Pitted barrel

[Darkgael]

Well...it's another cleaning question.
I have a GPR with a pitted barrel. I got it from a friend of mine who got it from....
You can just guess. It had some pits in it when I got it. It still does. Though it shoots just fine, I'd like to get rid of the rust. I shot it today and cleaning after, I must have run more than 40 patches down the barrel and not one of them came out clean. I have a number of other MLers - just checked them - they are all fine. Just this one.
I use hot water and a little soap, then some moose milk and then dry patches. Today, I alternated the drys with Ballistol patches. No good, still coming out dirty.
What suggestions? I am inclined to get some bore scrubbing compound or fine valve compound and have a go.
Like I said, it shoots fine....but I know that it's just going to get worse.
Pete

 

[bob308]

well if it pitted then no amount of cleaning will get rid of the pits.

you are on the right track with the lapping compound. you will have to cast a slug of lead in the barrel then pull it part way out.then coat it with compound then lap the barrel . that will work if the pits are not too deep.

 

[Swampman]

Tight fitting patches, and Brasso have worked for me. I don't believe you'll be able to get the pits out without ruining the barrel. WD-40 IMO is an excellent product for getting the rust out. I've never used Moose Milk or Balistol, I'm not even sure what they are.

 

[paulvallandigham]

If you are shooting only PRB in the barrel, what you are seeing is graphite from the powder. Its not something to worry about.

If you are shooting bullets out of the barrel, where lead comes in DIRECT contact with the bore, then you can have lead in those pits. If so, use a good Lead Solvent in the barrel, let it sit over night, and then clean it out.

I would give the bore a good scrubbing with JB bore Cleaner, the first time, Just to make sure that it is good and clean.

If the pits are not too deep, you can lap the bore using any good toothpaste, on a very tight patch, to remove some of it. This process tends to round everthing, and is not favored for any but the lightest of pits. Because the Jag will force the patching against the lands the most, this tends to cut the lands, but leaves pits in the grooves untouched.

Or, better, pour a lead lap on a steel rod, then add lapping compound( I use pearl drops toothpaste, but you can find lapping compounds at automotive supply stores) and work the lap back and forth to remove the pits. Making a Lap is a complicated process, and not usually something a normal hobbyist is going to be set up to do. This does require removing the breechplug from the barrel, so you can work the entire barrel.

Again, If the gun shoots okay, I would not go to this extreme, unless I was looking for an excuse to learn how to lap a barrel. A badly pitted barrel is often the first- and last-- excuse people find to do this. :surrender: :hmm: :thumbsup:

 

[Darkgael]

I know that the pits are there for good; I'd just like to polish the rust off. Accuracy is fine; PRBs only. It's just disconcerting to see dirt on the patches. I had not thought about graphite soiling them.
I have some JB bore paste; that was the next step. Thought I'd ask first.
Pete

 

[Bubba45]

Kroil and a wire bore brush works pretty decent. The kroil is a penetrant and works well and the wire brush will help loosen the the rust .

 

[renovato]

I wouldn't worry too much about the pits just yet. Get the rust out first and see how it shoots.

You can use steel wool and oil to get the rust out. Wrap the steel wool around a brush, keep everything nice and oily and give the bore a scrubbing. Run patches every few strokes to get the rust out of the way, and start again with clean steel wool.

After you get the rust out, see how the bore feels to a cleaning patch. If it's grabby, then you might consider lapping the bore, but generally they shoot pretty good even with some pitting. Years back I rescued an old, rusty T/C New Englander and the bore has quite a few pits after cleaning it. It's a great shooter though and I hunt with it more than any other gun.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[WV MZL HUNTER]

I used valve grinding compounding and I over done it on a old 54 cal. I would not use it if I had to do over again. :redface:
I would try some other solvents first.

 

[Birddog6]

Shoot it & forget it. Damage is done & not repairable. By the time you lap the pits our you will have ruined the rifleing edges.
Just shoot it....... :wink:

 

[Darkgael]

Just shoot it.......

Yeah. That's what'll happen.
Pete

 

[WV MZL HUNTER]

Sorry, I meant that I would not use the valve gringing compounding not the barrel. The barrel will not shoot rbs very well but it will shoot maxies ok. I do not use it much at all. I need to sell it cheap. someone may be able to do something with it. Not me. :redface: