When to give up on a barrel?

[Riverguy]

That's a bunch of rounds downrange. I'm right at 98, with my current barrel and not near barrel normalizing, so I'm not too concerned with it's slight inconsistent and erratic behavior. Basically, I'm still fireforming and have a second box of 50 Peterson to do next. Your barrel, for sure, should be normalized?

Do you have access to a borescope?

Unfortunately no borescope

Wow, I am way behind on my replies. Lol

 

[dougduey]

Just see if a bullet easily drops into a fired neck of your spent brass. No wiggling it around and putting any force on it. If it doesn't easily fall in, that's when neck turning may work to solve a velocity spread issue. Easy peasy check.

Bob is spot on here. I had one heck of a time with the tight chamber in my Christensen 338 Lapua. I had to neck turn all my Lapua brand brass. But, I also tried Nosler brass and it did t have any issue, so try another brand of brass and see if you can avoid neck turning.
Also, I have a 7 STW which is basically the ballistic twin of your 28 Nosler. H1000 is the go to powder in that rifle, but Retumbo and RL26 are wonderful in it, too. I'd give those both a try if you have them on hand. Sometimes we can't make a rifle want what we want it to like and you have to figure out what it likes to eat.
I'm about to rebarrel my 280 AI since it gets squirrelly like your rifle is doing. I've played with it too much to get it in line, and it just won't listen. So a new barrel is being ordered soon.

 

[Riverguy]

Is the barrel floating can you run a dollar bill down and after a shot try again does it touch the stock? also are you playing with the parallax in between shots because that's a No no.

Yes there is clearance
No parallax adjustment

 

[DR Ray]

Here is my dilemma. I purchased a new fierce carbon fury 28 nos this spring.
I like the rifle but it will not keep 5 shot groups to the .5 minute min. that They guarentee.
After talking to them I sent it back for them to go over and shoot.
They only guarantee a 3 shot .5 group which they did. I was hoping they would replace the barrel but they wouldn't because it shot 3 into .5. They were using factory nosler 160 gr accubonds. Nothing I could do at that point, it met their guarantee.
My problem is it is basically impossible to find the loaded ammo they used or the bullets.
I have a friend that does a lot of reloading and shooting and is very good at it. We have shot lots of different kinds and weights of bullets, including hammers, 169 and 155 hh. The thing is this rifle is inconsistent as heck. Sometimes the fliers are 4th and 5th shot and then be the complete opposite or anywhere in between.

The barrel is always cooled between shots and have used 3 different scopes and checked to make sure everything is tight.

On top of that now we are getting bolt clicks with adg brass that's been loaded several times. From the research I've done the bolt click issue is from the chamber being a little smaller and the Redding sizer die is able to resize enough to eliminate the bolt click problem.
Fierce and Christiansen chamber their Rifles smaller to gain accuracy from factory ammo which kinda leaves reloaders at a disadvantage.

I'm thinking of giving up an rebarreling with a proof research and starting over.
I need input on which way to go on this.
I would be ok with .75 or even 1moa but can't get the consistency to get it.

Are you using a maximum load? Sometimes w max loads you'll get irrational groupings.
I'd try back off a slight and maybe trying different powders.

 

[Riverguy]

So how many bonus points do you have for late 23 elk for AZ? Had that hunt this year.

I used my points last year 2020 on a unit 10 archery elk tag. I let a 360ish bull walk away on the 3rd day of a 10 day guided hunt. That was the first and last chance I got. Hunted and got close to a couple of 380ish type bruisers. I learned a lot on that hunt, some good some not so good.
I am now back to 3 points with my loyalty and hunter ed points. I am thinking pretty strongly about putting in for unit 10 muzzy this time around. How did your hunt go?
Feel free to post some big bull pics.

 

[Hoppsing55]

Here is my dilemma. I purchased a new fierce carbon fury 28 nos this spring.
I like the rifle but it will not keep 5 shot groups to the .5 minute min. that They guarentee.
After talking to them I sent it back for them to go over and shoot.
They only guarantee a 3 shot .5 group which they did. I was hoping they would replace the barrel but they wouldn't because it shot 3 into .5. They were using factory nosler 160 gr accubonds. Nothing I could do at that point, it met their guarantee.
My problem is it is basically impossible to find the loaded ammo they used or the bullets.
I have a friend that does a lot of reloading and shooting and is very good at it. We have shot lots of different kinds and weights of bullets, including hammers, 169 and 155 hh. The thing is this rifle is inconsistent as heck. Sometimes the fliers are 4th and 5th shot and then be the complete opposite or anywhere in between.

The barrel is always cooled between shots and have used 3 different scopes and checked to make sure everything is tight.

On top of that now we are getting bolt clicks with adg brass that's been loaded several times. From the research I've done the bolt click issue is from the chamber being a little smaller and the Redding sizer die is able to resize enough to eliminate the bolt click problem.
Fierce and Christiansen chamber their Rifles smaller to gain accuracy from factory ammo which kinda leaves reloaders at a disadvantage.

I'm thinking of giving up an rebarreling with a proof research and starting over.
I need input on which way to go on this.
I would be ok with .75 or even 1moa but can't get the consistency to get it.

Hey Fellow Cheese Head, a couple of things to consider:
You seem to be focused on the barrel being at fault. Why? Is the crown "bad"? Is the bore erroded beyond it's useful life? Improper head spacing? "Bad" chamber? Inconsistent grouping might direct you towards something being loose, or shooter error. Action screw "tweeking" might help. Harmonics, harmonics, harmonics.

Guns have perosnalities, like to be fed certian "stuff" and will react better or worse depending on how they are fed. Sticking with one type of powder, or bullet that is not working is inefficient a wasteful. Not trying something different than H1000, because someone says it won't help is folly. He doesn't know the micro structure of the steel.
( Part of the guns personality.)

When you change one thing, you change everthing! Only change one thing at a time. Examine the effect and proceed from there. Nosler load data is "one" good place to start searching for loads. There are many others.

When building a "good" load the gun will tell you what it likes. Pay attention.

Sounds like you have a few hundred rounds down the tube. What's the cleaning - copper condition of the barrel? Have you passed over a copper equilibrium point?

Most any properly designed, properly assembled and properly fed gun can be made to shoot. Not all, but most.

Good luck. Go Packers.

 

[Rosebud]

Yes did seating test with berger 168 and 180s. Also with the 169 and 155 hh.
Have also tried fierce's dirt nap loaded ammo in 160gr accubond and 180 vld.
Plus 162 gr hornady eldx and federal 155 gr terminal assent.
My reloading friend is pretty much hooked on using h 1000. He says he can get any 28 nos to shoot to it's best potential with h1000 and he has done a lot of load work in other 28s and other calibers. I have suggested we use a different powder but he said it won't help?? I noticed in the hammer loads hardly anyone is using h1000. A lot are using rl 26 and n570 but I do not have those. I do however have retumbo, imr8133, n568, us 869, ramshot magnum and lrt. Maybe my rifle just doesn't like h1000?
He does use a lab radar and does ladder tests in .5 grain increments to find nodes.

I've got a CA Ridge line that hates StaBall. No matter what bullets you use. Switched powder and it shoots great. Get your buddy off H1000 ,try something else.

 

[kfreeze]

Yes did seating test with berger 168 and 180s. Also with the 169 and 155 hh.
Have also tried fierce's dirt nap loaded ammo in 160gr accubond and 180 vld.
Plus 162 gr hornady eldx and federal 155 gr terminal assent.
My reloading friend is pretty much hooked on using h 1000. He says he can get any 28 nos to shoot to it's best potential with h1000 and he has done a lot of load work in other 28s and other calibers. I have suggested we use a different powder but he said it won't help?? I noticed in the hammer loads hardly anyone is using h1000. A lot are using rl 26 and n570 but I do not have those. I do however have retumbo, imr8133, n568, us 869, ramshot magnum and lrt. Maybe my rifle just doesn't like h1000?
He does use a lab radar and does ladder tests in .5 grain increments to find nodes.

