Dumb question: How do YOU inspect the bore condition

Harley1953 · Jan 19, 2010

Folks,

I am almost ashamed to even post this, but here goes. When inspecting a rifle(or any firearm) what do your really look for when inspecting the condition of a barrel? Obviously, any rust,pitting, etc, but I have read things like

"rifling is frosted"
Bore is dark
Counterbore/no counterbore

And other comments I don't remember. Been around firearms most of my life but really other than "It looks good on the outside and I can see the rifling in the barrel."

What are YOUR inspection tips techniques?

Apologize for such a dumb question, but help a brother out...

FYI- Just broke down and got a C&R so I am thinking it might just be a good idea to learn what I am looking for......

Thanks in advance for any help..

KurtM · Jan 19, 2010

Not a dumb question at all as most folks don't know either.

I look for the obvious you stated, rust, frost, pitting...etc
Next look at the crown, look to make sure it is concentric no dings or machine marks, not off center or deeper on one side than the other

Next look right at the front of the chamber, use a real good light! I look for a very sharp start to the rifling in this area...if it kind of fades into rifling it is had some serious use.

Next look at all the wear parts, back of bolt lugs, cocking cams surface etc. of these show excessive wear like groves or steps...used hard!

In general, if the bore isn't frosted/rusty...etc. and the crown is good, it probably isn't shot out. Most folks don't shoot near enough to wear out any firearm in a lifetime...now on the other hand if I tell you that it is a well used barrel and only good for close fast work....it probably has only about 10" of usefull rifling left! Just look for the stuff I mentioned and you will be fine!

Traxxis · Jan 20, 2010

KurtM said:
Not a dumb question at all as most folks don't know either.

I look for the obvious you stated, rust, frost, pitting...etc
Next look at the crown, look to make sure it is concentric no dings or machine marks, not off center or deeper on one side than the other

Next look right at the front of the chamber, use a real good light! I look for a very sharp start to the rifling in this area...if it kind of fades into rifling it is had some serious use.

Next look at all the wear parts, back of bolt lugs, cocking cams surface etc. of these show excessive wear like groves or steps...used hard!

In general, if the bore isn't frosted/rusty...etc. and the crown is good, it probably isn't shot out. Most folks don't shoot near enough to wear out any firearm in a lifetime...now on the other hand if I tell you that it is a well used barrel and only good for close fast work....it probably has only about 10" of usefull rifling left! Just look for the stuff I mentioned and you will be fine!

Good post Kurt.

guns_not_groceries · Jan 20, 2010

never heard of "frost"...can someone explain that?

Perplexed · Jan 21, 2010

guns_not_groceries said:
never heard of "frost"...can someone explain that?

That's where the bore has a glazed appearance, almost like the frosting on a window. It's sometimes caused by very fine pitting in the bore's surface, and other times it's just residue causing the glazed look. If you shine a light in one end of the barrel and look down the other end, the bore's surface would look a bit "hazy" as opposed to mirror-bright. If it's residue, a good cleaning will remove the frosting. If it's pitting, then not much you can do - but the firearm's accuracy may not even be affected.

It's easier to see frosting in a bore if you can compare two firearms side by side, one known to have a frosted bore and the other having a mirror-bright bore.

ssgrock3 · Jan 23, 2010

if you are in a store and do not have a light, you can also put a piece of white paper in the open chamber and put it up to the overhead lights and get a pretty good look at the bore. not as good as one of those bendy necky lights, but pretty darn good. you will be surprised.

okie shooter · Jan 23, 2010

Counter boreing was done on alot of Nagant rifles, due to chrosive ammo, and lack of cleaning during the war. The salts in the primers, attracted moisture especally near the muzzle, pitting the end of the rifling. The Soviets then when taking the rifles back to war reserve, the counter bored the pitted rifleing towards the end of the bore. This is to keep the pits from effecting the accuracy. Thus you will see the bore actually cleaned up by the boring to remove the rifleing somewhat.

skyydiver · Jan 23, 2010

Not a dumb question at all, I'm glad you asked. I learned something.

basstranger · Jan 23, 2010

Very good information, thank you

criticalbass · Jan 24, 2010

Corrosion is one cause of bad rifling near the muzzle, but the biggest cause is misuse of the cleaning rod. Steel rods are the worst, but others can also cause damage as they rub against the side of the bore at the crown.

Counterboring is easier and faster than a crown job for fixing the problem, but many times damage to rifling at the muzzle can be corrected by the crown job. CB

Dumb question: How do YOU inspect the bore condition

Harley1953

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KurtM

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Traxxis

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guns_not_groceries

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Perplexed

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ssgrock3

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okie shooter

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skyydiver

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basstranger

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criticalbass

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