Cleaning parts of my latest shotgun

[tom in nc]

View attachment 248230

I have cleaned the outside of the barrel(s) on my shotgun.
Here's what I found, LAMINATED stamped on the top of the rib, and not shown, but 12 on the bottom.
I got the LH nipple out, using a LH twist drill bit and cleaned the threads with a 1/4x28 tap. They now look pretty good, the RH not so good. The barrels are still plugged. I don't believe they are loaded though. The complete barrel(s) have soaked in Evaporust for 24 hours, twice so whatever is in them should be saturated, and non-flammable, I hope. I have sharpened a 1/4" metal rod to a chisel point and drove it in, trying to be as gentle as possible and still get some results. There was some dark specks that came out at first, but not enough to open them up.
I suppose I'll pour the barrels back full of Evaporust and soak them some more.

 

[tom in nc]

IF I ever get my barrels unplugged and get this thing back together I believe I will fire the first few shots with it in a tire, from a distance. I've never done that before but seen it done. Anybody else done it?

 

[stank]

I do it all the time with older guns. I usually use just under 2 times maximum load. that gets the neighbor’s attention

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

IF I ever get my barrels unplugged and get this thing back together I believe I will fire the first few shots with it in a tire, from a distance. I've never done that before but seen it done. Anybody else done it?

Do what you want. If the inside looks as bad as the outside it's not worth it. What's up with all the brazing on the right barrel? Doesn't that present some concern?
I shoot ancient guns all the time, but not with barrels that look like that.

 

[russellshaffer]

How about welding a long rod to an old twist drill and running it into the bore by hand? Use a drill bit that is way under bore diameter and make a bushing to keep the drill away from the barrel. That should be less likely to damage things than driving a spike into the barrels.

 

[tom in nc]

Do what you want. If the inside looks as bad as the outside it's not worth it. What's up with all the brazing on the right barrel? Doesn't that present some concern?
I shoot ancient guns all the time, but not with barrels that look like that.

Actually I think what appears to be brazing is there because I cleaned it with a brass wire wheel brush on my bench grinder. That leaves the brass color. I could be wrong, but I'll check.

 

[Lock99]

Gun Scrubber and a toothbrush will do the trick nicely. I clean choke tube threads about every third or fourth time I clean the bore.

 

[tom in nc]

Gun Scrubber and a toothbrush will do the trick nicely. I clean choke tube threads about every third or fourth time I clean the bore.

I believe these barrels predate choke threads by about 100 years.

 

[64Springer]

IF I ever get my barrels unplugged and get this thing back together I believe I will fire the first few shots with it in a tire, from a distance. I've never done that before but seen it done. Anybody else done it?

I see no need to hide and pull the trigger.

That breech looks sound.

Chances are the bore is a sewer pipe.

If the wall thickness is sufficient, have it honed/reamed until she cleans up.

 

[#BPBReloadingFFL]

That EvapOrust will work it's way and all that laminated steel if the corrosion on the inside is that bad.

 

[SDSmlf]

Why not Zerk fittings in the nipple holes and push whatever is in the bores out with a grease gun? If the pressure from the grease gun damages anything the barrels are less than safe.

 

[tom in nc]

Slowly, and carefully working on clearing the barrel(s). My cutter, currently is an adjustable bit made for drilling wood. A 5/16" six point socket fits to turn the tapered drive on the bit. I'm turning it with a small 1/4" drive ratchet and a couple of extensions. The last pic shows what I'm getting out of the breech area.

 

[tom in nc]

I have seen the light. No, not trashed the barrel(s). But I sharpened a wire to a chisel point, and bent the end a little to work it into the nipple holes. After only a few minutes I stuck my bore lites into the nipple holes and can now see them when I look down the bores.
I'm encouraged to continue cleaning the bores now.

My bore lites.

 

[64Springer]

Our lower intestines are cleaner than those bores.

 

[tom in nc]

The bores look bad again just inside the muzzles because some Evaporust got in when I cleaned it last and I have not put any oil inside yet. Tomorrow the bores get a thorough polishing.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

I have to say I'm a little skeptical. Have you rung the barrels with a brass rod or hammer to see if they sound like a bell or like a dud?

 

[64Springer]

Skeptical is being overly generous.

 

[SDSmlf]

The bores look bad again just inside the muzzles because some Evaporust got in when I cleaned it last and I have not put any oil inside yet. Tomorrow the bores get a thorough polishing.

Borescopes are cheap these days. Maybe purchase one or find someone who has one and take a close look at what you have left in your laminated shotgun bore. Not a lot of margin for error with shotgun barrels, especially after the rust moths have settled in. It would be a shame to destroy a piece history to prove a point. Personally, I want to shoot everything I own, however a few have earned their retirement and won’t be shot, at least by me.