Borescope Inspecting a Bartlein 6 Creedmoor Barrel After 700 Rounds

[@58harwood]

I’ve gone to taking Brian Litz advice and clean after every 100, with abrasives! Usually JB or Iosso on a tight patch, 30 strokes, up and back is one! Flush, repeat, done! Super fast, and the end result is easily repeatable. If it’s really bad, not cleaned in several hundred rounds or more, will use a bronze brush before flushing after the first round of abrasives. Never damaged a crown using a bronze brush, never damaged a bore, haven’t scratched anything with it. And it’s fast!

[@Engage1]

Thanks - I've started cleaning more frequently since I made this video too. I don't think I've noticed a ton of difference at my level, but I'll clean about every could hundred rounds.

[@mrkdwld]

great video. I just got myself a borescope, but now need to learn how to "read" the images. Great informative video!

[@Engage1]

Thanks! Yep, it takes a little practice to get the focus right (as you saw in the video) but once you do, you can see copper and carbon and everything you want to get out of the barrel. Good luck!

[@mdsun1]

I watched a video by Erik Cortina and he recommended using a bore scope and cleaning the barrel. His point was that you always wanted to have a repeatable starting point. Since I have been using a bore scope, I have been cleaning more often. The bore scope revealed that even when the patches came out clean, there was quite a bit of carbon still. I clean after every 50 rounds in my 6.5 CM and 7mm Rem Mag. The reason I clean so often is that when I do this, the clean up is pretty minimal. Usually no brush needed and just 4-5 patches.

[@Engage1]

Thanks! Erik has some awesome videos and is someone I definitely look up to. I've started cleaning more frequently as well. At my level of shooting, I haven't noticed too much of an improvement, but I do like having a clean rifle.

[@REDNECKROOTS]

Smart ! Exactly what I'm doing. Don't let it get bad and don't let it sit dirty . I never need a brush just 6r8 patches w sum crc brake cleaner. Then a nice oil patch B4 she goes back to bed.

[@vettepilot427]

EXCELLENT video....On point, informative, and no extra stuff like unnecessary, loud, distracting music. I was taught at a recent long range class to only clean when accuracy suffers. Even then, start with the least aggressive method possible, until groups return. Usually, this will be Hoppes 9 and some light brushing and patches. Me personally, I clean about every 250-300 rounds, making sure that the chamber is clean, and I wipe out any gunk, dirt, old lube, and carbon from the receiver and bolt (I use Zep Orange degreaser), relube the bolt, clean the optic, and call it good. As part of the barrel cleaning process, I’ll use a bore guide and also remove the muzzle brake to clean the carbon, inspect the crown, and re-tighten the brake. Copper and barrel break-in are not as big of issues as most people think, especially with a premium aftermarket barrel. John Krieger of Krieger barrels states in an interview on KZbin that more barrels are worn out from cleaning than they are shooting.

[@Engage1]

Thanks!

[@stevej2120]

Nice video. Here in western Washington, I tend to clean after each shooting session. Our climate is humid, and any copper left in the barrel can oxidize quickly. Not sure it makes a huge difference, but I don’t like seeing blue streaks in the barrel. Maybe just running an oily patch through would be enough, but at that point I already have the cleaning kit out anyway!

[@Engage1]

Thanks Steve - That sounds like a good plan, especially for humid environments. I have shifted toward cleaning more frequently over the last year. I've also been trying Thorroclean (which is predominantly abrasive instead of reactive chemicals) and it certainly speeds up cleaning for sure. I still don't have enough data to see if it wears out the barrel quicker and I'm renewing my data on accuracy as well - but previously didn't see a statistically significant increase in accuracy by cleaning regularly.

[@jprracing1]

Same here in the austrian alps. My problem is condense watter build up in the bore, due to temperature differences. I always keep my bore slightly oiled, of course i have zeroed my guns for this bore condition. I only hunt, so the 1st shot is all i care about.

[@tlloyd9325]

I can’t believe the damage you had! I’ve got a T/C Encore barrel in 7 mag that who could possibly guess the round count. It doesn’t have that much and I load 70 + - grains of powder at pretty much max loads.

[@Engage1]

Thanks for checking out the video. It's definitely odd how different barrels and different calibers behave. I've got about 2100 rounds on my 6GT barrel and it doesn't look much worse than my 6 Creed at 700. On another note, If you're shooting your 7 mag for a thousand plus rounds - good on you my friend! That's definitely a stout one to be shooting a ton!

[@tlloyd9325]

@@Engage1 I’ve had that barrel ever since the Encore came out. Has a non-removable factory Muzzle Tamer brake on it. Probably around 1985. Thank you for your video. I always like seeing what others are doing and encountering.

[@thomasteac8919]

I like the format.

[@Engage1]

Thank you!

[@hosoiarchives4858]

Great video

[@Engage1]

Thanks and glad you enjoyed it!

[@ThatGuyChannel]

Answer to your questions at the end of the video… I never clean after break in unless it stops shooting well, etc. I recently have started having difficult extractions, but no pressure signs on my 300 PRC. Assuming this is due to excessive fouling in the chamber/throat area.

[@Engage1]

Nice. Thanks for the comment. I've been experimenting with cleaning more frequently recently. I've started using my magnetospeed to test when the barrel gets back up to a consistent velocity and have found it to be just a few shots. Hope your 300 PRC cleaned up well and is doing better on the extractions!

[@SnipeU696]

Thank you

[@Engage1]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@johnsimonelli9988]

I have a Terminus Zeus pre-fit action and purchased my barrel from Straightjacket Armory ( Excellent work ). Where do you purchase your barrels from?

