Warranty on Unblued barrels?

02 June 2009, 03:52

I need some opinions from those of you that know the guns. I have a 257 Roberts with an ER Shaw barrel. It used to shoot great! It was never blued. Cleaned regularly and the exterior wiped occaissionally. When it started flinging rounds all over the place, I tried all kinds of fixes and nothing worked. Looking through the barrel at a bright light you can see what appears to be a couple large pits a few inches from the throat. With a bent wire the pits can be felt and are deep as though chunks of barrel disintegrated. Upon inspection with a borescope that is exactly what they appear to be. I contacted Shaw and they are saying that they will not replace the barrel because it was never blued! Doesn't bluing disappear after a few shots anyway? Anyone got a clue as to what happened? Only fired Federal Premium 120gr Nosler Partitions. I have fired less than 50 rounds through this barrel. HELP!

Andy B

02 June 2009, 04:21

Duane Wiebe

If it were a stainless, it's not unusual for a sudden drop in accuracy...traced to just the type of problem you describe. Chrome Moly erodes...Stainless, sort of becomes like an old asphalt driveway ,...they call it "alligatoring" chunk breaks away...end of barrel life..Of course, you could always set it back and re-chamber maybe.

If it's a chrome moly, I'll put that barrel maker on my ignore list.

Maybe there's something magic about bluing that has escaped me for 40 years

02 June 2009, 05:00

pointblank

While I can sympathize with you as far as them not wanting to warranty an obviously faulty product, you do get what you pay for...Shaw barrels are made on the cheap, and their quality has always shown that. I'm actually more surprised that the barrel shot well to begin with.

Stick with quality barrel makers and you will get better barrels AND better service.

Bartlein
Kreiger
Rock Creek
Shilen
Hart
Broughton

to name a few

02 June 2009, 05:39

jeffeosso

I believe the question to be "doesn't hot bluing "wear" out of a barrel in the first couple shots"

answer - Yes, certainly within the first 10 shots.

02 June 2009, 05:45

drewhenrytnt

I have just been on the McGowan website and they make a contour for just about all tastes. I have only recently heard about them. Maybe I'll give them a try. I have a 308 with a Hart that is FANTASTIC! 222 Shilen stupendous! M1A Douglas premium fabulous. Maybe I give McGowan a try. Certainly never another E R SHAW!!

Andy B

02 June 2009, 06:46

TLS

Based on my experience, you should be more than pleased with McGowan barrels.

02 June 2009, 08:28

ramrod340

quote:
Based on my experience, you should be more than pleased with McGowan barrels

02 June 2009, 17:14

papapaul

When it come to barrels you get what you pay for. Maybe more so than any in other field of endeavor.

02 June 2009, 18:03

butchloc

gee - on a shaw barrel too

02 June 2009, 21:21

Tailgunner

Did you ask the customer dis-service idiot you spoke with "WTF does bluing on the outside have to do with large gaping craters on the inside"?

03 June 2009, 04:37

Jim_Dubell

In 30 plus years of working on firearms I have seen this exact thing in almost all barrelmakers products. The one that surprised me the most was a Colt Gold Cup I personally took out of the box (new gun) and the barrel looked like Spokane streets during break-up. In all cases except one, the barrel maker took their product back and replaced it. It was always attributed to flawed processing during the melt, incorrect procedures or alloying. Most of the time the barrelmaker was already aware of the problem and had ceased use of that lot of material. I have seen it in chrome-moly and stainless tubes.
I always inspect before using a barrel, but I have had these 'pot-holes' make it through the boring, reaming and rifling forming process and only show up after there have been some rounds fired.
Never had a barrelmaker offer to reimburse me for the barreling job, but at least they have replace the raw material for the project!

04 June 2009, 04:12

SR4759

quote:
Originally posted by drewhenrytnt:
I need some opinions from those of you that know the guns. I have a 257 Roberts with an ER Shaw barrel. It used to shoot great! It was never blued. Cleaned regularly and the exterior wiped occaissionally. When it started flinging rounds all over the place, I tried all kinds of fixes and nothing worked. Looking through the barrel at a bright light you can see what appears to be a couple large pits a few inches from the throat. With a bent wire the pits can be felt and are deep as though chunks of barrel disintegrated. Upon inspection with a borescope that is exactly what they appear to be. I contacted Shaw and they are saying that they will not replace the barrel because it was never blued! Doesn't bluing disappear after a few shots anyway? Anyone got a clue as to what happened? Only fired Federal Premium 120gr Nosler Partitions. I have fired less than 50 rounds through this barrel. HELP!

Andy B

I would direct your complaint to the top management of the company and go around the time wasting employees at the bottom.

04 June 2009, 10:00

montea6b

quote:
Originally posted by Tailgunner:
Did you ask the customer dis-service idiot you spoke with "WTF does bluing on the outside have to do with large gaping craters on the inside"?

That's the point.