Scratch affecting accuracy?

[Magungo1066]

My stupid butt put a scratch down the bore with my pocket knife trying to remove a stuck wire brush. I scratched the barrel "across ways" in the bore. Will this affect accuracy, in all practicality? I could not get a good picture.

 

[Bob McBride]

I wouldn’t think so. Best bet is to get it out and shoot it from the bench and see if it groups like your used to. When you clean give it an extra stroke or two where the scratch is. You could also send it out and get it reamed a bit if it bothers you.

 

[S.Kenton]

I’d shoot it and see, but I highly doubt a scratch would do much to affect accuracy. In time, depending on the depth, you may even see it dissapear.

 

[rich pierce]

I’ve seen some rough bores. You could run an undersized jag with scotchbrite pad to get rid of any rough edges on the scratch and you’ll be fine b

 

[hanshi]

Likely not. Not unusual for barrels to leave the factory with errant scratches like yours.

 

[user 43911]

Likely not. Not unusual for barrels to leave the factory with errant scratches like yours.

I agree, I have one that has 7 of them that kinda twist on the way down.

 

[Magungo1066]

I agree, I have one that has 7 of them that kinda twist on the way down.

Maybe you just got free rifling LOL. Thanks for the replies all, I feel better about it. Will shoot and see tomorrow.

 

[tenngun]

Sam Falada in one of his ml books showed a gun with a badly damaged muzzle that he said shot very well. If the scratch doesn’t tear the patch it should do ok.

 

[Griz44Mag]

How in the heck did you get your knife down the barrel in the first place????

 

[Magungo1066]

How in the heck did you get your knife down the barrel in the first place????

less carefully than was my intention...

 

[Carbon 6]

Another bore brush victim, when will the horror end.

 

[Baxter]

Another bore brush victim, when will the horror end.

Amen to that!
Glad that it wasn't "ol scratch" in that barrel.

 

[mooman76]

I don't think so either but if you feel that bad, polish the bore some. Couldn't hurt.

 

[Rawhide67]

I have a very rough amateur done smooth bore. It would scare you to drop a bore light down it and look. But, it's an accurate gun, 3 shot groups touch at 25 yards if I do my part.

 

[mzzldr]

Soak a patch in lapping compound (preferably) or valve grinding oil, and with a cleaning jag, run the patch down and back up the bore until you are satisfied that the scratch is gone.

Now, your initial post "My stupid butt put a scratch down the bore with my pocket knife..." brought to mind some humorous mental images...