but that is just a real quick way and not that accurate, excessive throat wear, poor cleaning practices fouled barrel, not using a rod guide wearing one side of the lede, damaging the crown with the Jag (I did this to my 6.5/284 and had to have a re-crown, as my groups went out to 1.5 MOA) it may even go back to the shooter in repeating a good shot consistently.

I have seen huge guys get belted around by the 303's not holding them correctly and sook and complain and get crap scores blaming the rifle, once I was shooting a course of fire and popped a blood vessel in my Rt shoulder I carried on for 7 more shots and unloaded the weapon and put my left arm up to signal I was in a bit of bother my rt shoulder egged right out and pretty smarting it was off to hospital and a good layoff from shooting.. The wood could be touching the barrel just all sorts of stuff.
In reply to Peters L96 rogue rifle my friend had a Rem-700 in 22/250 brand new out of the box would not shoot at all went back to the factory 3 times and still would not shoot in the end he swapped it out for another rifle a Sako in 22/250 I think and the Rem went back to the factory and to be scrapped it was just a pig of a gun (The chap was a professional roo shooter for human consumption therefore every 'roo had to be head shot no necks shots were accepted)
I hope others chime as they will and expand on my paltry explanations Oh here is some thing you never do with any firearm, this chap does not buy lottery tickets any more as he use up all his luck right there.....TIA

Shotgun Shot Face Fail - YouTube

It wasn't until well after the arrival of the L1A1 rifle that we used to gauge the breech and muzzle ends and minutely view the bore of barrels to ascertain barrel wear. And depending on the outcome, we'd condemn the barrel or continue to use it regardless. In the event of any doubt, it'd be range tested for accuracy. There were different gauge limits for Unit, Field and Base workshops - all of which you had to learn off by heart.........

But WEAR as such doesn't necessarily mean INACCURACY. Now we have a simple 'must run' bore gauge plus barrel viewing. If there's any doubt now, it goes on the range for an accuracy test fired from the Enfield rest. This eliminates all human contact. The ammunition is 'as issued'.

The question you are asking is a bit like the car MoT test. The car passes or it doesn't! The rifle passes the barrel gauge test, the barrel viewers examination and the accuracy test - or it doesn't.

A couple of years ago I was asked to arbitrate an L96 sniper rifle that had gone back to Xxxxxxxxx following a barrel change. It came back and naturally passed the barrel gauge test and the very experienced barrel viewers critical examination confirmed that the barrel was as-new but the Marine Commando sniper said that it shot like a pig. And a range test confirmed it. The barrel was changed yet again and was test fired for accuracy. This time it was perfect. The sniper came up and when he was satisfied, then so was I. End of story.

It just shows that a rifle with a sewer pipe - as some No4's and T's and indeed SA80 were/are can be as accurate as the next rifle. And a rifle with new barrel can fail the accuracy test - as indeed did our L96.

Wow Cinders. The guy in the video with the shotgun narrowly missed getting the top Darwin award!!

Thanks for your replies, everyday is a learning day. Prior to joining the RAF, I spent a few years in the TA regularly shooting the SLR , GPMG in the SF role, dread to think how long a GPMG barrel lasted as we spent many weekends practicing for the match 9 SF competition, getting through thousands of rounds, less than 18 seconds for a barrel change, bugging out and sticking it in the bag and duly setting it alight.

To be honest, GPMG barrels are a good example of what we're talking about. Alas, not too many civilian shooters have one..... Some of them look like they're shot out but scrub up well and shoot even better. Vickers were another. If the breech taper gauge said NO (or close.....), then regardless of how the barrel shot, it was scrapped.

I wonder why you haven't walked over to the Armourers shop and arranged to visit the Command/ABRO workshop when it's quiet and put your rifle on the mechanical layer to test it for accuracy if you are in doubt. My little boy (now a big grown up.....) used to come in and help test fire L42's and 96's.

You know what Peter if I knew how to go about it I would.

Well Peter how would you like this barrel as they are saying the type they developed were good for 15,000 rounds and I would not put that barrel in a bag for a while the shooters face at the end says it all......enjoy

https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&r...cRL81vos8Oe7Nw

The open base projectiles give a barrel longer active accuracy life than closed base. Just a observation from how often rechambers and recrowns have to be done on certain rifle combinations ..:D I would like some Mk7 design for 7mm and 30 cal.

That M-60 is a mere toy compared with the trials we did using the 7.62mm Dillon Minigun. 4,400+ rounds non stop or until something broke..........