Restoring a shot out rifle

[dodgyrog]

I had the dubious pleasure of buying the action and shot out barrel of a Parker Hale 1200TX target rifle from Brunel University's shooting club. Shot out - it was smooth bored!!
Anyway, I was down at Bisley having my bi-monthly shooting fest on Short Siberia and Melville this weekend and shooting my pristine 1200TX (the other one) and getting 2 1/2" groups at 100 yds using iron sights and cast 167gr Loverin designed cast boolits.
As I was selling some of my cartridge boxes (the inners from the military ammo cans) I met up with a FB'er who was taking 20 from me. I met him in Fulton's and whilst I was there asked Robert if he had any scrap barrels to suit a Mauser action that might have some life left in it! Having been lucky in this respect some years ago when I scored a Border Barrels item in pristine condition that a target shooter reckoned was worn out (ammo count too high perhaps) I hoped to repeat the event. Fortune smiled upon me with Robert showing me a Kongsberg (is that the correct spelling?) 27" heavy target barrel in excellent condition, The bore is crisp and I have to wonder why people change them!!
Bottom line is that I now have the task of unscrewing the old barrel and screwing in the new(to me) one and checking the headspace.
I reckon the whole project is costing around £100 and hopefully will give me a matching pair of 1200 TX's one with iron sights and one with a target scope.

[AL8]

very nice, any pics?

[Christel]

Not bad dodgyrog.

[Steve E]

Why do people change barrels? Usually because performance drops off and you are not getting the group sizes at all ranges to stay competitive.
Those of us that shoot competitively will get to a point when we know that the barrel is not competotive any more. Those who do'nt shoot at high level may never know and will happily shoot a worn or part warn barrel for many years and never see a drop of in performance (theirs or the rifles) because they are not shooting in the same league. I have changed barrels that were shooting superbly at short range but struggled at long. On inspection it looked pristine but the performance indicated otherwise. Looks can be very decieving.
You have bought a second hand barrel with a bore that looks crisp but how do you really know the state of it. Has it been boroscoped? Has it been air gauged to check for uniformity of wear? Is the leade worn so that bullets have to be seated long. Fine if you are handloading but if it was only ever used with 'issued ammunition' it may have become uncompetitive.
The reason why your 'new' second hand barrel was changed will never be known. Perhaps the original owner wanted a stainless barrel fitted, and only the original owner will know why it was changed, you don't, I don't and I doubt if Robert at Fultons can remember why. I wish you well with it. It may be fantastic but it may also be a pig in a poke.

[dodgyrog]

I just recall the first one went on to a PH T4 and shot better than 1/2 MOA with very average ammo (1 1/4" at 300 yds) - good enough for the best of us I reckon. I expect no less with the new one.
One suspects a lot of barrel changes occur 'because I can afford to' comes into the equation.

[Gaz]

I had the dubious pleasure of buying the action and shot out barrel of a Parker Hale 1200TX target rifle from Brunel University's shooting club. Shot out - it was smooth bored!!

It was, hence why I told them to get shot of it! Glad to see it's got a new lease of life.

[Steve E]

I just recall the first one went on to a PH T4 and shot better than 1/2 MOA with very average ammo (1 1/4" at 300 yds) - good enough for the best of us I reckon. I expect no less with the new one.
One suspects a lot of barrel changes occur 'because I can afford to' comes into the equation.

In the circles that I move in (GB and Home Countries), in TR people do not change a barrel just because they can afford it. It is done because the barrel that they are using has got to the stage where it is either uncompetitive or about to be. You don't compete at top level competition with second rate equipment.
Barrels have useable competitive life and the prudent competitive shooter will change the barrel as soon as performance drops off. My assessment of useable life may well be different to yours and I probably shoot more rounds a year in top level competition than you do. There is no point having a barrel on a rifle that may 'let go' during a major National or International competition because it has too many rounds down it.

[ovenpaa]

Steve, at what approximate round count do you find your barrels starting to go off?

[dodgyrog]

Keep changing them and I'll find a home for them.
Thanks.

[dromia]

The rifling looked like new, crown looked perfect, no throat wear under the bore scope.

Still the 30 degree bend in the barrel should have given Rodger some clue as to why it had been changed.