[bubba052698]

First off, I'd like to wish everyone a merry christmas and a happy new year! I would also like to thank Mike Knifong for the speedy delivery, the wealth of info, and SWEET trigger job. I can't wait to try it.

Anyway I was cleaning and preparing my gun for bedding when I noticed two small marks about 2 inches inside the muzzle of the barrel. They seem sunkin in, not raised, and I have no idea how they got there. They are also very small (they look about .01" wide by .05" long).

First off, would it be dangerous to fire my rifle? (It's been about 2-1/2 months since I've fired it). Also would this effect accuracy a lot? I've never seen a "bad" bore so I have no reference. Other than the two marks my bore is like a mirror.

Thanks in advance for the advice

 

[cajungeo]

Hey bubba, are the marks (scratches) on the lands or in the grooves? They may be tool marks from manuf. You may be just noticing them. Are they straight or crooked? Since they are not produding, I doubt they will effect your accuracy at all, now if they were on the crown it would be another story.

If you feel they might be cracks, take it to a gun smith to run a bore scope to check em out. It will give you piece of mind. It is a quick, and simple thing for a smith to look at it. Depending if you are a regular he may not even charge as he is just looking, not doing anything.

 

[bubba052698]

Hello cajungeo

One is bigger than the other, and they are both on the lands (that's the high part, right?). They almost look like digs, and they follow the rifling.

Unfortunately the nearest gunsmith is 60 miles away and operates under normal business hours i.e. when I am working, hehe.

Are cracks dangerous? My biggest concern is safety. When I am done bedding and re-breaking in my barrel (I never did it originally) I will evaluate my accuracy then.

Thanks

 

[cajungeo]

they are both on the lands (that's the high part, right?). They almost look like digs, and they follow the rifling.

Unfortunately the nearest gunsmith is 60 miles away and operates under normal business hours i.e. when I am working, hehe.

Are cracks dangerous? My biggest concern is safety.

I can't determine if they are cracks or not, but since the marks are on the thickest part of the bore, (Lands), and follow them, it is probably a machine mark. Possibly a burr on their cutting tool. It is tough to crack a bore on a semi auto as excessive pressure would most likely be vented by blowing off the case head, and blowing the bolt back, where as a bolt action it will have to relieve pressure thru or into the bore'chamber. At our gun club we have the remains of a pump shot gun which was double loaded. The receiver/chamber area is just splinters. Luckily the shooter wasn't injured.

Bottom line is; its "probably" machine marks, but if you don't feel confident in it get it bore scoped.

BTW, you wouldn't be cleaning the bore with a Stainless Steel rod? This could leave some nasty marks esp. with no bore guide.

 

[bubba052698]

I used to use an Outers two-piece rod, but I believe it was aluminum. Now I use a dewey coated rod with a bore guide.

The more I look at it, it seems that there more very small scratches, but those don't worry me. They are all at about the same place in the length of the barrel, so my gut tells me that they are machine marks. Oh well, we'll see how it does when I'm done bedding it.