New Winchester Super Grade Barrel Problems

[Reg26]

I just received a brand new Winchester Model 70 Super Grade in 338 Win Mag, stainless steel. I took her to the range yesterday for the first shots and to zero the scope. While I could get it on paper, I could not get it to group at all. Shots were completely random within about a 6 inch range at 100 yards. I figured something had to be loose but didn't find anything. I ran my borescope up the barrel today to check it out and this is what I found at the muzzle and at the throat.

I assume this would explain things and that she'll be going back to Winchester for warranty replacement, but thought I would get the group's thoughts on this. I've already sent these to my authorized Winchester Repair Center gunsmith.

 

[112Savage]

Wow! That doesn’t look new!

 

[Scott CWO]

Yikes!

 

[Reg26]

Wow! That doesn’t look new!

Brand new!

 

[Hooked Now]

Charles Barkley would say that looks turrible.

 

[Doug3006]

No matter what else could be wrong, that barrel needs attention. Get that addressed and you are probably done.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

Blunt reamers and ham fisted operator, all fixable , I would have slugged the barrel to see how out of spec it was as well.
Gumpy

 

[Reg26]

Well crap. Based on this I went and checked a couple of other recent Winchester purchases that are still unfired. One is a 300 Win Mag in regular blued steel barrel. The muzzle and throat are immaculate.

I also checked my new Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather SS in 6.8 Western and you would swear it is the twin of the 338. Is it a stainless steel problem or their stainless steel barrel supplier problem? I assume that the blued steel barrels are made at the same place.

 

[Dholupko]

There’s no question the barrel is bad. I thread, chamber and crown all of my own competition guns and some for friends.
I recently bought a used gun that shot no better than 2 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards. I decided to do an experiment. I took the barrel off and lapped it. Re-shot the gun with the same loads. Now 1 3/4” groups. Took the barrel back of cut off 1/4” at the muzzle ( it wasn’t as bad as yours but noticeably damaged) and recrowned it. Now 1” groups. I was surprised at how much the new crown improved the rifles performance.
Winchester should cover that no questions asked. Keep us posted and good luck.