You filthy pig!! KX3

[Ned Christiansen]

At a class last week, a friend of mine was complaining that his rifle was keyholing. It’s been doing it all summer actually, with some loads but not others. It is still a tackdriver with some loads and was previously with the loads in question. I noticed how dirty his KX3 was and suggested cleaning it…. I suspected it had been a while (confirmed—4, more like 6, K).

The moment I got it off I noted that it felt maybe 1/3 heavier than it should! I was dyin’ to see what was inside but could not get it apart. I noticed the mounting hole was carboned up too, but…. the keyholing with some loads continued which a Vortex temporarily in place. It is not an ammo issue as this ammo was working in everything else on the line—WW whitebox 55 FMJ and I think some XM 193. As I mentioned, this gun was doing very well with these loads previously. Barrel is a LaRue. The crown is perfect, muzzle face is clean, not all carboned up, rifling at muzzle looks fine, and he cleans the barrel with Wipeout. Barrel did not appear fouled...... I was not able to scope the freebore and throat though.

I’ve told him nothing lasts forever and it’s time for a new barrel….. I don’t think that’s gonna happen since it is still good with other ammo. I said “so keep shooting it until it stops keyholing then” and put the KX3 back on for him 





Tried heat, Kroil, Kroil plus heat, had ‘er locked in a vise and put a large Crescent wrench on it with a cheater…. Never got it apart. The KX3 itself is made from some good tough stuff though; all this abuse and we hardly put a mark on it.

I wanted to take it home and boil it in WD40 for a while and then give it some raps and taps and try again but the owner was not ready to part with it.

[Cold]

At a class last week, a friend of mine was complaining that his rifle was keyholing. It’s been doing it all summer actually, with some loads but not others. It is still a tackdriver with some loads and was previously with the loads in question. I noticed how dirty his KX3 was and suggested cleaning it…. I suspected it had been a while (confirmed—4, more like 6, K).

The moment I got it off I noted that it felt maybe 1/3 heavier than it should! I was dyin’ to see what was inside but could not get it apart. I noticed the mounting hole was carboned up too, but…. the keyholing with some loads continued which a Vortex temporarily in place. It is not an ammo issue as this ammo was working in everything else on the line—WW whitebox 55 FMJ and I think some XM 193. As I mentioned, this gun was doing very well with these loads previously. Barrel is a LaRue. The crown is perfect, muzzle face is clean, not all carboned up, rifling at muzzle looks fine, and he cleans the barrel with Wipeout. Barrel did not appear fouled...... I was not able to scope the freebore and throat though.

I’ve told him nothing lasts forever and it’s time for a new barrel….. I don’t think that’s gonna happen since it is still good with other ammo. I said “so keep shooting it until it stops keyholing then” and put the KX3 back on for him 





Tried heat, Kroil, Kroil plus heat, had ‘er locked in a vise and put a large Crescent wrench on it with a cheater…. Never got it apart. The KX3 itself is made from some good tough stuff though; all this abuse and we hardly put a mark on it.

I wanted to take it home and boil it in WD40 for a while and then give it some raps and taps and try again but the owner was not ready to part with it.

Thanks for the post Ned.

[Ned Christiansen]

Another interesting thing about it-- which also makes me think it's just about packed solid-- I've tested KX3's for flash hiding and they work pretty darned good. This one.... not so much any more. I really hope I get a chance to take it apart.

[Iraqgunz]

Ned,

Get some Froglube and put it in a small pan on the stove (low heat). Then put the KX3 in it and let sit for 6 hours or so. It will break up and dissolve alot of the carbon.

[RMiller]

Interesting. Thanks for posting!

[markm]

A little Ultra Sonic couldn't hurt it.

I've been rotating Pappabear's mounts through the U/S Cleaner over the last few weeks. It's a good jump start to caked on carbon removal.

[mtdawg169]

Another interesting thing about it-- which also makes me think it's just about packed solid-- I've tested KX3's for flash hiding and they work pretty darned good. This one.... not so much any more. I really hope I get a chance to take it apart.

Very neat thread Ned. Hopefully you get another swing at it. I'd like to see what it looks like inside.

Ned,

Get some Froglube and put it in a small pan on the stove (low heat). Then put the KX3 in it and let sit for 6 hours or so. It will break up and dissolve alot of the carbon.

IG, have you gotten a tactical crock pot yet?

[Iraqgunz]

Yeah. I picked up a small one from Big Lots.

Very neat thread Ned. Hopefully you get another swing at it. I'd like to see what it looks like inside.







IG, have you gotten a tactical crock pot yet?

[markm]

I was not able to scope the freebore and throat though.

It's either this... or pin guage the whole bore.

I bet the throat is beat up, or the bore opens up towards the muzzle end.

Is it button rifled?

[Pappabear]

I sent my can back to TBAC and they cooked it in their cleaners until it weighed what it what supposed to, 300WM can. Weight seems to be the variable many look for. I have AAC m42K with unknown round count and they keep running like a champ.