Your friend is wrong on that. The go to powders that seems to be easiest to get great accuracy with a 28 nos are rl33 and n570. Personally, I would try some n570 and maybe some 195 bergers. If a powder doesn't do under moa for me right away I switch right to another powder right away. You can't force a rifle to like what you want it to. That's a good way to end up with a really picky load.

 

[lyle2231]

I've got a CA Ridge line that hates StaBall. No matter what bullets you use. Switched powder and it shoots great. Get your buddy off H1000 ,try something else.

General consensus is H4350 seems to be the goto fix for problems similar to this. (?)

 

[4thefunofit]

Here is my dilemma. I purchased a new fierce carbon fury 28 nos this spring.
I like the rifle but it will not keep 5 shot groups to the .5 minute min. that They guarentee.
After talking to them I sent it back for them to go over and shoot.
They only guarantee a 3 shot .5 group which they did. I was hoping they would replace the barrel but they wouldn't because it shot 3 into .5. They were using factory nosler 160 gr accubonds. Nothing I could do at that point, it met their guarantee.
My problem is it is basically impossible to find the loaded ammo they used or the bullets.
I have a friend that does a lot of reloading and shooting and is very good at it. We have shot lots of different kinds and weights of bullets, including hammers, 169 and 155 hh. The thing is this rifle is inconsistent as heck. Sometimes the fliers are 4th and 5th shot and then be the complete opposite or anywhere in between.

The barrel is always cooled between shots and have used 3 different scopes and checked to make sure everything is tight.

On top of that now we are getting bolt clicks with adg brass that's been loaded several times. From the research I've done the bolt click issue is from the chamber being a little smaller and the Redding sizer die is able to resize enough to eliminate the bolt click problem.
Fierce and Christiansen chamber their Rifles smaller to gain accuracy from factory ammo which kinda leaves reloaders at a disadvantage.

I'm thinking of giving up an rebarreling with a proof research and starting over.
I need input on which way to go on this.
I would be ok with .75 or even 1moa but can't get the consistency to get it.

I'm not an expert on this by any stretch of the imagination, but, assuming all other variables remain constant, having a FL die custom cut to your chamber's specific dimensions might help.

 

[blueprairiedog]

On my hunting rifles I care more about the first cold bore shot.match rifles m24 bartlein .military match rifles criterion barrels. I have a 338 rum that I have tried about 5 powders in and the faster powders and lighter bullets seems to be the sweet spot for a good group and dead on cold bore shot.work with a little faster powder before you give up on the rifle hope it works out for you.

 

[Riverguy]

Wow, lotsa great info, thanks everyone. I've got a lot to do.
We use bore tech to clean the barrel.
We have used 3 different scopes, 2 lupys and a nightforce.

I lucked into getting a oil oryx tag on the white sands missile range this past October. Used the 28 on this hunt so we do have a little history together.
I can't give up on it quite yet.
After reading all the great replies, some 2 or 3 times and writing a bunch down I am determined to figure this out.

 

[bassassassin104]

I have done load development for a couple 28 Noslers. As stated previously, try some N570 or R33 and some 175 plus grain projectiles. A word of caution, R33 is a bit temp sensitive over 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have questions about load development, please feel free to PM me. Afte 10 years of loading, I am still learning every day but I am glad to help if I can.

 

[LTH181818]

I used my points last year 2020 on a unit 10 archery elk tag. I let a 360ish bull walk away on the 3rd day of a 10 day guided hunt. That was the first and last chance I got. Hunted and got close to a couple of 380ish type bruisers. I learned a lot on that hunt, some good some not so good.
I am now back to 3 points with my loyalty and hunter ed points. I am thinking pretty strongly about putting in for unit 10 muzzy this time around. How did your hunt go?
Feel free to post some big bull pics.

PM' you