I am going nuts waiting for my compressor to get here to start testing my new Avenger. I didn't want to add this subject onto my last thread as Barrel Slugging is an art in it's own right. Yesterday when I had the rifle apart I forgot to slug the barrel, so I got it done this afternoon and figured I would snap a few pics for those of you who are new to slugging. I did not pull the shroud to do this, tho it is easier to do with the barrel in your hand...it is not a must.
The basic tools I used. You can come up with your own tool set and ideas better than mine I'm sure! You will need a good way to measure the slugs...no tape measures here guys, a caliper will work, but a good micrometer is best.
So, why do we jam wads of lead down our nice new clean accurate barrels? well, we are looking for some very important info to help choose ammo diameter, find oddities in the barrel bore, and feel for any tight or loose sections we may need to work around, or eliminate if we can. Before affordable bore cams slugging was an art passed on from Gunsmith to Apprentice while learning to lapp barrels.
I lightly blue taped the the 0.217" NSA Nielsen Specialty Ammo slug onto a Bamboo kabob skewer pointy end down, and started it into the crown square as I could with a light tap and the tape let the slug go into the muzzle.
I know I know some of you are freaking out cause I'm going backwards, but hey in the end it is an unfired metal pipe with grooves, no harm done. The slug needed a few firm hits to get it going into the bore. Go slowly, and don't use ANYTHING that can hurt the bore!
Once the slug is all the way into the bore pay close attention to the force needed to move it along, The perfect bore is snug and even resistance all the way down. If you get a super tight or loose spot, mark the "pusher rod" for later inspection. You can do as many slugs as you want til you are happy with the result. 1 or 10 makes no difference, It gets easier like everything.
The important tools IMO...the little drill bit fits right into the hollow point, and this tool is ideal for holding the slug during this inspection part of the job. Gently turn the slug and measure as you go. You will find a pattern of lands and grooves...mine were .2115" and .2140", yes the 4th decimal can matter, but I am about as OCD as they come...take your time, and save the slugs for later to compare after 20 or 30,000 rounds
So there it is! now you are a barrel slugger... have fun with it, be careful not to scratch the bore or crown, but it all can be fixed right!
Good night,
G.
The basic tools I used. You can come up with your own tool set and ideas better than mine I'm sure! You will need a good way to measure the slugs...no tape measures here guys, a caliper will work, but a good micrometer is best.
So, why do we jam wads of lead down our nice new clean accurate barrels? well, we are looking for some very important info to help choose ammo diameter, find oddities in the barrel bore, and feel for any tight or loose sections we may need to work around, or eliminate if we can. Before affordable bore cams slugging was an art passed on from Gunsmith to Apprentice while learning to lapp barrels.
I lightly blue taped the the 0.217" NSA Nielsen Specialty Ammo slug onto a Bamboo kabob skewer pointy end down, and started it into the crown square as I could with a light tap and the tape let the slug go into the muzzle.
I know I know some of you are freaking out cause I'm going backwards, but hey in the end it is an unfired metal pipe with grooves, no harm done. The slug needed a few firm hits to get it going into the bore. Go slowly, and don't use ANYTHING that can hurt the bore!
Once the slug is all the way into the bore pay close attention to the force needed to move it along, The perfect bore is snug and even resistance all the way down. If you get a super tight or loose spot, mark the "pusher rod" for later inspection. You can do as many slugs as you want til you are happy with the result. 1 or 10 makes no difference, It gets easier like everything.
The important tools IMO...the little drill bit fits right into the hollow point, and this tool is ideal for holding the slug during this inspection part of the job. Gently turn the slug and measure as you go. You will find a pattern of lands and grooves...mine were .2115" and .2140", yes the 4th decimal can matter, but I am about as OCD as they come...take your time, and save the slugs for later to compare after 20 or 30,000 rounds
So there it is! now you are a barrel slugger... have fun with it, be careful not to scratch the bore or crown, but it all can be fixed right!
Good night,
G.