Originally Posted by
RobinC
Yes, on the prototype testing on the KK500 Walther, they had two that did 250,000 on the machine loader, both were cleaned, and still shot perfect, I saw the barrels, and saw the results.
I've also seen so called shot out small bore barrels, some even well up in number of rounds, then just cleaned properly, and they then shot perfectly. The point I'm making is that it is rare for a small bore barrel to be genuinely shot out, damaged by poor cleaning usually with a poor rod guide yes, badly fouled yes, but genuinely shot out, very rare. I'm aware of a case where one was visibly shot out in 10,000, and I saw that sectioned, but that that was due to a manufacturing fault with the primers, and was some time ago.
And yes a new barrel, when run in, will shoot well, it damn well should do, so may seem like the answer, but I'm not convinced that with small bore it genuinely is the answer, or was necessary, a good careful deep clean, careful ammo selection, will likely produce the same result
You can't compare US Bench Rest on barrels, it is almost totally full bore, a totally different kettle of seafood, between my wife and I we've had 5 barrels replaced in full bore target rifles in the last 7 years, when they go, they go, and they fall off a cliff.
In small bore the ammo is the weak point, and yes there are good barrels and bad ones, often the same make, why we get selected ones. By the way Carl Walther make their own barrels, I've seen them being made on their own 100+ year old machine, they also use Lothar Walther (a different company) on some models.
My advice was aimed for the original poster, and for him to be sure he will get an advantage by going to the hassle of rebarreling, when it may not be necessary.
Have fun
Robin