Barrel Ring Winchester Model 43

H

H.W. French

New member
Hey Folks,
Picked up a Winchester Model 43 in 22 Hornet a few weeks back. It is in fantastic shape with period scope and all. I looked down the bore this evening and saw a perfect ring approximately two inches from the muzzle. No discernable bulge on the outside profile although the front sight is part of the barrel so the machining is like it is. Does anyone have experience with this? I have not fired it yet. I only have one round of 22H at the moment.
If it's an issue then no big deal. I was planning on cutting the barrel down before I realized the great overall condition of the rifle. Working on a pic.
 
I bought a 788 .223 and paid little attention to the dirty bore.
I should have, the barrel was ringed near the muzzle but the bore was also pitted and cutting off the barrel behind the bulge did little good.
Pitted? Who makes corrosive .223 or 5.56? Nobody I know of, but somebody I don’t.
Remington replaced the whole barreled action, not just the barrel, for $135. But that was years ago.

So, good luck on your Hornet.
 
Before doing anything else, clean the barrel, get some ammo and see how the gun shoots, as is.

Possibly it will be fine. Possibly it will be crap, but don't cut the barrel or do anything else until you KNOW.
 
The photo makes it look like something on the surface, especially that little curl at 3:30 that appears to interrupt the ring. I'll be interested to learn if you find it just brushes or patches out.
 
first thought

My first thought was that the rifle was fired with a bore obstruction. After seeing your pic, I'm going out on a limb and wager that is some type of corrosion/ staining or crud caused by what.........I dunno. The ring seems very slim and uniform.
Were it mine (and I've wanted a M43 Hornet for years) I'd brush it and hit it with JB bore paste and see what I've got. Then I'd shoot the thing and see how it groups. I wouldn't cut a Model 43 only as a desperate last resort and probably not even then......
 
Update: After a good soak and a little brushing it disappeared. Nothing left but a shiny bore. I guess I’ll have to find another in “less desirable” condition to put under the knife. This one is just too nice.
 
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