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.
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