I bought a cheap ($90) Enfield No. 1 Mk III, made in 1942, at a recent gun show. It seemed in decent condition, and it came with a nice Monte Carlo aftermarket stock, so I took a chance on it even though the bore looked a bit rough.
After I got it home, I gave it a good cleaning. Unfortunately, I cannot get the bore completely clean. Even though most of it is bright and shiny, there is definite pitting and corrosion along the entire length of rifling. I can't seem to get it any cleaner, despite scrubbing with JB bore cleaner (a mild abrasive). I wouldn't mind the corrosion so much, but after firing one box of ammo, the barrel was so gunked up it took me all afternoon to clean out the accumulated copper. I attribute the heavy copper buildup to the roughness of the bore -- since it's not nice and smooth, it collects a huge amount of copper with every bullet that's fired. I know this rifle is just a cheap "plinker", but if I have to spend tons of hours cleaning it every time, even with one measly box of ammo, it'll take a lot of the fun out it.
Does anyone have magical advice on a way to get these old military barrels back to a better condition, which hopefully will make it shoot cleaner? Or should I dump the thing and search for one with a better bore?
Thanks in advance for any help!
After I got it home, I gave it a good cleaning. Unfortunately, I cannot get the bore completely clean. Even though most of it is bright and shiny, there is definite pitting and corrosion along the entire length of rifling. I can't seem to get it any cleaner, despite scrubbing with JB bore cleaner (a mild abrasive). I wouldn't mind the corrosion so much, but after firing one box of ammo, the barrel was so gunked up it took me all afternoon to clean out the accumulated copper. I attribute the heavy copper buildup to the roughness of the bore -- since it's not nice and smooth, it collects a huge amount of copper with every bullet that's fired. I know this rifle is just a cheap "plinker", but if I have to spend tons of hours cleaning it every time, even with one measly box of ammo, it'll take a lot of the fun out it.
Does anyone have magical advice on a way to get these old military barrels back to a better condition, which hopefully will make it shoot cleaner? Or should I dump the thing and search for one with a better bore?
Thanks in advance for any help!