.357 Herrett project, ideas?

[alan in ga]

I may buy a 14" blued .357 Herrett barrel for cheap. It has rust pitting in the muzzle end of the bore for about 4" or so. I inspected this barrel a few years ago and passed on it. It is now available for purchase again [$50] and with all the relining/stubbing/reboring projects going on I think I will buy it.
First thing will be a good cleaning. I'll see what 0000 wool will do to the bore. Of course I would not use steel wool on a good bore but this is a different animal. Then I will probably shoot it for an accuracy test. One never knows if a bore is 'bad' unless one trys!
Any ideas or suggestions as to what could be done IF it is not accurate? I don't want to cut it back to 10" but IF it cleans up the pitted bore section it is possible I would do that.
Then again it might get sent off for a rebore/rerifle/chamber to .45 Silouette!
Or......?..?
What think?

[Tommyt]

 I wouldn't touch it with anything till I ran a few down it ,I say this meaning IF the barrel is not closed or rusted to a point where you may have BIG bang problem, you may just be able to shot out the problem I know it can be done with Black powder barrels some times
Have you thought of a Fire Lap ?? or 2
 I also would take a Brass Screw with some Valve grinding oil and touch up the crown
You may have a Diamond in the Rust 

Tommyt

[alan in ga]

An old gunsmith friend has a 'first question' to customers that come dragging in guns that "need fixin". After listening to their diagnosis of their gun, he usually asks, "well, does it SHOOT?" He means have they actually SHOT IT on target to see if it's really BROKE?
He tells of the story of an old Mossberg rifle with a ring/bulge in the bore about 1 1/2" inside the muzzle end. Owner wanted it cut back and recrowned. He said it shoots in 1.5moa as is. After the barrel shortening/recrowning, it still shot 1.5 MOA....ha!

~Don't fix what ain't broke~

[Hopalong7]

     I agree with Tommy and alan, shoot it first.  Been there on that one.  I also recently cut off a S-14 357Herrett to 10" and really like it.  That way you get a full bull 10" with two forearm bosses for the Pachmyer forend.   If, as you say, the damage is just in the muzzle.  To my thinking, the 357 Herrett is a 10" caliber anyway.
Walt

[SHOOTALL]

Clean it with Kroil oil , its unreal what it removes .

[alan in ga]

Got it home....pitting looks more like just fouling...but it is pitting. Now to the bench to CLEAN it! I love 'finds'!

[Steve P]

Shootall is correct....use the Kroil.......pitting is just something to catch dirt.  Clean up the barrel and if safe, go shot it.  IF ugly on the outside, the KG GUNKOTEs work really well.  Contender barrels fit into most all ovens so easy to bake the finish.  No one will look down the bore except you.  Who cares about ugly if it shoots?

Steve

[alan in ga]

I'm anxiously waiting for the barrel's previous owner to find the rusty set of Lyman dies for this .357 Herrett. Will then make up a small batch of cases and it's off to the range to see how she shoots!

[alan in ga]

I'm seeing new die sets for $$, and a set or two on auction sites. Sure as the world I'll buy a set for too much money and then find a 'cheap set'.

[Tommyt]

Look rt here on the GBO in the for sales,
 If you are close to Tampa bay Fl
I'll loan you my set
I wanna no how it shoots

Tommyt

[alan in ga]

Thanks for the input guys....put the verbal purchase to a set today and happy with the price. Now to make sum purty cases out of the old thutty thuttys!
Of course my 30/30AI already does that, too.

[Dezynco]

I'd start with new brass, 30-30's are pretty cheap and easy to find.  Seems like (to me) that new brass forms easier because the inside that has to drag over the expander is smooth and clean.  Just a suggestion.

When you form brass for the 357 Herret, you have to work the shoulder back a little at a time.  The 357 Herret actually headspaces off the shoulder!  You want to have the barrel handy, push the shoulder back until the barrel will just snap shut with a little force.  That ensures that the shoulder is as snug as possible.

Also, you'll need to have your case trimmer handy.  At some point while working the shoulder down you'll have to trim some off the case to get it to fit into the chamber.

You size a little, then trim a little until you get a case that fits snugly.  Then trim to the proper length.  I know this sounds like a pain, but it's only on the first case that you must do this so carefully.  Once you have set the forming die for your barrel, and have the case trimmer set,  you can get after it.

[alan in ga]

Thanks. I enjoy working with brass mods. The Herrett sounds like it will be fun. It's close to formi/sizing my 17 Ackley Hornet dies but with the trimming necessary. Dies should be here in a few days!

[delt167502]

i have a 357 herett i have been using ,starting in 1968.the way i have fire formed brass is loading 30-30 brass. then sitting the shoulder back enough that the action will close,then firing them, it forms the cases and all you have to do is trim the cases about .200 .after that i have found the cases need to be anealed or they split after 3or 4 reloadings.  think you will enjoy it ,have taken elk,deer,bear.hogs& all kinds of sml.game .it can be loaded thru a long range of diff.loads & still hold a 2" group at 50yd. off a rest.