Reboring a rusty barrel

[LME]

rust will be gone but the PITS will still be there!!
Got a rifle/barrel/kit that I picked up long ago. Someone kinda put it together,
fired it , DIDN'T clean it, stood it in the corner for who knows how long.
I got it for a song.
Did the electrolysis thing. Set it up and let it cook for a couple of days. Barrel bore looked like a lave tube. When I got done, still looked like a country roads map but NO rust.
Picked up a drop in from Green Mountain in .32. Not made anymore.
I DID get after it with a type of hone. (scotch brite pads and lots of oil.
Got rid of the pits but it still could use more smoothing out. Outside of the barrel is maybe 60%+ with sights. A little re blue and it should be good to go. Can't see throwing it out if I can clean it up. Got nothing to loose but time.
My plan is to smooth out the bore with crocus cloth, long cleaning rod, battery drill lots of oil and time. The spirit just hasn't moved me yet.

Keep us posted on your endeavor! I know electrolysis works but as of yet heven't done a barrel? Electrolysis doesn;t take rust of and the reust is gone it just makes it turn loose. This has been my experience. I haven't tried different powers or anything but soda desolved in the water and an el-cheapo battery charger.

 

[Nor Cal Mikie]

Keep us posted on your endeavor! I know electrolysis works but as of yet heven't done a barrel? Electrolysis doesn;t take rust of and the reust is gone it just makes it turn loose. This has been my experience. I haven't tried different powers or anything but soda desolved in the water and an el-cheapo battery charger.

Whatever works for you. I got into it years back when I started the BP thing.
This kit was worthless but I couldn't resist. Think it may have been a CVA kit.
Nobody wanted to touch it so I did some digging, found the drop in and went from there. Had a couple of things that needed help so I got in the middle of them and ended up learning a BUNCH!!
Saw a video on the electrolysis thing so I had nothing to lose. Standard auto shop battery charger, barrel in a tank of water cooking while I worked. When you get bubbles, it's working.

 

[Gordoncourtney]

Whatever works for you. I got into it years back when I started the BP thing.
This kit was worthless but I couldn't resist. Think it may have been a CVA kit.
Nobody wanted to touch it so I did some digging, found the drop in and went from there. Had a couple of things that needed help so I got in the middle of them and ended up learning a BUNCH!!
Saw a video on the electrolysis thing so I had nothing to lose. Standard auto shop battery charger, barrel in a tank of water cooking while I worked. When you get bubbles, it's working.

I have shall we say re rifled an 1830 •600 bore barrel . A cape rifle to be exact, You do need some sort of riffling to start, and the bigger bore helps I made a tube with a brass 1/2” long lug soldered to it . So it would run up and down the rusty worn out groves twisting the tube as it went. A second tube with a cutter went inside . I could adjust the cutter with screw via a nut soldered to the end . Two hold the second tube in place I drilled an 1/8” hole and pinned them together I did not remove the breach plug. I used a colbolt like lathe cut off tool which I ground to shape. It impossible to drill. , but I used eBay diamond engraving bits in my Dremmil. And after half an hour grinding I had a pivot hole in the cutter bit. The rest is history but it tuned up the rifling beyond expectations I had a look and my bits are long gone so no
Photos. But I can send drawings

Yrs it’s a bit challenging. But once set up the outer tube ran up and down twisting well with a little grease, whilst the cutter scraped away , it was all done in a day . It took longer to polish than the cutting

However with a smaller bore just use the outer tube or rod . And grinding paste . Then a tiny brass lug , soldered on , will refresh the rifling, I have done this too but it took hours of work

I wish you well