disturbing barrel blockage

two 70 · July 27, 2008, 02:07 PM

New guy here with confidence shaking problem. Have been shooting custom handloads made by my hunting partner who has been reloading for me for many years. His pet load for my Mod 70 .270 is 58gr H4831 behind a Barnes Triple Shock 140gr boattail bullet. I've got a stockpile of a 100 rounds or so but being a conservative meat hunter don't burn many up for practice, just do a 5 or 10 round verification shoot @300 prior to hunting season . Anyway, last spring the coyotes were in full assault mode on my chicken flock and I managed to thin the pack considerably with the .270. When the threat diminished the rifle went back in the rack and was taken out yesterday for annual housekeeping, bore clean etc. in prep for the fall hunt. When I pulled the bolt and made a curiousity peek down the barrel to see how much copper fouling I was getting from the Barnes bullets there was no daylight. Probing with a ramrod from the muzzel incountered an obstruction about 4 inches from the chamber. Appeared to be a yellowish waxy substance about 1/4 or better in length with visible black specks which I assume is powder granules. Is this a powder breakdown problem or does it have something to do with the brass cleaning process. Handloader says he uses walnut shells to clean. Am assuming a blockage of this size could well cause pressure problems and am now questioning the safety and or practicality of using this ammo. Any advice or suggestions would surely be appreciated.

mikenbarb · July 27, 2008, 04:38 PM

You shouldnt have a walnut shell in your barrel and never heard of what your describing and if you could post a pic(if you still have it), it would be helpful. Also, Were you shooting his reloads the last shot you took? It would have clogged on your last shot. Did you hear an off sound when you shot it the last time or was it normal sounding?

Slamfire · July 27, 2008, 06:54 PM

Where the heck do you live?

There may be another explanation. Bugs!

I was out in the Wilds of New Mexico, working on a large 1.1 Megawatt Generator. We could not get fuel into the tank. The genset had been sitting several months, nothing unusual for a standby genset, so we started disassembling the fuel system.

The fuel tank had fuel, the inlet line was clear, but the vent line was full of beeswax!. Bees were building some sort of nest in a diesel vent line

Pushed the waxy, yellow, substance, out with a clothes hanger, and got the genset going.

Beware of the Killer Bees!

two 70 · July 27, 2008, 07:05 PM

Last round fired was handload @ coyote @ 200yds. No problems, dead coyote. Substance from barrel had a grainy texture that crumbled when I picked it up but left a waxy feel on my fingers. Rifle hangs on rack in living room and although beeswax is feasible I can't imagine one zeroing in on my .270 and making a deposit 20 inches down the barrel.

mikenbarb · July 27, 2008, 07:22 PM

Mud wasp or old spider nest? It seems odd to be that far down but it may have been looking for a new home.

wingman · July 27, 2008, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Mud wasp

This was my first thought, those little fellows have cause many problems
for folks with tools, machinery, airplanes and firearms depending on where
you live. Having said that always clean your firearm after using.

thallub · July 27, 2008, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Mud wasp

Yep, a mud dauber. Know a guy who fired a Remington pump rifle in .35 Remington with a mud dauber in the barrel.

two 70 · July 27, 2008, 09:46 PM

Thanks for the responses guys. Guess I feel better now that nobody jumped on a bad powder/chemical reaction cause. Very well could have been bug induced as I have a ton of mud wasps around here. In thinking back after the last coyote kill there were a few days that the rifle was left set up on the benchrest during the day for instant access that may have provided an open door to unwanted critters. My own paranoid nature wanted to expect the worse I guess. And after all this I now recall a two day repair effort on my Johnson boat motor that wouldn't pump water thru the tattletale vent. Yup, wasp way down in the internal pump mechanism.

Oh well, if it hadn't happened I probably would not have found this forum and look at all the good advice I would have missed in the future. Thanks again.

mikenbarb · July 27, 2008, 10:34 PM

It proably got stuck in there and died and thats the waxy stuff you found and the black specs may have been his crap.

wingman · July 28, 2008, 08:43 AM

Its super fun to experience the joy of a small aircraft that mud daubers have blocked the pitot tube that controls the airspeed indicator.

amamnn · July 28, 2008, 06:29 PM

Cleaning the rifle immediately after use will ease your mind about copper fouling. If you can look down the barrel and see copper, it's LONG overdue

Maybe keeping the rifle in a case would be a good idea, too. I've never had anything crawl into a barrel in over 57 years keeping rifles in cases and safes, so it might work for you too.

