Accuracy in less than perfect bores

[roundball]

Several years ago I bought a used TC Hawken "Cougar" on an auction because I really wanted to get the stock & furniture for as a spare. (I have a couple other Cougars and there are no replacement stocks or pewter looking stainless furniture available for them any more)

The rifle looks like new except for a tiny 1/2" scratch on the stock, and the barrel looks 100% perfect outside, but there is a sprinkling of 'freckles' down the first couple inches of the bore and, overall, the bore just doesn't look as bright and pure shiny as I like mine to be.

Anyhow, it's a .45cal percussion, been in a case forever, and I decided to shoot it this weekend to have something different to do at the range...was shocked to find that the barrel is incredibly accurate...tried a couple dozen .440 round ball hunting loads, then a box of 255grn maxi-hunters, and it's perfect...you'd think it was a brand new barrel right off the assembly line.

If I had been shopping for an entire rifle instead of mainly just the stock, and I had dropped a bore light down this one, I would have set it back on the rack immediately and moved on without a second thought.

Maybe the whole issue and worry about pitting has been overstated?

 

[noahmercy]

In my limited experience, pitting often has no bearing on accuracy. This phenomenon seems to be more pronounced in large-bore, low-velocity guns (like muzzleloaders and black powder cartridge-firing guns). Don't know if it has something to do with the lead projectiles, the abundance of soft lube used, or the low operating pressures/ velocities, but I've seen guns with barrrels that resemble sewer pipes shoot respectable groups.

Whatever the reason, glad you got a good shooter, round'! :thumbsup:

 

[WV_Hillbilly]

I have over the years also seen "less that perfect" bores that shot just as well, (and some even better), than mirror-like bores on practically brand new guns. I just cleaned up one recently for a friend, that you could hardly see any trace of rifling--just a big rusty pipe, with a tiny bit of spiral distortion. After much work, it isn't perfect looking, and still has the "freckles", but I am going to be testing it for accuracy for the guy. Then I will clean it out again. Sometimes more corrosion will come out after shooting it (especially if it hasn't been shot for a long while). I will post the target results when I get them.

I did something that I probably shouldn't have. I made my own drop in bore light. Now I have no excuse for buying a rusty barrelled muzzleloader. BUT I never would have bought those MANY guns that were GOOD shooting guns, had I looked inside with a decent light. If we can see the rust--we might miss out on something really nice!

I totally agree about that point. I think that some rust is acceptable, and if it doesn't degrade accuracy too severely, why worry?

Shoot Safely!
WV_Hillbilly

 

[oomcurt]

I think there is merit in all of the posts on this. If you think about it...I doubt if many, if any, of the fur trade trappers were as persnickety about the condition of their guns as some folks today are. Neither did they have access to all the ingredients of all the concoctions that make up what is on the market today in lube or cleaning products. Considering how often thier guns were used on a daily basis...and at times left for a day or two without cleaning due to conditions around them...makes one wonder indeed.

 

[Maynerd62411]

When I got my CVA Hawken, the outside looked real good. The bore was very rusty and the nipple was completely rusted shut. I changed the nipple, scrubbed the bore and soaked it with Bore Blaster, and shot it several times , cleaned it and then shot it for accuracy. It does pretty good at 50 yds. with PRB. The bore is still pitted, of course, but it is rust free. It'll usually shoot a 2"-3" group. Now , me , on the other hand...... :no: :crackup:

 

[Zonie]

IMO, if a previously rusted barrel has been cleaned up and doesn't cause the patch to rip/tear while it's being fired, and there is enough rifleing to grip the patch/ball and impart a spin to it, the barrel will shoot as good as a shiny, broken in barrel.

It may even shoot better than a brand new shiny bored barrel.
Some of these brand new barrels will rip/tear the patch because the rifleing is sharp. That's why they need a few hundred shots thru them before they really settle down and give good groups.

By the same token, barrels which have been rusted to the point that the rifleing is missing or severly pitted will often tear the patch and produce poor accuracy.

 

[Mulebrain]

I have about three rifles I got so far that had rusty bores. After cleaning them up the best I could, I noticed the rifling, is actually pretty clean!

I think much of this has to do with Land and Grooves in the rifling. It appears the grooves take on most of the damage, in regards to rust pitting.

With the round balls riding on the lands, and patch material swiping grooves. I think the effects of some pitting in these areas wont have much effect.

Now if you have some bad pitting on rifling lands, this will have some effect, how much would vary from rifle to rifle.

I love buying used neglected guns with rusty bores! I like to see how clean I can get them!

 

[roundball]

I think much of this has to do with Land and Grooves in the rifling. It appears the grooves take on most of the damage, in regards to rust pitting.

And in this case, the light pitting seems to be just in the 1st couple of inches inside the muzzle...velocity is able to develop normally / consistently shot after shot right up until the end...probably has a lot to do with this barrel's accuracy

 

i notice this in smooth bores as well RB. one of the best shooting SXS i have is an old 20 gage percussion gun. I had gotten it also for parts and though the barrels beyond repair . Seriously they were ringed so bad that even after cleaning the bores looked like an old wash board .

One day I was out back shooting some clay with a 12 gage I had just built . Basically having a good time putting neon green dots all over my field . Well to make a long story short my friend wanted to join in so I sent my wife in to get another SXS and she came out with it .
I tell you what , its become one of my favorite grouse guns .
It patterns better then any of my new Colerain barrels and for cylinder bore holds its own with my chokes Damascus guns ..
I never have been able to figure out why. Through the years I have found several barrels that are ringed this way inside and usually I pick them up for next to nothing .
Still a lot to learn I guess but one things for sure if it works , trust the spirits and don