AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Antique Gun Collecting => Topic started by: tom coffey on June 05, 2023, 12:38:14 AM
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(https://i.ibb.co/603YRjx/IMG-20230604-171939912-HDR.jpg) (https://ibb.co/TMVcB9S)
(https://i.ibb.co/F5P4mKP/IMG-20230604-172035000-HDR.jpg) (https://ibb.co/8rhgN0h)
Here a couple of pics of a barrel I would like to use. It has seven grooves so I cannot accurately measure land to land. The best I can do is 3/8" with my calipers. The barrel is currently in a half-stock but lugs have been removed that indicate either the stock has been shortened or changed. How should I start, knowing the barrel is unloaded, and unobstructed, to clean the bore? And what caliber would it be? 40? Thanks.
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If you know someone with gauge pins, you could have them help you determine what the bore size is.
Mike
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I start by un-breeching the barrel. If it has a drum, often it is threaded into the breech plug and it must be removed first. Next, I start with a loose-fitting jag- green scotchbrite combination with the barrel saturated with any water-soluble solvent like WD-40. Expect to ruin a lot of scotchbrite. Sometimes I’ll plug the barrel and drum and fill it with solvent to loosen things up. After I get to where I can pass a scotchbrite patch without shredding it and things are not muddy I take a look. Then decisions are made on whether I will re-cut the rifling.
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The muzzle looks filed or coned. You will need to push a lead slug through the barrel and measure that to get an accurate bore diameter. The muzzle is larger than the bore.
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(https://i.ibb.co/hHrcnt5/IMG-20230606-191437612-HDR.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nf4BV52)
The breech plug came out easier than I expected. I pushed several pieces of red scotchbrite pad thru the bore and it now looks pretty good. The barrel will soak for a few days in Evaporust.
(https://i.ibb.co/PGdQvct/IMG-20230606-201814771-HDR.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Xxq8r7V)
The muzzle after a brushing.
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(https://i.ibb.co/zfHd8Md/IMG-20230607-110657262-HDR.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bdRtH0t)
(https://i.ibb.co/8KwkKDN/IMG-20230607-111602832-HDR.jpg) (https://ibb.co/f1WJ1Yq)
I am pleased at how good the barrel looked after about 14 hours in Evaporust. I believe it will brown nicely when the time comes. There are very few dents and dings to fix.
I found a drill bit that fit the bore, a little on the tight side, and checked it with my micrometer. Looks like .3518 +/- to me. I suppose I'll try .350 balls and figure out what patch to use?
It's all back in the soak ' til tomorrow. Then I'll work on cleaning the bore some more.
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The bore is not cleaning up like I hoped it would. My original goal was to at least get the lands shiny. Now I would settle for a bore that did not snag patches. I'm still working on that.
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I start by un-breeching the barrel. If it has a drum, often it is threaded into the breech plug and it must be removed first. Next, I start with a loose-fitting jag- green scotchbrite combination with the barrel saturated with any water-soluble solvent like WD-40. Expect to ruin a lot of scotchbrite. Sometimes I’ll plug the barrel and drum and fill it with solvent to loosen things up. After I get to where I can pass a scotchbrite patch without shredding it and things are not muddy I take a look. Then decisions are made on whether I will re-cut the rifling.
Send it to Rich to fresh up the rifling for you!
John
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There is a fascinating section in the book "For Beginners Only", which goes into detail about salvaging old bores.