Just recieved a NIB H&R Sidekick that I bought off Auction Arms and I have a couple things I'm wondering about. I unpacked it and began giving it the once over,the barrel had some powder residue in it,looked like about as much as you would expect from a factory proof load being fired in it.I cleaned that out with some acetone and a few patches which left the barrel dry and clean.Inspecting the barrel with a strong light it seemed the rifling had some bumps in the grooves here and there.Not rust pits or buildup of plastic/rust,just bumps.I decided to try loading a couple sabot bullet combinations just to see how the barrel fit was,NO POWDER.First was a Hornady SST 300 grn,it barely started in the muzzle,so tight I just pushed it back out using a ramrod from the breech,next I tried an orange MMP sabot made for using .458 dia bullets,I used a Remington 300 grn HP and it did go all the way down,however it was stop and go all the way,like it was getting some resistance from the little bumps,upon removal,(I just pushed it on out the breech end) the sabot had thin curls of plastic around the sabot from the rifling.Not just rifling marks but like you had taken a razor blade and cut little curls into the sabot all the way around leaving them attached. Next observation about the barrel was at the muzzle,there is no rifling in the first 1/8" or so,then the rifling starts,no step,no ridge that I can tell.But there are milling marks going all around the inside of the muzzle. SO...has anyone seen this condition in there muzzle? How about the stop and go loading? I realize the stop and go condition may go away with a different sabot/bullet combination and I can get my gunsmith to shorten and recrown the barrel.Just want to hear about others experiences with either of these conditions.Thanks!
