restoring bore

sophijo · June 28, 2004, 10:24 PM

Bought a Czech Mauser 48 today..bore seems "dirty" (black) but not pitted. Cleaned with Hoppes 9 and patches came out pretty clean..gray color. I like'em shiny.....if corrosive ammo was used is the bore beyond redemption? What should I do next?
Thanks
Dave

Clemson · June 29, 2004, 10:40 AM

JB Bore compound or a similar, mildly abrasive material (Remington Bore Cleaner, Butches Bore Shine, etc.) on a patch wrapped around a worn brush. Clean up with Hoppes #9. Repeat.

Clemson

aminyard · June 29, 2004, 12:47 PM

If that does not work you can try "fire lapping". It is a fairly simple process, and there are kits available.

Al Minyard

sophijo · June 29, 2004, 06:38 PM

Thanks gentlemen!!!!....and what's firelapping?
Dave

Dave Markowitz · June 29, 2004, 07:18 PM

If the bore is basically clean and there's no pitting, you're putting unnecessary wear and tear on it by further cleaning before you take it shooting. Take the gun to the range and put some rounds downrange. Then clean the bore while it's still warm. Your barrel cleaner will be more effective when the barrel is still warm from shooting.

scottys1 · June 29, 2004, 09:57 PM

As Dave said, shoot it before you worry about cleaning any more. The question shouldn't be so much "How does the bore look?" but more "How does it shoot?"
I have a 1903 Springfield that has good rifling but is rather pitted. If I do my part, it will put 5 rds into less than an inch at 100 yds with peep sights. With this kind of accuracy, I really don't care how the bore looks.

Lavan · June 29, 2004, 11:48 PM

Listen to Scottys1. I bought a Winchester M1 Garand years ago. It was a steal so I ...had ..... to. The bore looked like surface of the moon.
It was an EARLY one. No gas relief plug....just solid and single slotted.
Took it to the late Roy Davenport in Stockton, CA who was a whiz.
Roy NEVER steered me wrong.
He took me aside and said, "A pitted bore is important when you are BUYING a gun because you can chisel the price because of it."
I thought "Yeah, sure" .......until..... I took it to the range. I was happy enough with 1.5" from the old warhorse.
1.5" at 100 yards with a semi auto is good enough for me whatever it is.

Handy · July 1, 2004, 05:32 PM

Along with what Dave said, methods like firelapping are for new bores to remove uneven areas, hoping that this will promote accuracy. Since the bore is new the overall dimensions are unaffected.

A dark and well used bore is already missing some of its original tight dimensions. Removing more is a mistake. A shiny bore that the bullet rattles down isn't a useful one.

I recommend doing what the previous owners did - shoot it and clean it normally. You can't make a new barrel out of an old one without going up in caliber.

dfaugh · July 4, 2004, 08:12 PM

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=149816

June 28, 2004, 10:24 PM	#1
sophijo Senior Member Join Date: June 28, 2004 Posts: 666	restoring bore Bought a Czech Mauser 48 today..bore seems "dirty" (black) but not pitted. Cleaned with Hoppes 9 and patches came out pretty clean..gray color. I like'em shiny.....if corrosive ammo was used is the bore beyond redemption? What should I do next? Thanks Dave

June 29, 2004, 10:40 AM	#2
Clemson Senior Member Join Date: March 9, 2001 Location: Greenwood, SC Posts: 875	JB Bore compound or a similar, mildly abrasive material (Remington Bore Cleaner, Butches Bore Shine, etc.) on a patch wrapped around a worn brush. Clean up with Hoppes #9. Repeat. Clemson __________________ NRA Endowment Member, NRA Certified Instructor CWP Holder US Army veteran Gunsmith www.boltandbarrel.com

June 29, 2004, 06:38 PM	#4
sophijo Senior Member Join Date: June 28, 2004 Posts: 666	firelapping Thanks gentlemen!!!!....and what's firelapping? Dave

June 29, 2004, 07:18 PM	#5
Dave Markowitz Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2002 Location: SE PA Posts: 372	If the bore is basically clean and there's no pitting, you're putting unnecessary wear and tear on it by further cleaning before you take it shooting. Take the gun to the range and put some rounds downrange. Then clean the bore while it's still warm. Your barrel cleaner will be more effective when the barrel is still warm from shooting. __________________ Dave Markowitz http://blogostuff.blogspot.com

June 29, 2004, 12:47 PM	#3
aminyard Member Join Date: June 28, 2004 Posts: 60	If that does not work you can try "fire lapping". It is a fairly simple process, and there are kits available. Al Minyard

June 29, 2004, 09:57 PM	#6
scottys1 Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2004 Posts: 316	As Dave said, shoot it before you worry about cleaning any more. The question shouldn't be so much "How does the bore look?" but more "How does it shoot?" I have a 1903 Springfield that has good rifling but is rather pitted. If I do my part, it will put 5 rds into less than an inch at 100 yds with peep sights. With this kind of accuracy, I really don't care how the bore looks.

June 29, 2004, 11:48 PM	#7
Lavan Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 1999 Location: California Posts: 2,716	Listen to Scottys1. I bought a Winchester M1 Garand years ago. It was a steal so I ...had ..... to. The bore looked like surface of the moon. It was an EARLY one. No gas relief plug....just solid and single slotted. Took it to the late Roy Davenport in Stockton, CA who was a whiz. Roy NEVER steered me wrong. He took me aside and said, "A pitted bore is important when you are BUYING a gun because you can chisel the price because of it." I thought "Yeah, sure" .......until..... I took it to the range. I was happy enough with 1.5" from the old warhorse. 1.5" at 100 yards with a semi auto is good enough for me whatever it is.

July 1, 2004, 05:32 PM	#8
Handy Junior member Join Date: August 31, 2001 Posts: 8,785	Along with what Dave said, methods like firelapping are for new bores to remove uneven areas, hoping that this will promote accuracy. Since the bore is new the overall dimensions are unaffected. A dark and well used bore is already missing some of its original tight dimensions. Removing more is a mistake. A shiny bore that the bullet rattles down isn't a useful one. I recommend doing what the previous owners did - shoot it and clean it normally. You can't make a new barrel out of an old one without going up in caliber.

July 4, 2004, 08:12 PM	#9
dfaugh Senior Member Join Date: January 17, 2002 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 1,715	Check out this thread in the rifle forum http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=149816 __________________ "If you Listen to Fools, the Mob Rules" "No one has the answer, but one thing is true. You'e got to turn on evil, when its coming after you. You've gotta face it down,and when it tries to hide, you've got to go in after it, and never be denied. Time is running out...Let's roll. Let's roll for freedom, let's roll for love. We're going after satan, on the wings of a dove. Let's roll for freedom, let's roll for truth. Let's not let our children grow up fearful in their youth."