Reboring a rusty barrel

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labrat

40 Cal
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Jul 19, 2021
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Location
Modesto, CA
I have a Pedisoli 50 cal rifle with a badly pitted barrel. The rifle is in good shape and I would like to fix it. A friend suggested to have the barrel bored out to be a smooth bore, 54 cal. which I wouldn't mind having. My question is would I need to send it to someone knowledgeable in muzzleloaders or would any machine shop do the job? Would the flash hole need to be removed? Anyone have an idea of the cost to have it done? ............labrat
 
labrat said:
I have a Pedisoli 50 cal rifle with a badly pitted barrel. The rifle is in good shape and I would like to fix it. A friend suggested to have the barrel bored out to be a smooth bore, 54 cal. which I wouldn't mind having. My question is would I need to send it to someone knowledgeable in muzzleloaders or would any machine shop do the job? Would the flash hole need to be removed? Anyone have an idea of the cost to have it done? ............labrat
Click to expand...
Bobby Hoyt has done a number of barrel rebores for me. Though it’s been a while, I’d figure $150 for a rifled bore, smooth bore, significantly less, but you would need to check on cost. Below is his contact information.

Bobby Hoyt
Freischutz Shop
2379 Mt Hope Rd
Fairfield, PA 17320
ph# 717-642-6696

Call him early in the day, 8-9 o’clock. Don’t get discouraged if he doesn’t answer immediately.
 
yup I have three rebores from B Hoyt ask him about his gain twist
DSC03384.JPG
DSC03618.JPG
these are rebored 1-56 below are gain twist
DSC03777.JPG
DSC03411.JPG
gain twist sight in target s group to left moved sight hit center
DSC03415.JPG
the bottom barrel is a rebore gain twist 50-54 lyman great plains rifle the brown is a gain twist 54 made for me
 
You will love a smoothbore . Bobby did one for me about three years ago for $60 but most likely will be more now.
 
If the barrel is 7/8" across the flats, Bobby won't fresh it out to .54 cal.
 
bldtrailer said:
yup I have three rebores from B Hoyt ask him about his gain twist View attachment 361885View attachment 361886these are rebored 1-56 below are gain twistView attachment 361888View attachment 361889gain twist sight in target s group to left moved sight hit centerView attachment 361890the bottom barrel is a rebore gain twist 50-54 lyman great plains rifle the brown is a gain twist 54 made for me
Click to expand...
Your targets are nice and above average! I bet you were a little surprised at how well those barrels worked?LOL!
 
Me Im in the shoot the hell out of it then scrub with a scotch brite pad on a jag then go back and shoot the hell out of it again by the time you do this 3-4 times and have 20-30 rounds down range you might find that it’s more accurate than you can hold offhand. The grand kids “ mares leg” is like that if you looked down the bore yould think You were looking at a sewer pipe from down town NY but I can put it on the bench and get a group that’s almost touching with 20 grns of 3 f and a.010” wonder lube patch and a .490 ball at 25 yds just saying
 
Just found a nearby shop that can do the job for me. This rifle won't see very much use by me. I would just like to fix the rifle properly so I won't have to worry about the rust coming back. Thanks very much for the feedback........labrat
 
poker said:
Electrolysis is line of sight removal. I cant see how it could work inside a bore.
Click to expand...
Iron rod all the way down the barrel with a rubber tip and rubber o-rings to prevent it grounding out.

Evapo-Rust is easier and also works wonders to totally kill all rust so it doesn't keep going on the back side into the pits.

The whole bore will be frosted after using either method, so give it about 50-75 hard strokes afterward with a steel cleaning rod, muzzle protector, and bronze brush wraped tightly with coarse steel wool. Do it dry, no oil. One-ought or two-ought.

If there are any lands left and it doesn't tear up cloth patches, it will shoot. It will lead some with conicals and be a little more difficult to get completely clean.
 
IanH said:
Iron rod all the way down the barrel with a rubber tip and rubber o-rings to prevent it grounding out.

Evapo-Rust is easier and also works wonders to totally kill all rust so it doesn't keep going on the back side into the pits.

The whole bore will be frosted after using either method, so give it about 50-75 hard strokes afterward with a steel cleaning rod, muzzle protector, and bronze brush wraped tightly with coarse steel wool. Do it dry, no oil. One-ought or two-ought.

If there are any lands left and it doesn't tear up cloth patches, it will shoot. It will lead some with conicals and be a little more difficult to get completely clean.
Click to expand...
I have used electrolysis on several different things but never on a rifle barrel? You just hook up the anodes properly and turn the battery charger on. No need to put a rod down the barrel as the current will go through the barrel. You will have to take several patches to clean out the rust which will be loose and wipe right out. The last time I use electrolysis was on some tool that were in a garage fire. The tools didn't get burned but the water that it was in contact with for several day caused minor rusting . After cleaning I had to wipe the loose rust off, It came off easy? The sockets looked like brand new, no rust at all?
 
labrat said:
I have a Pedisoli 50 cal rifle with a badly pitted barrel. The rifle is in good shape and I would like to fix it. A friend suggested to have the barrel bored out to be a smooth bore, 54 cal. which I wouldn't mind having. My question is would I need to send it to someone knowledgeable in muzzleloaders or would any machine shop do the job? Would the flash hole need to be removed? Anyone have an idea of the cost to have it done? ............labrat
Click to expand...
Bobby Hoyt of Pa. is a renowned barrel guy...I'm sure there's others as well.
 
LME said:
Has anyone tried electrolysis to get rid of rust? I use it and it works great! Rust can't hide from the electrolysis method!
Click to expand...
rust will be gone but the PITS will still be there!!
Got a rifle/barrel/kit that I picked up long ago. Someone kinda put it together,
fired it , DIDN'T clean it, stood it in the corner for who knows how long.
I got it for a song.
Did the electrolysis thing. Set it up and let it cook for a couple of days. Barrel bore looked like a lave tube. When I got done, still looked like a country roads map but NO rust.
Picked up a drop in from Green Mountain in .32. Not made anymore.
I DID get after it with a type of hone. (scotch brite pads and lots of oil.
Got rid of the pits but it still could use more smoothing out. Outside of the barrel is maybe 60%+ with sights. A little re blue and it should be good to go. Can't see throwing it out if I can clean it up. Got nothing to loose but time.
My plan is to smooth out the bore with crocus cloth, long cleaning rod, battery drill lots of oil and time. The spirit just hasn't moved me yet.
 

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