I'm not even going to mention what I think of using other people's handloads or loading for someone else.

SL1 · July 28, 2008, 09:49 PM

A piece of electrical (vinyl) tape over the muzzle and a closed bolt are good ways to keep stuff out of your barrel. I use that method when carrying in the "wilds" and it should work at least as well on your gun rack.

In an emergency, you can shoot through the tape with no ill effects on accuracy or pressure.

SL1

mikenbarb · July 28, 2008, 10:21 PM

They make barrel condoms.

Really!
And dont store it in a case. Alot of good guns are ruined that way when moisture is held in them and rust the guns out. I have seen quite a few pitted out guns from being stored in their cases. Guys open them up a year later and their jaws hit the groung when all they see is rust.

Sport45 · July 29, 2008, 12:12 AM

You said the gun went back in the rack in the living room for storage. Any kids around that might have poked something in the barrel? I'd think you'd be able to identify bugs or bug parts even after they've been dead a while.

In any case, I don't think it's anything that came out of the cartridge when you fired it.

Ask your hunting partner when he will be reloading next and stop by and see if you can "roll your own" on his equipment. There's just something wrong about reading "His pet load for my Mod 70."

Welcome to The Firing Line!

Prince55 · July 29, 2008, 02:35 AM

Once several years ago I was looking at an old .22 bolt action that had
been on the store rack for a long time in the corner. I couldn't see through
the barrel and the owner gave me a cleaning rod to run through it.
As I started from the chamber and got about 20 inches up in the barrel
a Spider came out the other end at high speed.
He wasn't a happy camper.

July 27, 2008, 02:07 PM	#1
two 70 Member Join Date: July 27, 2008 Location: Extreme NE Wa Posts: 54	disturbing barrel blockage New guy here with confidence shaking problem. Have been shooting custom handloads made by my hunting partner who has been reloading for me for many years. His pet load for my Mod 70 .270 is 58gr H4831 behind a Barnes Triple Shock 140gr boattail bullet. I've got a stockpile of a 100 rounds or so but being a conservative meat hunter don't burn many up for practice, just do a 5 or 10 round verification shoot @300 prior to hunting season . Anyway, last spring the coyotes were in full assault mode on my chicken flock and I managed to thin the pack considerably with the .270. When the threat diminished the rifle went back in the rack and was taken out yesterday for annual housekeeping, bore clean etc. in prep for the fall hunt. When I pulled the bolt and made a curiousity peek down the barrel to see how much copper fouling I was getting from the Barnes bullets there was no daylight. Probing with a ramrod from the muzzel incountered an obstruction about 4 inches from the chamber. Appeared to be a yellowish waxy substance about 1/4 or better in length with visible black specks which I assume is powder granules. Is this a powder breakdown problem or does it have something to do with the brass cleaning process. Handloader says he uses walnut shells to clean. Am assuming a blockage of this size could well cause pressure problems and am now questioning the safety and or practicality of using this ammo. Any advice or suggestions would surely be appreciated.

July 27, 2008, 07:05 PM	#4
two 70 Member Join Date: July 27, 2008 Location: Extreme NE Wa Posts: 54	barrel blockage Last round fired was handload @ coyote @ 200yds. No problems, dead coyote. Substance from barrel had a grainy texture that crumbled when I picked it up but left a waxy feel on my fingers. Rifle hangs on rack in living room and although beeswax is feasible I can't imagine one zeroing in on my .270 and making a deposit 20 inches down the barrel.

