Bore Pitting - How much is too much?

[encore3006]

I recently acquired a used 50 cal T/C Pennsylvania Hunter 1:66 twist barrel with a rusty/pitted bore. After an extensive cleaning process, I was able to get the bore to shine once again with some pitting left over, mostly in the grooves. I'd guess the bore at 80%.

Not expecting anything great, I sighted it in for 25 yards. After that I was able to shot 12 patched balls through a one 1" diameter hole at 25 yards. I was surprised at the accuracy considering the crap that I got out of the barrel. The only negative seems to be it needs cleaning more often than a "pit-less" barrel.

How much pitting is too much?

[SHOOTALL]

Sounds like alot more than you have !
we cleaned a friends Remington 50 cal in about the same shape , used Kroil to clean it , he was ready to throw it away , he had the same exp. with sabots he could get 21/2 in groups at 50 yds about the same as before the rust/pitting !

[Landngroove]

The only negative seems to be it needs cleaning more often than a "pit-less" barrel.

How much pitting is too much?

How much cleaning should a "pit-less" barrel get ?  To be on the safe side, pitted, or not, a muzzleloader should be cleaned after every shooting session.  Also, sometimes pitting may not affect accuracy. If your gun is shooting O.K., then yours is not pitted too much. Keep it clean, after shooting, and you will be allright. 

[encore3006]

What I was referring to with..."The only negative seems to be it needs cleaning more often than a "pit-less" barrel." was the cleaning during a session. With a "pit-less" barrel, one that has been taken care of, I can shoot without almost no need to clean until after a session. Cleaning when the day is done is the proper way to care for any firearm. It is hard for me to understand how an owner of a firearm can shoot and put it aside only to corrode. I have a friend who shoots a T/C Hawken and almost never cleans it and the darn thing shoots great! Go figure!