Ugly Barrel

[J E Custom]

Originally Posted by Coyboy

The pitting by the muzzle is not uncommon for older rifles, I see it in newer CM hunting barrels. Guys go hunting in damp conditions and moisture gets in the muzzle and left there after the hunt. Being it's an old military gun there was the high probability that corosive primers were used in the amunition that went through that gun years ago. The damage you see in that barrel could very well be over 60 years old.

What tends to happen is as the rifle is shot, copper smears into the pitts. It actually smoths out the "look" of the bore. I have cleaned pitted remington 742s and 7400 to bare metal, and the first test fire they would group 4-6 inches, sometimes more. after about 25-30 rounds the pitts fill in and they start shooting in the 2 inch range.

Looks like yours is doing fine.

Cowboy Is right about the corrosive primers being the probable cause of the pitting
and "seasoning" the barrel will sometimes make it shoot better.

Clean with the hoppe's and it will not remove all of the copper once it starts shooting
well. also the hoppe's # 9 is the only bore solvent that can be left in for storage as far
as I know.

There is a way to tell if the primers are corrosive but I can't remember how so maybe one of
the other members will chime in and let us know.

J E CUSTOM