Do I need to recrown this barrel? (pics)

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ndking1126

New member
Don't know exactly how the barrel has come to look like this. I'd guess about 2000-2500 rounds through it. I have never cleaned inside the barrel (maybe that's my problem? lol) Other than that, I do take care of my rifle--the muzzle wouldn't have come in contact with anything other than the foam in my rifle case and maybe my finger.

I ask because accuracy isn't what it used to be. I'm getting 1" to 1.25" groups off a rifle rest at 25 yards. (Using the same rest I can shoot 1" groups or less with my .30-06 at 100 yards with match ammo). I've always shot the Federal 550 bulk pack, nothing else really.

I did the best I could with the pictures.. it was pretty hard to get them focused.

barrel1.jpg


barrel2.jpg


barrel3.jpg


Thanks!
 
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have u tried cleaning the barrel yet? easiest way is to get a bore snake that will fit your cal. open the action run the rope down the barrel and grab it at the other end and pull the snake through. do this 5 times and ur done. maybe u should run some copper solvent or some type of oil to help break up the fouling before you pull the snake through. then get a wire brush and rub the end to try to get that wierd gray looking gunk (or is that metal?) off the end. no offense dude i support people getting in to gunsmithing/anything to do with firearms.and im about to sound like a complete a-hole but should u really be recrowning the barrel of ur own rifle if u cant even clean the darn barrel.? i just got done crowning a 8mm mauser and boy it took me a long time to do it right.
 
I have never cleaned inside the barrel (maybe that's my problem? lol) Other than that, I do take care of my rifle--the muzzle wouldn't have come in contact with anything other than the foam in my rifle case and maybe my finger.
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2,000-2,500 rounds and never cleaned the barrel is a pure lack of care IMHO so your statement I quoted is not entirely true. I am a poor example and I can't call the kettle black but I don't claim to have taken great care of my arms. If it comes clean with picks etc. fine. if not... it was lack of care that did alot of the damage... 2.5K rounds with no cleaning... I would consider the bore eroded and toss the barrel before re-crowning it...
I like a dirty bore on my .22lr and it gets a brush and swab followed by patches every 500 or so rounds...
Brent
 
Yeah you are an a-hole! No seriously, I'm just kidding. Don't worry I would not be the one doing the recrowing!! :) And I haven't cleaned the barrel because I don't have a cleaning rod/bore snake that fits down the barrel. All my other guns get cleaned regularly. I've only recently noticed the lack of accuracy (the last month or 2) and have been unemployeed since then. I've really had to be careful where I spend money, so I will buy a cleaning rod when I get a chance. Thankfully I haven't run out of my ammo reserves yet, but am getting darn close!! :eek:

To the best of my knowledge that is metal with no blueing. I tried to wipe it down, but no changes. Again, sorry about the pictures.. that was the best I could get with the macro setting on my camera.

And I'm asking at least partially for the simple pursuit of knowledge. I'm guessing a smith would charge me more than I'm willing to pay for a rifle I've had for a while. I'd probably go out and buy another one to replace it. But I was hoping to gain some knowledge first to help me with my future decision.
 
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I am seeing alot of what appears to be lead... Ever heard of a "solder wick" used in electronics to draw solder off circuit boards? Not very high dollar and available at radio shack... may help bud!
I am reiterating... I am surely not a pot to call the kettle black and I would go to picking at that mess in a heartbeat as I too, am an unemployable wounded redneck with not a dime to spend, a pot to pee in and barely a window to toss it out of!
http://shop.ebay.com/items/solder wick?_dmd=1&_sop=12
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solder_wick
Brent
 
I'm not a solder-er, so I'm not familiar with the tool. But I might know someone who is.. I missed in your first post you were recommending for me to try to pick it off. That I can try! My first assumption was that it was eroded away. But I don't remember what it looked like when new, so picking is definitely an option at this point.

I'll be sure to update when I know something. Great project for tomorrow.
 
You guys came through again! It came off pretty easily. I sprayed a little gun oil on it and then wiped it off with cloth. Took a little while to get all of it, but it looks almost good as new.

I'll definitely get the inside of the barrel cleaned as soon as possible and get her back to the range. I'm pretty sure she'll be shooting tighter groups with a little cleaning.
 
Ack!! I clean my bore and action after every range session. Luckily that damage is reversible.

Just curious, how many shots can the average barrel endure through? I hope mine don't look like that in 2500 rounds...
 
how many shots can the average barrel endure through?
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Man, I don't know. I will re-iterate that only my 22 gets this absolute lack of attention. Seems I remember a post a while back where some people had shot 3-5K rounds through their .22's without cleaning them.

I seriously doubt a higher powered centerfire could handle the same abuse. Anyone else have knowledge to contribute?
 
yep u should defanitly clean the barrel. accuracy should clean a little. if u cant afford to have it crowned right now thats the joy of firearms. u can put it up it sits there and dont charge u nothing. then when u get enough saved up u can go get it crowned. may i ask what brand/ model the gun is? and its a .22 right.
 
Just a plain-jane Marlin 60. I'm expecting now that I won't need it recrowned because it all cleaned off so well. I would like to remove the front sight and having the barrel shortened just enough to get rid of the screw hole. Mainly because I like the look of a clean barrel. Just a frivolous dream for another day..
 
Although it is hard to really see it the crown doesn't look that bad. A handy tool to get that lead off is a piece of heavy gauge copper wire. Hammer one end down to a flattened screwdriver shape and you't be able to pick all manner of crud off and out of your gun. That much lead buildup is probably not helping your accuracy any. Plug screws are available from Brownells to fill the screw hole.
 
how many shots can the average barrel endure through?
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A .22LR should go 10,000-15,000 rounds as I recall. Some rifles (.22-250, .220 Swift, .25-06, .257 Weatherby mag to name a few) can be shot out in 1000-3000 rounds depending on how they're treated.
 
Recrown

Take a large,very sharp(new) drill bit and drill into the bore a bit,about a 1/16".that will recrown it.A gunsmith will do about the same thing and charge you $$$.It aint rocket science.
 
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