Quick Question on a gun barrel restore

[bigtmiller]

So my buddy had a CVA 50 cal Hawkins flintlock he gave me.  The outside of the gun is nice.  But the gun has set in a closet for 20 yrs.  The inside of the barrel is covered with rust, lots of it.  What can I do?  Can I just get a new barrel from someone? Clean it? suggestions are welcome.

Thank you,

[crankshaft]

 This was just covered in the Black Powder Shooting part of this  forum..

  also, use the search function.

[Gaeckle]

Get a cleaning patch, put some oil on (3 in 1 would do) and scrub it some with a jag....you can also use a small amount of 0000 steel wool with some oil on it. Doesn't have to sparkle to shoot a patched round ball. Should be okay.

[bigtmiller]

thanks for the help.  I did find the other thread on this too.  I will try scrubbing it well and see where I get.

Thanks,

[Ky-Flinter]

BigT,

Welcome to ALR.  Get a jug of Evapo-Rust from Harbor Freight, Lowe's, etc.  Plug the touchhole with a toothpick and pour the barrel full of Evapo-Rust.  Leave it sit 5 or 6 hours.  Pour the crude out.  If it's still rusty, repeat.  Evapo-Rust will eventually remove all the rust.  If the barrel is browned on the outside, don't let the Evapo-Rust sit on it, it will remove the browning.  Once the barrel is clean, look for pits.  If it's pitted, your first ball will load and shoot ok, but the second shot may be very hard to push down.  Get a new barrel.  Life is too short.

-Ron

[jerrywh]

Anything that is rusty is pitted.

[bigtmiller]

Thanks for the help !  I may just look at a new barrel just to be safe.

[bigtmiller]

Well I got some rust remover and cleaned the barrel.  It turned out really good, barrel looks great.  Now just got to get some powder.  Seems to be very hard to find BP in Texas.  Used to be really easy growing up on PA. 

Thanks again,