Dark bore?

M

meatgrinder42

New member
I was looking at a couple barreled actions for a sporter project and I see a lot of 'dark bore' but good rifling barreled actions. When I think of dark bore I think of minor pitting and a stay away from. Am I right or is a dark bore a whole different meaning?
 
Dark is relative but;

I too am leary of Dark-Bores, especially on M/L's as they tend to be abused. Even old military bores show some shine. Logic would dictate that light will be reflected off clean polished surfaces as opposed to rougher surfaces that will not reflect. That is why I use a fairly bright bore light. ... ;)
You should see what a Ringed" barrel looks like; bright and shiney, then a dark bad and back to bright and shiney. .... :confused:


Be Safe !!!
 
Last edited:
"Dark bore" has no specific meaning, and sellers use it for that reason. One man's "dark bore" can be another man's "good bore" and another man's "sewer pipe."

Another nice vague term is "strong rifling", which often means that with a good light you just might be able to make out a few lands.

Jim
 
What "dark bore" is supposed to mean:
The rifling is solid, but no longer shiny.

What "dark bore" often means:
You can't see light through the bore.
 
I recall a column by J. B. Wood, he said he had a handgun with a "dark bore" that shot fine. I have a 1943 Walther made P-38 with a pitted barrel, it shoots fine. IMHO if the lands and grooves are sharp a "dark bore" is merely a matter of cosmetics.
 
Both the fact and the term really date to the days of corrosive primers when, given the right (or wrong) combination of heat and humidity, a barrel could pick up a nice coat of rust in a few hours, and a military rifle used by an army with lax discipline could resemble a rusty iron water pipe in a few weeks.

It would take serious neglect for the term to be applicable to a sporting gun of recent (post 1950) vintage.

Jim
 
Just have to ask;

Jim K.
Should the term; 'dark bore' raise a red flag. It's either good or not so good? There are more than one gun term that raises red flags and to me, this is one of them. ..... ;)


Be Safe !!!
 
Last edited:
A friend of mine used to polish dark barrels with toothpaste on the bore brush!
Click to expand...

Funny, I used toothpaste for polishing brass valve guides on cylinder heads... never thought about it for polishing gun parts though...
 
A grungy bore usually lowers the value of a gun, but quite often it has little or no effect on the shooting.
One of the best rifles I ever owned had a pitted barrel, but it was impressively accurate.
There's no telling, some times.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top