Rebore 15/16" rifle bore to smoothbore?

[Hairy Clipper]

I continue to think of reboring a .50 caliber 15/16" rifled T/C Hawken barrel to a smoothbore and I am wondering if anyone knows what this barrel can be safely bored to?

 

[necchi]

Talked to Bobby Hoyt a few years about that when I sent my 1" in for a 62 cut,, a friend had a 15/16 he wondered about too.
He said "Well, I think I have a 58 reamer around here someplace",(but there are stipulations), my friend decided not too as someone had already just reamed out the rifling to make it smooth. The barrel languishes in his parts box as it's near worthless as it is now.
Point about that is the small smoothy is dismal,, if you've ever owned T/C's 56 smooth bore,, yeah kind of learn that. :idunno:

At issue with the T/C barrels is the random factory drilling depth of the sight and rail screw holes in the barrel. You can take a 15/16 out to 58,, a 1" out to 62,, only if none of those holes are deeper than .125

15/16 barrels are candidate for a 54 slow twist rifled barrel,,

 

[Hairy Clipper]

Thank you for your insight into this. I had not heard about the drill depth problem before. That is a very good to know.

 

[necchi]

It's only for T/C's, I guess they're problematic.
For my barrel of course I stripped it.
Then I cut a round toothpicks point off,, pushed it into the hole,, used a razor blade against the barrel/hole to score the toothpick.
And just used that depth marking to measure with a caliper.
Mine where all good of course, if I remember proper they where around .100 but did vary a few thousands.

 

[Jumpshot]

It's only for T/C's, I guess they're problematic.

Not only T/C barrels. Bob Hoyt told me that for any barrel, he won't be able to tell you how much it can be safely bored out until he has the barrel in his hands so he can take some measurements. Depends on the diameter of the barrel and how deep the holes are drilled and the dovetails are cut, regardless of brand. You have to take a chance and send the barrel to him and he'll let you know what he can do with it.

 

[necchi]

Sage advise, :hatsoff:

 

[Britsmoothy]

Talked to Bobby Hoyt a few years about that when I sent my 1" in for a 62 cut,, a friend had a 15/16 he wondered about too.
He said "Well, I think I have a 58 reamer around here someplace",(but there are stipulations), my friend decided not too as someone had already just reamed out the rifling to make it smooth. The barrel languishes in his parts box as it's near worthless as it is now.
Point about that is the small smoothy is dismal,, if you've ever owned T/C's 56 smooth bore,, yeah kind of learn that. :idunno:

At issue with the T/C barrels is the random factory drilling depth of the sight and rail screw holes in the barrel. You can take a 15/16 out to 58,, a 1" out to 62,, only if none of those holes are deeper than .125

15/16 barrels are candidate for a 54 slow twist rifled barrel,,

Just to clarify, you say a small smooth bore is "dismal,,".
What do you mean please?

B.

 

[Dave Marsh]

I just send Bobby the barrel and tell him to bore it out to the largest caliber he can safely do. He is the expert. :bow: I have had two 15/16's TC barrels bored out. One .45 and one .50. He got them both to .58. Both were rusted badly and now are great shooters. :thumbsup: :hatsoff:

Dave

 

[Hairy Clipper]

Over the years I have done the done all of my duck and pheasant hunting with a .410 or a twenty gauge. So I think a .58 would certainly do the job. I do not have a barrel to bore yet which is what prompted the inquiry. I will remove the sights and measure the hole depths before buying if possible.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[stubshaft]

Bobby has been my go to guy for years. He has either relined or bored out at least 8 guns for me.