AF texan barrel severly damaged

[dreuf]

I require the support from airgun expert here regarding my trouble with my AF texan 457 barrel.

This week end I decided to clean my barrel before going to the range and I felt an area where my patch was totally loose on approximately 1.5inch....

I removed the barrrel and looked at it and discovered that some material was missing in this area. The area of concern is right at he barrel outside diameter change (from around 16mm to 18mm). It is rougly at 50 cm from the muzzle.

I own this gun since 2 years and shoots lead +1% tin (i do not have any tool  to test the hardness). I installed the AAO 2020 MOAV valve few weeks ago -> i shoot 375 grains bullets at around 900fps.

It brings several questions to me :
1) Do you guys have any idea on the origin of this failure? I do not want to face the same issue in the next coming months/years!!!

Living in Europe it is hard to get a replacement barrel at an acceptable cost. I am currently open to any good idea... Here I can only go for another lothar walther. I am not really happy to give them my hard earn money...
2) Will a 257 TJ liner glued inside my 457 barrel be an option? (I am only a long range paper puncher and not closed to the idea of changing the caliber)? Will I be able to keep the current valve if I do this mod?

3) will a tj 457 barrel 28 inch in 1:26 twist be any better than the original one?

4) since I will have to spend more money on the gun is there any other option to study to achieve better long range accuracy ? I have followed Tofazfou 338 airpua build and I a mvery impressed by his results..

Many thanks for your help and happy new year to all.

[BigBird]

First, if it an issue with the production of the barrel, Id contact AF and see if they know anything about the issue.  Maybe it has happened before.  Its not something that you can see easily.

If they don't want to help, does it shoot accurate?  Does it chronograph at advertzed speeds?

Is it the rifling lands that are bad or the actual grooves (major diameter)?

If youve never stuck anything down there to scrape it, I'm not sure how lead bullets could have done any damage.

[Airgun-hobbyist]

Get a camera bore scope to take some pictures in there of the damages, post them here, and send them to the company as well as the inquiry as to replacement or warranty.

Because you don't object to changing calibers, maybe installation of a new liner in a smaller caliber like the 338 will suit you better for flatter trajectory and accuracy.

[rsterne]

You said the damaged area is about 50mm from the muzzle, where the diameter changes from 16mm to 18mm.... Do you mean about 50mm from the breech (back) of the barrel, or is the Texan barrel completely different from the Condor, where the barrel is smaller at the back?.... I'm confused....

I have no idea how material could be "missing" from the inside of the barrel in either case.... unless it was made that way originally.... If the barrel is original and unmodified, I would contact AirForce for a replacement....

Bob

[Airgun-hobbyist]

You said the damaged area is about 50mm from the muzzle, where the diameter changes from 16mm to 18mm.... Do you mean about 50mm from the breech (back) of the barrel, or is the Texan barrel completely different from the Condor, where the barrel is smaller at the back?.... I'm confused....

I have no idea how material could be "missing" from the inside of the barrel in either case.... unless it was made that way originally.... If the barrel is original and unmodified, I would contact AirForce for a replacement....

Bob

I received a different make of air rifle with a bulge in the barrel and discovered it in the same way as dreuf, with a cleaning rod and tight patch when I first got the gun.  When pushing a rod in it hits the spot and gets really easy to push and a tight patch will loosen and be able to rotate at the bulge.  l  Mine has no missing material, and the rifling lands and grooves don't look any different at that spot than the rest of the bore when inspecting with a bore scope camera.  However, when looking down the bore with your naked eye it does "appear" have a distinct ring there which can be interpreted as missing material.  I am just going to buy another barrel from the factory.

[Kinetic45^]

Since he installed the AAO high pressure kit that voids any help Airforce is going to give him. [Unless he never tells them about it]
This actually sounds like something that happened to a guy here in Texas. He filled too high (3500 in a stock gun AND an aluminum tank!!!!) and fired with a case of valve lock we think, lodging the bullet in the barrel, then firing another shot into the 'bore obstruction' of the first bullet.
Yes, he's got a ring bulge in his barrel.

[Airgun-hobbyist]

Since he installed the AAO high pressure kit that voids any help Airforce is going to give him. [Unless he never tells them about it]
This actually sounds like something that happened to a guy here in Texas. He filled too high (3500 in a stock gun AND an aluminum tank!!!!) and fired with a case of valve lock we think, lodging the bullet in the barrel, then firing another shot into the 'bore obstruction' of the first bullet.
Yes, he's got a ring bulge in his barrel.

I figured a previous owner must have done the same to mine as well.  Though I don't know if it could have started from valve lock with a Slayer; maybe just really low on air.

[Mole2017]

So if a slug fired into a second slug can essentially swage a barrel, what stops a person from contriving a swage to set it right again? Something like trying to choke the barrel, I guess. But in a pinch or a determined act of self-sufficiency driven might the application of some careful hammering technique do the job? If I were to attempt it, I'd apply my hammer "tapping" systematically, using a patch to feel when the defect is closing up adequately.

Of course, don't try to fix it if it ain't broke, but if you have nothing to lose...

[dreuf]

First many thanks to all for your help. It is very much appreciated.

Get a camera bore scope to take some pictures in there of the damages, post them here, and send them to the company as well as the inquiry as to replacement or warranty.

I tried to post some pictures but it is very hard to see the damaged area. By naked eye I easily see a ring.

You said the damaged area is about 50mm from the muzzle, where the diameter changes from 16mm to 18mm.... Do you mean about 50mm from the breech (back) of the barrel, or is the Texan barrel completely different from the Condor, where the barrel is smaller at the back?.... I'm confused....

it is 50 cm not mm (around 20inches) from the muzzle. The breech section is 16mm and after around 12 inches it increases to 18mm. At this area my barrel got damaged.

I received a different make of air rifle with a bulge in the barrel and discovered it in the same way as dreuf, with a cleaning rod and tight patch when I first got the gun.  When pushing a rod in it hits the spot and gets really easy to push and a tight patch will loosen and be able to rotate at the bulge.  l  Mine has no missing material, and the rifling lands and grooves don't look any different at that spot than the rest of the bore when inspecting with a bore scope camera.  However, when looking down the bore with your naked eye it does "appear" have a distinct ring there which can be interpreted as missing material.  I am just going to buy another barrel from the factory.

I clearly see a ring and around this circle I see some debris but without borescope I can not be sure if the rifling has gone away.

He filled too high (3500 in a stock gun AND an aluminum tank!!!!) and fired with a case of valve lock we think, lodging the bullet in the barrel, then firing another shot into the 'bore obstruction' of the first bullet.
Yes, he's got a ring bulge in his barrel.

I experienced valve lock at the beginning and had to shot 2-3 times to get this slug out. But I am 99% (unfortunately not 100%) sure I never shoot a second slug with one blocked in the barrel.
Is it possible to get this bulge with only 1 slug in the barrel and trying to shoot several time to get it ou? If not it means that I made this terrible mistake. I am only looking for the root cause in order to never do it again. Maybe the best option in the future with blocked bullet will be to remove the barel and get the bullet out with sort of wooden stick and hammer.

[rintafile]

Living in Europe it is hard to get a replacement barrel at an acceptable cost. I am currently open to any good idea... Here I can only go for another lothar walther. I am not really happy to give them my hard earn money...

Have you searched local gunsmiths or stores which sell gun parts etc. I don't know what is acceptable price for you but...I'm also in EU and I can get Shilen match grade barrel reasonable price. It is hand lapped etc. EU is full of stores and gunsmiths who sell blank barrels. Other than LW....

[dreuf]

I am trying to contact some gunsmith here.

I wait for a quote for a 900m lothar 45-70 barrel, 20 inch twist

I droped an email to TJ for a quote for 457 liner, 20 inch twist + 257 cal.

I could use my damaged barrel as a solid sleeve for a 257 liner. Will my current valve be able to open with such a small bore Anyone tried this in a texan?

I am open to any suggestion if you have good contact in europe.

[rintafile]

I am open to any suggestion if you have good contact in europe.

There is several possibilities depends where in EU you live. I don't know every EU country's law but example in Finland you don't need license to buy blank barrels. So sending blanks inside EU should not be a problem. But getting barrel from USA isn't possible far as I know. ITAR-statute block doing that.

[Chickenthief]

Come on pal.
Get a hold of AF!
They'll get you good again.

I've had rifled barrels sent from the US of A to Denmark 3 days no customs and BS!

Most sertain (LW) they deliver finished barrels to AF from Germany, so why wouldnt they ship you a replacement barrel in the EU with no worries???


Stop this smearing/^*%$#@ thing and get a hold of Airforce themselves and realay their answers please???

[rintafile]

I've had rifled barrels sent from the US of A to Denmark 3 days no customs and BS!

That's record time for shipment to go from USA to EU... And no custom fees etc... me thinks bs.... How your parcel  sender labeled that shipment? It should be under 20€ worth otherwise custom  picked it up and you need pay taxes and so on.  And how you managed pass those ITAR systems? Do you have importing licence?  You can order whole airgun from USA but not just barrel blanks without import licence.

[enazle]

Find a gunsmith with a lathe and have them chuck it up just in front of the expansion. On a knurling tool replace the die with a ball bearing.  Run the bearing into the expansion to compress the area back into position. You may have to straighten the barrel afterward but that's easily done. 

[KnifeMaker]

the ITAR id for firearm barrels. If plainly labeled for AirGun use only, it should fly just fine unless an anal retentive agent not knowing the laws decides to make them up himself. It happens a LOT Even here in the USA. All kinds of issues with Ignorant UPS center self important employees.


Knife