Potential defect question regarding a new Spikes FN/Barrel

[duroSIG556R]

So I decided to bore scope my new Spikes Optimum FN barrel and to my horror discovered missing chrome and rust in spots throughout the barrel. Is this normal? I also just bore scoped my new BCM barrel and while there wasn't any rust, it appeared to also be missing chrome in a few spots. The spikes barrel was the worst offender by far.

Should I return the barrel?

Here is a picture of some of the missing chrome/rust on the Spikes barrel.

[ggammell]

You didn’t say what the MFG said.

[TomMcC]

You sure that's rust and not bullet jacket fouling?

[pointblank4445]

Did you bother to clean it or just scope it out of the box? I scope all mine prior to installation and every one from FN or DD is filthy.

Here's a factory FN brand new out of the box:



Same barrel after cleaning:

[duroSIG556R]

You sure that's rust and not bullet jacket fouling?

I am absolutely positive. I copper stripped the bore before I scoped it.

[duroSIG556R]

Did you bother to clean it or just scope it out of the box? I scope all mine prior to installation and every one from FN or DD is filthy.

Here's a factory FN brand new out of the box:



Same barrel after cleaning:

Yes believe me. I was hoping it was some copper fouling. Completely stripped the bore several times prior to bore scoping. There never was any fouling in this barrel to begin with, just machine oil and preservative.

[duroSIG556R]

You didn’t say what the MFG said.

I'm sure they would say, send it in. Although I seriously doubt they have any replacement barrels to send out at this time. I guess I'm going to go ahead and RMA and send it back to the retailer.

[duroSIG556R]

Did you bother to clean it or just scope it out of the box? I scope all mine prior to installation and every one from FN or DD is filthy.

Here's a factory FN brand new out of the box:



Same barrel after cleaning:

OK. I'm an idiot. I went ahead and switched over to barnes copper remover one final time and sure enough it was copper. It's all clean now. Thanks so much for the comparison photo.

[DG23]

Yes believe me. I was hoping it was some copper fouling. Completely stripped the bore several times prior to bore scoping. There never was any fouling in this barrel to begin with, just machine oil and preservative.

The picture you shared looked like normal test firing fouling to me. You may 'think' you cleaned it all out prior to looking with the bore scope but looks to me like you missed a spot.

Would not be returning that or stressing about it if it were my barrel.

[Clint]

Which scope were these taken with?

Did you bother to clean it or just scope it out of the box? I scope all mine prior to installation and every one from FN or DD is filthy.

Here's a factory FN brand new out of the box:



Same barrel after cleaning: