bulging in barrel

[10_point]

I just purchaced a tc hawkins 50 cal from an auction and it is a beautiful rifle, but i was cleaning it and felt the ram rod skipping in the bore, so i took a closer look and realized it has 2 slight bulges in the bore and you can see then slightly on the exterior also, is this thing safe to shoot and i know it will affect the accuracy of it also, what should i do?? do you think it is safe to shoot? i can proberly part it out and sell it for parts, or rebarrel it .

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

I would consider buying a new barrel. If you are pleased with the rest of the rifle, and nothing else is wrong, that might be the best thing to do. I would also take into account the amount of money you have invested in the rifle now. If it isn't too much... :hmm:

 

[10_point]

i paid $113.25 for the rifle, i was on ebay and the stocks are going for more than that, i may just get another barrel for it, how is green mountain barrels? or should i stick with the original ?

 

[cable]

green mountain and TC should either one suit your purpose quite well.
often seen barrels listed for sale here in the classifieds and on ebay etc.

 

[ihuntsnook]

Used T/C barrels sell for around a hundred bucks. I certainly wouldn't use the barrel you have now. Put a good barrel on it and the gun is still probably worth more than you will have into it.

 

[paulvallandigham]

If the last 8 inches of barrel behind the muzzle don't have a bulge, the gun should shoot accurately enough. Try it, before spending more money on a new barrel.

 

[10_point]

it just scares me to try to shoot it, i dont think it will blow, but you never know.better to be safe.

 

[hanshi]

I agree. One of the most accurate rifles I ever owned had a bulge well back from the muzzle.

 

[bob308]

shoot it see what it does. i have a brno no.1 .22 it has two bulges in the bore one about 1" in front of the chamber the other at the end of the forearm. that rifle will do 1" or less at 100 yd.

 

[David W.]

it just scares me to try to shoot it, i dont think it will blow, but you never know.better to be safe.

I would rather be safe than sorry. Ditch the barrel and get a drop in. :2

 

[10_point]

the bulges are 6 1/2 inches and the other is 18 inches measuring from the muzzle.it is a nice gun. I feel the firing will cause problems from having the ball-bullet jump at these areas and have pressure excape and cause erossion .

 

[10_point]

what do you all think would have caused this to happen?

 

[David W.]

what do you all think would have caused this to happen?

Not seating the ball or conical fully.

 

[Rifleman1776]

it just scares me to try to shoot it, i dont think it will blow, but you never know.better to be safe.

Wise thinking. Do not risk a blow. Those are just two examples of something being done wrong to that rifle. You don't know how much, or how many times, that rifle has been subjected to abuse. Use the barrel for a garden stake and buy a good replacement. I would opt for the GM.

 

[roundball]

Multiple bulges ?? I'd trash it and never look back...$113 for a complete Hawken stock, furniture, triggers, and lock is a steal to begin with.

Assuming you're going to use it for deer hunting, if it was me I'd set the barrel aside and buy a 15/16" x 32" x .54cal Green Mountain drop-in for the T/C Hawken.

If you're just going to range shoot and plink, then I'd get a .40cal (or .45) GM drop-in

 

[10_point]

yes , i can strip the sights,and the ram rod lugs,and other parts from it for spares at least, i will look for a GM barrel now, I called the auction place and they told me they will take it back cause of safety reasons but i feel i made out for the price.

 

[Adui]

A thought.. :hmm:

Buy a new barrel for that rifle, but dont trash the one it has. Chop it off at 6 1/4" and make a heavy barrel pistol out of it. Could be fun...

 

[detent]

You can tap or roll the bulges down and those parts will be stronger than thay where before this would be nothing compared to what a hammer forged barrel goes through.The main reason fore blow upps is air between powder and bullet causing detonation instead of controlled burn. Having said that if I lived in u.s.I'd buy a new barrel as there so cheap over there.

 

[Bill Hall]

what do you all think would have caused this to happen?

Not seating the ball or conical fully.

Almost sounds like they did it twice :shocked2: .

I had a CVA that had a good sized "ring" in the barrel near the breech, probably caused by firing with the ball off the powder charge about an inch or two. My brother and I shot a few hundred rounds out of it before I discovered the ring. Didn't seem to be a safety issue.

But, what you are describing seems to be more serious. It may well be that your gun is safe to shoot, but do you really want to own a questionable firearm? All my guns are in ship-shape condition, and I wouldn't care to own a gun that is not up to par. Apperantly, the seller wouldn't own one either. If you invest in a new barrel, you would then own a top-notch firearm, and never need to say, "Oh that gun? Yeah, it kinda shoots ok. Not the greatest. I worry about it sometimes, won't ever completely rely on it....". I think firearms should be well maintained and 100% reliable. Just my own thoughts. Bill

 

[10_point]

i see ebay has a cougar/hawkins barrel 50 caliber, is this the same barrel as the regular hawkins barrel? what differant?