bent barrel

[ramserl]

I need some help on how to check a tapered round barrel to see if it is bent.  It shoots to the left.  I can't talk the owner in to pulling the breach plug out untill I have a plan.  Can anyone help me out?

[SCLoyalist]

How about unbreeching the barrel, and running a string down, pulling it tight and sighting down the string?  I had a suspected bent barrel once, and that was the advice I was given.

And, here's another, similar method for cartridge barrels, that probably could be adapted for ML's:
 If you don't know, you can check a barrel for straight, by looking through it, and observing the light rings. They should appear concentric throughout the length, without running to one side of the barrel.
Decap a cartrige, and insert it into the chamber. This focuses the light entering, and makes the light bars much easier to observe.

Before unbreeching, if you have any doubts, you could experiment on a piece of steel or copper pipe first to see if you think the technique will work.

good luck, SCL

[Jerry V Lape]

I assume you have already examined the muzzle to be sure the crown is square and properly shaped.  Could be one of the easiest fixes will do the trick.  I would also want to shoot the gun myself from the bench to be sure the tendency to shoot left isn't man caused or caused by the sights. 

[Longknife]

You don't need to unbreech it, just put a straight edge on the left side and measure the "gap" at the widest point, with a caliper. Then do the same on the opposite side. The measurements should be the same......Easy!!!!!!!...Ed

[Ky-Flinter]

You don't need to unbreech it, just put a straight edge on the left side and measure the "gap" at the widest point, with a caliper. Then do the same on the opposite side. The measurements should be the same......Easy!!!!!!!...Ed

If it's a straight taper, I would think there should be no gap on either "side", top, bottom, &c between the straight edge and the barrel.  If there is a gap on one side and a "bow" on the opposite side, then I would say it's bent.

A thought on the "light ring" method if you cannot remove the breech plug..... would it work to drop one of those little bore lights down the barrel, light pointing out and look for the rings from the muzzle end?

Another thought... if it's a full stock gun and presumably a fairly thin walled barrel, could the stock be pressing hard enough on one side to cause this?

Good luck,
-Ron

[Roger Fisher]

Blasphemy; but is the 'hole' in the middle at the muzzle   I have observed more than one that was/were not!

[ramserl]

thanks for all the suggestions.  This gun belongs to a man that likes no change. (doesn't think out side the box!)  I needed a lot of ideas to throw at the problem.  I have shot the gun off the bench and it does shoot to the left.  I think the barrel is bent!  Or like the suggestion of the hole being off center. 
Again thanks for all your time.  This is why I look at this sight every night,  even if my wife doesn't understand!!

Thanks again
Ray