July 27, 2008, 09:46 PM	#8
two 70 Member Join Date: July 27, 2008 Location: Extreme NE Wa Posts: 54	barrel blockage Thanks for the responses guys. Guess I feel better now that nobody jumped on a bad powder/chemical reaction cause. Very well could have been bug induced as I have a ton of mud wasps around here. In thinking back after the last coyote kill there were a few days that the rifle was left set up on the benchrest during the day for instant access that may have provided an open door to unwanted critters. My own paranoid nature wanted to expect the worse I guess. And after all this I now recall a two day repair effort on my Johnson boat motor that wouldn't pump water thru the tattletale vent. Yup, wasp way down in the internal pump mechanism. Oh well, if it hadn't happened I probably would not have found this forum and look at all the good advice I would have missed in the future. Thanks again.

July 29, 2008, 12:12 AM	#14
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	You said the gun went back in the rack in the living room for storage. Any kids around that might have poked something in the barrel? I'd think you'd be able to identify bugs or bug parts even after they've been dead a while. In any case, I don't think it's anything that came out of the cartridge when you fired it. Ask your hunting partner when he will be reloading next and stop by and see if you can "roll your own" on his equipment. There's just something wrong about reading "His pet load for my Mod 70." Welcome to The Firing Line! __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

July 27, 2008, 04:38 PM	#2
mikenbarb Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2007 Location: N.J. Posts: 1,111	You shouldnt have a walnut shell in your barrel and never heard of what your describing and if you could post a pic(if you still have it), it would be helpful. Also, Were you shooting his reloads the last shot you took? It would have clogged on your last shot. Did you hear an off sound when you shot it the last time or was it normal sounding?

July 27, 2008, 06:54 PM	#3
Slamfire Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 5,261	Where the heck do you live? There may be another explanation. Bugs! I was out in the Wilds of New Mexico, working on a large 1.1 Megawatt Generator. We could not get fuel into the tank. The genset had been sitting several months, nothing unusual for a standby genset, so we started disassembling the fuel system. The fuel tank had fuel, the inlet line was clear, but the vent line was full of beeswax!. Bees were building some sort of nest in a diesel vent line Pushed the waxy, yellow, substance, out with a clothes hanger, and got the genset going. Beware of the Killer Bees!

July 27, 2008, 07:22 PM	#5
mikenbarb Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2007 Location: N.J. Posts: 1,111	Mud wasp or old spider nest? It seems odd to be that far down but it may have been looking for a new home.

July 27, 2008, 10:34 PM	#9
mikenbarb Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2007 Location: N.J. Posts: 1,111	It proably got stuck in there and died and thats the waxy stuff you found and the black specs may have been his crap.

July 28, 2008, 08:43 AM	#10
wingman Senior Member Join Date: August 20, 2002 Posts: 2,108	Its super fun to experience the joy of a small aircraft that mud daubers have blocked the pitot tube that controls the airspeed indicator.

July 28, 2008, 06:29 PM	#11
amamnn Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2006 Location: WA, the left armpit of the USA Posts: 1,323	Cleaning the rifle immediately after use will ease your mind about copper fouling. If you can look down the barrel and see copper, it's LONG overdue Maybe keeping the rifle in a case would be a good idea, too. I've never had anything crawl into a barrel in over 57 years keeping rifles in cases and safes, so it might work for you too. I'm not even going to mention what I think of using other people's handloads or loading for someone else.

July 28, 2008, 09:49 PM	#12
SL1 Senior Member Join Date: November 8, 2007 Posts: 2,001	A piece of electrical (vinyl) tape over the muzzle and a closed bolt are good ways to keep stuff out of your barrel. I use that method when carrying in the "wilds" and it should work at least as well on your gun rack. In an emergency, you can shoot through the tape with no ill effects on accuracy or pressure. SL1

July 28, 2008, 10:21 PM	#13
mikenbarb Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2007 Location: N.J. Posts: 1,111	They make barrel condoms. Really! And dont store it in a case. Alot of good guns are ruined that way when moisture is held in them and rust the guns out. I have seen quite a few pitted out guns from being stored in their cases. Guys open them up a year later and their jaws hit the groung when all they see is rust.

July 29, 2008, 02:35 AM	#15
Prince55 Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2007 Posts: 472	Once several years ago I was looking at an old .22 bolt action that had been on the store rack for a long time in the corner. I couldn't see through the barrel and the owner gave me a cleaning rod to run through it. As I started from the chamber and got about 20 inches up in the barrel a Spider came out the other end at high speed. He wasn't a happy camper.