[@Engage1]

Hey John - Straightjacket is awesome and I have some buddies who love them. My action is an Impact Precision 737R and I currently get my prefit barrels from Wade at Stuteville Precision. They have been fantastic and I've never had an issue with fit or performance. I bought one of them cerekoted and it was beautiful - but I now go with the straight up stainless ones to save a little bit of cash.

[@johnsimonelli9988]

@@Engage1 Thank you and good luck with your GT.

[@blakemilford9128]

Could you include what equipment you’re using? The price? Thanks. Oh, I clean after groups start to open up. Great stuff, keep it up.

[@Engage1]

Blake. Sure thing... The borescope is a Teslong Rifle Borescope model V201909-11. It attaches to my phone via micro USB which powers it and the video records to the phone. It's been super handy and wasn't very expensive. I think I found it for $45 or so on Amazon. Here's a link to the one I bought on Amazon. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TTQF24F/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I use a number of bronze brushes - I just purchased another batch of them from Amazon. Here are the ones I use most frequently though I am not too picky on which brushes I use. www.amazon.com/dp/B08NNQMR3L?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details I also have a couple cleaning rods. Here's the one I recently purchased: www.brownells.com/gun-cleaning-chemicals/cleaning-rods-amp-accessories/cleaning-rods/27-45-caliber-12-8-32f-cleaning-rod-sku100030455-57075-224697.aspx Aside from that it's typical patches, jags, and the solvents I mentioned in the video. Best of luck and hope it works well for you! Since making the video, I've started cleaning more frequently. I've also tried CLR and recently Free-All (blue bottle) to help remove carbon and it seems to work really well.

[@rumsin300]

Thanks you for this good video. 4 years ago I had a custom built Krieger 5R barrel made for my Rem 700 Sendero in .300 RUM. The factory gun is stainless steel and so is the Krieger barrel. I'm a bit confused not sure when I should have the barrel replaced? The original barrel only has about 50 rounds fired out of it. Not sure how much life I'll get out of the original barrel before changing it.

[@Engage1]

Depending on your purposes for the rifle and how accurate your first barrel is, it should last probably a thousand to two or three thousand rounds before it starts to suffer significantly (depending on powder/etc.). I do feel like the Krieger barrel likely will give you an increase in accuracy compared to the original barrel. Since you already have the new barrel, I would have a gunsmith spin it on or do so yourself if you feel qualified (definitely don't do it if you don't know how to properly headspace the chamber/etc.). Then, you can keep your original barrel as a backup (that you likely will never need to use). It's definitely an upgrade compared to the factory one and I'd be surprised if it didn't shoot better than the factory one. Best of luck to you!

[@rumsin300]

@@Engage1 Thank you very much for your suggestion.

[@bloke3006]

So why the change from 6 Creedmoor to 6 GT? Barrel life?

[@Engage1]

Thanks, bloke3006 for the comment. Yep, a good amount of barrel life driving the decision and a bit of ease of finding a load that works well. I didn't have much of a problem with 6 Creed for that but had heard that it was easier for 6GT and honestly, it felt like it was while I was working up the load for my 6GT. Just about every load shot well. I also went lower velocity with my GT than I was at with my Creedmoor (2850 vs 3100) - and found that it was much easier to see impacts as a result. I was a bit worried about case fill if I loaded my Creedmoor to lower velocities, but that may be an unfounded concern.

[@st.gabriel3406]

hi in your experience what is the minimum number of rounds engaged before a barrel is worn out..

[@Engage1]

Hi John - the classic response is "it depends." On one of my 6 creedmoor barrels, I got about 1500 rounds before I retired it. It was about 1 MOA at that time which is still awesome for most things, but I was looking to move to a new caliber for PRS (6GT) and 1 MOA is not optimal for PRS events. I shot that barrel quite hot (3150 fps) which I think is why it didn't shoot as well after 1500 rounds. I probably could have rechambered it or adjusted my load again and gotten more life out of it though. I've still got it around - maybe I'll give it a try! I've had .223 barrels that have easily over 6,000 rounds through them. They are not super accurate and never were intended to be, but still work for plinking and having fun. Barrel life is a factor of a lot of different things like barrel construction, how "hot" the rounds are that you shoot, how hot the barrel gets, purpose of the rifle, etc. If it still shoots well enough for your purposes, and is structurally sound, then it's likely still good to use.

[@st.gabriel3406]

@@Engage1 Thanks for the enlightening me sir..

[@HPRaceDevelopment]

never cleaned a barrell wel

[@Engage1]

Thanks for the comment! I have been playing around with cleaning my barrel more frequently and I don't mind it - but haven't noticed my scores going up as a result. If you've never cleaned one well, definitely jump in - tons of great videos out there and it isn't that tough.

[@kyley808]

How did you get the ring out pls

[@Engage1]

Thanks for watching! After running a few patches soaked with Hoppes 9 through the barrel and letting it sit for 3-4 minutes, I ran a nylon brush up into the chamber/throat and swirled it around a few times. The carbon comes off pretty easily after that. Next I ran a few more patches through the barrel to clean everything out. If it all doesn't come out after the first time, repeat it again and it should do the trick.

[@randyemenhiser2573]

I can't stand shooting with a dirty barrel. I see videos that say too much cleaning does more harm than good. NOT ONE has ever offered an explanation as to why or how that is. So, I disregard it, and keep my barrel clean.

[@Engage1]

Thanks for the reply. It's odd how much of a split there is out there on perspectives. Admittedly, I've cleaned my barrels more frequently since this video and don't see any difference. I also have been collecting some data on how long it really takes to get back up to consistent velocities (possible video coming? - my data are not statistically where I'd like to be before sharing) - it's variable, but rarely more than 10 rounds.