few of you who have been around AR for a while will remember my lamentations about the ER Shaw barrel I had bought for the custom 1903 I had built. Well, after over 700 rounds of test loads, and rechambering and setting the barrel back so I could reach the lands, I finally gave up pulled the scope and stock and sent it off today. I asked the folks at Pac-Nor to install a chrome moly match barrel in 6.5-06, the same cartridge as originally built.

I know it's gonna be a while before I get it back, but I am excited anyway.

I'll keep you all posted as to the progress, once I get it back and break it in.

Jerry

Damn, don't your just love those ER Shaw barrels????

Nice comment Jim! Well with me it was a learning experience. I had an old model 700 Remington. I wanted a 35 Whelen, and I had read Shaw's advertisement in Shotgun News. So I sent the action back to them. When I got it back, it was a tack driver. An honest sub 1 minute shooter that cleaned easily and broke in at about 50 rounds, I was so pleased that I was in a hurry to send them another. That happened around 2001 when I acquired a Remington 1903 Modified action, that some dummy had drilled holes in the side. So I sent that to Shaw and had it chambered for 6.5-06, WRONG. They chambered it for the A-Square with the long throat. I didn't want that just the plain old wildcat with about the .060 lead. It wouldn't group better than about 1.5 and it cooper fouled so easily it took forever to get it clean. I did shoot an antelope, several coyotes, and the occasional antelope jackrabbit but it was ugly on paper, which I spend most of my time doing. That's it you get what you pay for, so in my case I saved a few hundred bucks with the Whelen and more than made up the savings with the 6.5-06.

Jerry

No experience w/ Shaw barrels. My first foray into re-barrling was back in the mid-80's with a Douglas barrel. That one now has nearly 3000 rounds of 25-06 through it and still shooting sub-moa targets.
My latest one was a Pac-Nor in 358 Win. I broke it in shooting some factory stuff and on the 31-35th rounds shot a 1" group.
I worked up loads using the same bullet and same COAL and as close to that velocity as I could come up with and it rings 5 shots in 5/8".
I've only taken one Axis with it so far but I called the rib I was holding on and that's the one I broke on the way in.
I'm in the process of trying to shoot out a barrel on a new (to me) rifle so I can send it off to Pac-Nor.

Pacnor's top shelf in my book! They've done two .358 win for me. Very impressed!

And a Lieutenant General is top shelf in my book. Thanks and I'm very impressed also. Used to hang around with an Army Brigadier General, shooting and fishing here in Arizona. He passed away a couple years ago and we all miss him. General Officers are very unique and special, I wish the American people knew how special.I'll let you all know how this works out, but I am, sure it will be a tack driver. BTW, I sent this up there on Monday via USPS, and Pac-Nor has already acknowledged receipt.

Jerry

I just my 6.5-06 Ackley back last week. It was originally barreled with a Shilen based on the A-Square long throat. Would not shoot worth a damn. Replaced it with a Broughton barrel with a more normal throat and what a difference.

Even doing case forming loads they shot a little over 1" with 10 round groups. Previously fireformed cases with more appropriate powder and bullets shot into a single ragged hole.

Have never had a Broughton barrel before but I can't complain about the accuracy.

That rifle is also built on a 1903 action

Barstool(er)

Barstooler. Interesting that you had the A-Square chamber and was unhappy like me. SAAMI has had a lot to do with this. I didn't want this chambering either and my experience with it is about like yours.

Jerry

Pac nor took about 4 1/2 months to complete a rebarrel for me. 100% satisfied with the quality and accuracy.

I had my 6.5-06AI throated for the 120 Ballistic Tip. Works well for that and the Sierras. Like you said, usually under an inch fireforming and about 1/2" once formed.

That being said, I would not do the AI again. I would just stick to the regular. Fireforming is just a pain I had to experience.

Pac-Nor Just called, my rifle is on the way back to me. Less than 7 weeks to complete the work. Nice Christmas present to myself. Of course I told my wife, only a couple hundred bucks. LOL!

quote:

Originally posted by Jerry Eden:
Barstooler. Interesting that you had the A-Square chamber and was unhappy like me. SAAMI has had a lot to do with this. I didn't want this chambering either and my experience with it is about like yours.

Jerry

Ya. I was mad. I built the rifle originally so I could retire my 256 Newton. It was first built as a standard 6.5-06 (with an A-Square throat). The gunsmith was in Texas and when I got it back I also discovered he had used a chamber reamer that left a "gouge" in one part of chamber. It was shootable, but I hated that gouge. The gunsmith also passed away so no means to make it right.

Only way to clean the chamber up was to have another gunsmith turn it into an Ackley. I fireformed 400 cases and used it for several years and was still disgusted with the accuracy. 120 gr bullets could not even get close to the lands and 140 gr bullets were barely supported by the neck and well exceeded the max magazine length and had to be fired single shot to get them close to the lands. Accuracy sucked when any ammo was seated to fit the magazine.

Finally decided to scrap that barrel and get a new one made. I have fireformed another 200 cases and so have 600 total on hand, which should last me. Accuracy with the new barrel and throating is excellent. Been a long journey since I started this project back in 2004!!

Barstool(er)

I just got my target book out to see how much I had shot this rifle before I sent it up to Pac-Nor, 797 rounds, started this in 2001. When I first received this rifle from the barreler I couldn't reach the throat with a 120 either. And the 120 is the bullet I want to shoot. Still after lots of fiddling around it still didn't perform as I wanted. So a new barrel. BTW the barreled action has been sent to the bluer, and I should have it back in about a week. More reports and target pictures after that. But I know it'll shoot, good barrels always do. Just need to tweak a load.

Jerry

quote:

Originally posted by Jerry Eden:
And a Lieutenant General is top shelf in my book. Thanks and I'm very impressed also. Used to hang around with an Army Brigadier General, shooting and fishing here in Arizona. He passed away a couple years ago and we all miss him. General Officers are very unique and special, I wish the American people knew how special.I'll let you all know how this works out, but I am, sure it will be a tack driver. BTW, I sent this up there on Monday via USPS, and Pac-Nor has already acknowledged receipt.

Jerry

Jerry, just caught your comment. I am definitely not a Lt. General, I am a retired chief of police - gold stars. :-) I agree with your comments about general officers, I have a friend that's an O-7 and a couples O-6 buddies. Very impressive men!

Good luck with your Pacnor bbl, you'll like it.

Merry Christmas

Thanks Lou: Chief of Police is very impressive and responsible, thanks. The bluer called yesterday, and they have shipped the rifle back to me. For sure next week I'll be shooting it.

Happy New Year to all.

Jerry

I just got the barreled action back. Have already put it in the stock, checked the float and mounted the scope. Of course it looks great. Soon as I get some time I will clean and lube it up, then off to the range. Soon as I shoot it I'll give a report.

Jerry

Shot the rifle yesterday 19 rounds of the previous reloaded ammo for the old barrel. Shot 1 round and then cleaned for 10 rounds, then the others. Accuracy was pretty good, considering no load development had begun. Most groups were right at 1" and the velocities were 3050fps with a 120 grain Sierra, and IMR 4831.Although that's about 100 fps slower than the old barrel. Interesting cause every rifle is different. Anyone have a pet load with any of the "NEW" powders.

Jerry