What the...!

[JerryKo]

Just finished scrubbing down a barrel I picked up here.  Man what a disappointment.  It looks like somebody tapped the entire bore.  I'm not kidding it is chattered from muzzle to throat.  I assume this is from factory cutting.  Anyway, do you guys think the JB paste method will work on this, or will it need a more aggressive polishing. I'm afraid of rounding the rifling off.  Of course I haven't shot it yet, so who knows, maybe it's a shooter!   I got some factory 45/70  300 grain hollows I might try.  I will def stay away from cast at this point.


JerryKo

[quickdtoo]

I'd shoot it first and see how it does. If you had or can get the original frame for it, you could send it in for replacement if it turns out to be a problem.

Tim

[LaOtto222]

Like Tim said...shoot it and see how it does. If it shoots well to start with, but gets bad due to fouling, you may be able to save it with a lot of polishing. I had a barrel (not a H&R) that was extremely rough and would foul up quickly. I must have polished it 7 or 8 times (150-200 strokes each) with shooting in between before it smoothed out. It turned out to be one of the most accurate rifles I own. Sure polishing wears down rifling, but not by that much. Wear from throat erosion will get the barrel bad before polishing does if you do not use an aggressive compound. A rough bore does not mean it will shoot badly, it generally means it will foul quickly. Heavy fouling will throw off your accuracy. Good luck to you.

[rkeltner]

just thinking, this might be a good place to invest in a fire-lapping kit!

[quickdtoo]

Fire lapping the typical shallow .002" rifling is not a good idea, accuracy will go from bad to worse, those that have done it to their H&Rs have regretted doing so.

Tim

[LaOtto222]

Fire lapping scares me. I have read that it is OK to do if you plan on re-chambering the rifle to a cartridge that is longer or you are going to set back the barrel and re-chamber. It takes most of the wear right in the throat area, less as it moves up the bore. In effect you are accelerating throat wear. Some times an extended throat helps, but in most cases it does not. On a Handi you can not set back a barrel the only other option would be to take a throat cutter and cut it deeper. It will be a crap shoot if it works or not. Of course you could re-chamber to 45-120 like Tim did.

[LaOtto222]

BTW welcome aboard rkeltner

[Awf Hand]

Paper patch with 400gr sandpaper..?

Just kidding, do what D2 says.

[JerryKo]

Paper patch with 400gr sandpaper..?

I never would have thought of that one.

I thought I would get to shoot it this week, but work decided different for me. May be I can sneak out while the turkey's cooking.  I'll post when I get a chance.

Thanks,

JerryKo

[JerryKo]

Finally got to shoot it.  Sore does group nice at 25yds (peep sights.)  I had a three hole clover leaf and then the forth was slightly out with Win 300 grain JHP factory ammo.  I tried my 405 grainers and 3031 receipe just to compare kick to a 500 barrel I just got to shoot and the 500 barrel doesn't come close to how the 45/70 recoils.  The 500 was using 375 grain Ultra max loadings.  A may post a new post to see if anybody knows the velocity on those.  Any way the barrel cleaned up OK and I'll probably keep it as my short range stalker.  I had bought the 500 for that reason but the 45/ 70 I have everything I need for reloading and zero for the 500.  The 45/70 may get a polishing one day. Not sure if to keep the 500 tho.

Thanks fro the help,


JerryKo