Proof Research

nhenry · Apr 25, 2023

When building my 280AI, the gunsmith who threaded and chambered my barrel nearly completely messed up the threads on both ends, breech and muzzle. The breech only has 8 threads (normal for a 700 is around 12) and the muzzle threads are too short for most devices. It's shot OK, but it seems pretty inconsistent day to day. I've shot sub half inch groups and with the same load days later those groups have increased to 2". The barrel is most likely not as solidly in the action as it needs to be.

I contacted Proof last night, asking if it were possible to cut into the shank to re-thread and re-chamber. The rep got back to me pronto and asked for pictures, which I sent him. He got back to me this morning and told me that they don't advise to cut any further, but if I wanted I could get half off of a barrel directly from them. They didn't have to do that and it's much appreciated.

I chose to go with a stainless steel, cut rifling, 1:8.4 tw medium sporter. Should be here in a few months. And it didn't cost me an arm and a leg. While that doesn't fix my current barrel, the one I have now has proven itself on a couple deer and can hammer steel just fine for now.

Overall, the customer service I got was terrific and they were more than gracious about a problem that wasn't even their fault. A+

Teknys · Apr 25, 2023

That's great to hear that a company will help you out like that. Getting and maintaining customers are two different things.

xphunter · Apr 25, 2023

Good people at PROOF

IdahoCTD · Apr 25, 2023

Do you have pictures of the barrel. I'd like to see what it looks like.

nhenry · Apr 25, 2023

IdahoCTD said:
Do you have pictures of the barrel. I'd like to see what it looks like.

TexasLife · Apr 25, 2023

nhenry said:
View attachment 19723
View attachment 19724

I've had better threads from using a pipe threader. If it could be safe to do, what would be nice is to cut the threads smaller and (basically) use a bushing. I've done that with many of other things, but not on or for a barrel. I don't see how that would be safe, but if it could be safe it's a possibility? Not my field of knowledge on gunsmithing.

xphunter · Apr 26, 2023

nhenry said:
When building my 280AI, the gunsmith who threaded and chambered my barrel nearly completely messed up the threads on both ends, breech and muzzle. The breech only has 8 threads (normal for a 700 is around 12) and the muzzle threads are too short for most devices. It's shot OK, but it seems pretty inconsistent day to day. I've shot sub half inch groups and with the same load days later those groups have increased to 2". The barrel is most likely not as solidly in the action as it needs to be.

I contacted Proof last night, asking if it were possible to cut into the shank to re-thread and re-chamber. The rep got back to me pronto and asked for pictures, which I sent him. He got back to me this morning and told me that they don't advise to cut any further, but if I wanted I could get half off of a barrel directly from them. They didn't have to do that and it's much appreciated.

I chose to go with a stainless steel, cut rifling, 1:8.4 tw medium sporter. Should be here in a few months. And it didn't cost me an arm and a leg. While that doesn't fix my current barrel, the one I have now has proven itself on a couple deer and can hammer steel just fine for now.

Overall, the customer service I got was terrific and they were more than gracious about a problem that wasn't even their fault. A+

Have you fired your gunsmith?

nhenry · Apr 26, 2023

xphunter said:
Have you fired your gunsmith?

He was the nearest gunsmith to me when I went to him. He refused to reimburse the barrel and I didn't fight it. I now live 10 minutes from GA Precision so they get my business nowadays. They fixed the rough chamber that the first gunsmith left as well.

IdahoCTD · Apr 26, 2023

That is pretty rough. What does the muzzle end look like?

nhenry · Apr 26, 2023

IdahoCTD said:
That is pretty rough. What does the muzzle end look like?

They look fine, just shorter than they ought to be.

nhenry · Apr 26, 2023

TexasLife said:
I've had better threads from using a pipe threader. If it could be safe to do, what would be nice is to cut the threads smaller and (basically) use a bushing. I've done that with many of other things, but not on or for a barrel. I don't see how that would be safe, but if it could be safe it's a possibility? Not my field of knowledge on gunsmithing.

I don't think a bushing would be a good idea since it wouldn't be as stiff as possible, but that is good food for thought.

xphunter · Apr 26, 2023

nhenry said:
He was the nearest gunsmith to me when I went to him. He refused to reimburse the barrel and I didn't fight it. I now live 10 minutes from GA Precision so they get my business nowadays. They fixed the rough chamber that the first gunsmith left as well.

George is a good guy

nhenry · Apr 26, 2023

xphunter said:
George is a good guy

He didn't even charge me to fix that chamber either.

xphunter · Apr 26, 2023

nhenry said:
He didn't even charge me to fix that chamber either.

If I was looking at popular companies to build rifles...GAP and SEEKINS is where I would go.
I would probably go with Glenn first, since I know him better, but I recommend both.

nhenry · Apr 26, 2023

xphunter said:
If I was looking at popular companies to build rifles...GAP and SEEKINS is where I would go.
I would probably go with Glenn first, since I know him better, but I recommend both.

My next rifle's going to be a 300 RCM and I'll probably hire GAP to build it

TexasLife · Apr 26, 2023

nhenry said:
My next rifle's going to be a 300 RCM and I'll probably hire GAP to build it

I would consider it in an ar10 platform over saum and wsm only because of less powder and still more fps than a 308win.

nhenry · Apr 27, 2023

TexasLife said:
I would consider it in an ar10 platform over saum and wsm only because of less powder and still more fps than a 308win.

My plan is a 20" bolt action with a nice maple stock. It'll still take large rifle primers because of the lower case capacity and it'll feed better than the other shawties. It's pretty perfect for NA, honestly. Anything the 30-06 does it can do a little faster.

Darkhorse · Apr 28, 2023

TexasLife said:
I've had better threads from using a pipe threader. If it could be safe to do, what would be nice is to cut the threads smaller and (basically) use a bushing. I've done that with many of other things, but not on or for a barrel. I don't see how that would be safe, but if it could be safe it's a possibility? Not my field of knowledge on gunsmithing.

I was a Tool and Die maker for years. Then worked for the Gov. for several decades ending up as a structural specialist....to put it simply I've cut a lot of threads on a lathe and seen lot s more. But when I saw that photo I nearly choked. First thing I though was that gunsmith should learn how to cut metal on a lathe.
I think I would have pushed for a new barrel.

RL338 · Apr 28, 2023

I think one could have cut better threads with a Harbor Freight dies set.

nhenry · Apr 28, 2023

Darkhorse said:
I was a Tool and Die maker for years. Then worked for the Gov. for several decades ending up as a structural specialist....to put it simply I've cut a lot of threads on a lathe and seen lot s more. But when I saw that photo I nearly choked. First thing I though was that gunsmith should learn how to cut metal on a lathe.
I think I would have pushed for a new barrel.

I pushed, he didn't budge. I decided it wasn't worth my time.