Metal shavings barrel obstruction

[CastIronSkillet]

5 weeks ago a drop off my rifle to a local, highly recommended, reputable, LRH sponsor Smith to do a bedding job and bottom metal inlet. I got the rifle back last week. I'm in the shop mounting my scope and go to bore sight(look down the barrel and through the scope method). I can't see a darn thing through the barrel, I grab a flashlight and still nothing... odd. So, I run a cleaning rod through it and push out a pinch of metal shavings. The barrel is a proof carbon fiber, SS if I'm not mistaken, the shavings are magnetic so I don't think it's my rifling. WTH!!

I follow it up with a dozen wet patches that are really dirty on a barrel that has only been test fired for function.

Any thoughts on what might cause this so I can have a meaningful conversation with my smith?

I'm thinking they need to bore scope this thing on the house just to see for sure, thoughts?

 

[cohunt]

Fyi gun barrel Ss is still magnetic but it seems odd, was the barrel clean when you took it in? Did you have the muzzle threaded or tendon cut/thread for barrel install or chambered?? or did you just have the stock worked on?
Seems like we are missing some info before any questions can be answered

 

[26Reload]

Looks like heavy gauge steelwool

 

[CastIronSkillet]

The barreled action was complete and test fired only. I did not clean it after test firing, I was going to save that for the break in day. The stock inlet and bedding was all that was left. Maybe they had it too close to one of the mills/lathes and some shavings fell down the muzzle?

 

[xsn10s]

Looks like heavy gauge steelwool

I was thinking steelwool at first too, as some benchresters use it to clean barrels. But man that looks pretty thick.

The barreled action was complete and test fired only. I did not clean it after test firing, I was going to save that for the break in day. The stock inlet and bedding was all that was left. Maybe they had it too close to one of the mills/lathes and some shavings fell down the muzzle?

That could be another reason. Since he's reputable I'd call him. I'd just wouldn't start the conversation with an adversarial tone. Could be an easy reason why/ how this happened.

 

[Pdvdh]

One way or another, some neglect involved there.

What I would expect thread cutting shavings to look like, from cutting threads on a barrel blank. How they ended up inside your bore, not a clue.

 

[26Reload]

Maybe he put the 'steelwool' into the chamber or throat to keep other debris from the work he was doing from getting into the barrel...and just forgot to clean it out....

 

[xsn10s]

After seeing the pics I don't think that's steelwool. I think those are shavings off a mill or maybe a lathe.

 

[26Reload]

Enough guessing....contact him send him pics...lets get an answer as to what the metal is....
And if he was only doing a bedding job and bottom inlet.....theres no reason for that to be in there...unless during build they got put inside and rifle was never test fired.....
Make the call

 

[xsn10s]

One last guess lol. If the bottom metal required milling the action to fit that could of gotten the shavings in the bore.

 

[adam32+P]

That's just a disaster all around and absolutely NO excuse for it!

 

[Straight Shooter]

Wow, very dangerous. Can't wait for an explanation.

 

[rogerstv]

Yeah, the only meaningful conversation regarding the issue will be between the OP and the gunsmith. Everything else is pure speculation.

 

[basinman]

Tagging in for the follow up.