I think I've used it up

[feets]

My little Sendero and I have had a few adventures together. After bringing it home in 1995 I got a little work in with it and started going to various long range and tactical matches.
The rifle has been retired from that sort of activity for several years now but the damage has been done.
I lost track of the round count but I know more than 2000 bullets have gone down the tube. Last night's chamber casting showed the throat erosion.
It is with a heavy heart that I must say this barrel has shot its last one hole group. I can still use it to pop the 30 mm clays on the 200 yard backstopand other such nonsense.

I guess a new barrel will be on the wish list.

 

[precision_shooter]

That doesn't look all that bad to me.

 

[Jim243]

May it rest in peace.

Jim

Come on now, cabin fever must be setting in. (LOL)

 

[AllenJ]

How bad have your groups opened up?

 

[feets]

Last weekend it was running right at 1" at 200 yards.

 

[feets]

A little background...

When this rifle was new I had a problem with factory ammo sticking in the chamber. I sent it back to Remington for repairs. I also requested the addition of a muzzle brake.
When it landed in Ilion it went to their Custom Shop. They faced the barrel and recut the chamber under warranty and added the brake. When the work was complete it was refinished and returned.
The end result was match quality work.

This little guy was FAR better than me. I had to grow into the rifle. With time I learned what it took to lay down groups with 1 caliber and less deviation.

That is a consumable quality and I have used it up.

In the eyes of most shooters this is still a very consistent rifle. To those of us who knew what it was capable of doing it is getting a little long in the tooth.
The old gray mare just ain't what she used to be.

 

[PetahW]

.

Yep - Sounds like you need happy feet.......



.

 

[Picher]

One inch at 200 yards? What did it shoot when it was good?

 

[feets]

As long as it was fed 190 gr SMKs it would group 1/4 moa or better with 5 rounds.
My "hero" group was a 1/8" spread.
For a production gun it was amazing. Anybody that could hold it steady had the ability to stack rounds on one another.

I used to hit the office supply and teaching stores to get packs of smiley face stickers. The little orange ones were 1/2" in diameter and made good 100 targets. The 1" Smileys made good 200 yard targets. Sporting clays were used out to 400 yards.

Owning a match quality gun is a ton of fun when there is access to good open land like that.

This barrel isn't ready to be melted into slag or anything like that. It's still a good shooter but I have noticed the groups opening up.

Here is a pic of my hero group.

 

[emcon5]

You are really complaining about a half minute rifle?

Suck it up, Buttercup....

 

[chris in va]

Can it be rebarreled?

 

[emcon5]

Can you seat the bullets longer to get closer to the rifling?

 

[feets]

Don't get me wrong. I'm not perfect by any means. I can miss with the best of them. It's especially annoying when the targets are laughing at you.

I can't set the barrel back deep enough to recover the damage. That is going a little too far and getting into the taper of the barrel.

When a rifle treats you as well as this thing has treated me you tend to get a bit spoiled.

 

[Dc777]

Dang, I can't believe those groups are unacceptable at 200 yards.

 

[Crashyoung]

I'm surprised you didn't shoot out the eyes of the smileys!

 

[feets]

DC, just to be clear, that smiley is one of the 100 yard targets.