A Couple Green Mountain Barrel Questions

[deadrabbit]

I purchased a new old stock 40 cal flinter barrel in the white with no instructions of course.  Bought new about 15 years ago I was told.  Did GM put anything in the barrels that needs to be removed before shooting? Like any type of grease or rust stopper.  I'm just wondering what to give it its initial cleaning with?  Or do they come ready to shoot? 

The touch hole looks pretty small.  What size hole would you recommend on a 40?  Thank you

[coyotejoe]

I don't really know but I have heard (one does hear a lot of stuff) that GM barrels came with a Teflon coating which needed to be scrubbed out before shooting. I've owned a bunch of GM barrels (not "drop-ins") over the past 30 years and have fitted quite a few to rifles for other folks and none of us ever did anything special to remove the bore coating. I just give the new barrel the same cleaning I'd give any barrel before loading up the first time. GM makes a very good barrel at a very reasonable price.
 The best touch hole size is 1/16-5/64", I'd try 1/16 first.

[necchi]

 Coyote joe said;
" I just give the new barrel the same cleaning I'd give any barrel before loading up the first time."

Well ya, but that's more than just a soap and water clean-up.
 Yes, there is a packing grease in there,,you need to go after it with an oil solvent. Brake cleaner works good for me, go after it any ways ya want, the simple rule is clean it till a white patch comes out white.

[deadrabbit]

I'm glad I asked.  I thought I read about some type of coating in them.  I do have brake cleaner I planned on using before blueing so will hit the inside too.  Will order a new hole.  Thank you both

Out of curiosity I did weigh the barrel since Ive seen the weight of small bores discussed.  It is 32" long and weighs just shy of 6 lbs.  It is a 15/16".

[Rangr44]

[The best touch hole size is 1/16-5/64", I'd try 1/16 first.]

Yep, I'd try 1/16" first, too - It's easier to make a hole larger than smaller.    

With rocklocks, it's better to go small, because the hole can be enlarged slightly after it starts to erode from firing - until it gets to the point that the vent's too big, and will then need to be hogged out for a vent liner (putting the rifle back where it started, with a small touch hole).

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