Barrel Ring Winchester Model 43

H.W. French · January 29, 2024, 08:03 PM

Hey Folks,
Picked up a Winchester Model 43 in 22 Hornet a few weeks back. It is in fantastic shape with period scope and all. I looked down the bore this evening and saw a perfect ring approximately two inches from the muzzle. No discernable bulge on the outside profile although the front sight is part of the barrel so the machining is like it is. Does anyone have experience with this? I have not fired it yet. I only have one round of 22H at the moment.
If it's an issue then no big deal. I was planning on cutting the barrel down before I realized the great overall condition of the rifle. Working on a pic.

Jim Watson · January 29, 2024, 10:02 PM

I bought a 788 .223 and paid little attention to the dirty bore.
I should have, the barrel was ringed near the muzzle but the bore was also pitted and cutting off the barrel behind the bulge did little good.
Pitted? Who makes corrosive .223 or 5.56? Nobody I know of, but somebody I don’t.
Remington replaced the whole barreled action, not just the barrel, for $135. But that was years ago.

So, good luck on your Hornet.

FrankenMauser · January 29, 2024, 10:35 PM

If the ring is shorter than the bearing surface of a bullet, I wouldn't worry about it.
If longer, you should probably cut it back.

H.W. French · January 29, 2024, 11:19 PM

Here it is in all its glory.

Doug Lee · January 30, 2024, 09:23 AM

Hello All,
Is that a manufacturing defect?

Doug
*

FrankenMauser · January 30, 2024, 10:41 AM

Send it.

**44 AMP** · January 30, 2024, 04:23 PM

Before doing anything else, clean the barrel, get some ammo and see how the gun shoots, as is.

Possibly it will be fine. Possibly it will be crap, but don't cut the barrel or do anything else until you KNOW.

H.W. French · January 30, 2024, 09:22 PM

Going to scrub the bore this weekend and track down some ammo. Thanks for the advice thus far.

**Unclenick** · February 1, 2024, 09:27 PM

The photo makes it look like something on the surface, especially that little curl at 3:30 that appears to interrupt the ring. I'll be interested to learn if you find it just brushes or patches out.

bamaranger · February 2, 2024, 12:27 PM

My first thought was that the rifle was fired with a bore obstruction. After seeing your pic, I'm going out on a limb and wager that is some type of corrosion/ staining or crud caused by what.........I dunno. The ring seems very slim and uniform.
Were it mine (and I've wanted a M43 Hornet for years) I'd brush it and hit it with JB bore paste and see what I've got. Then I'd shoot the thing and see how it groups. I wouldn't cut a Model 43 only as a desperate last resort and probably not even then......

H.W. French · February 13, 2024, 01:30 PM

Update: After a good soak and a little brushing it disappeared. Nothing left but a shiny bore. I guess I’ll have to find another in “less desirable” condition to put under the knife. This one is just too nice.

Doug Lee · February 16, 2024, 06:38 AM

That's great,
What product did you use to clean it up!
Doug
*

January 29, 2024, 08:03 PM	#1
H.W. French Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2009 Location: Blue Ridge Plateau Posts: 151	Barrel Ring Winchester Model 43 Hey Folks, Picked up a Winchester Model 43 in 22 Hornet a few weeks back. It is in fantastic shape with period scope and all. I looked down the bore this evening and saw a perfect ring approximately two inches from the muzzle. No discernable bulge on the outside profile although the front sight is part of the barrel so the machining is like it is. Does anyone have experience with this? I have not fired it yet. I only have one round of 22H at the moment. If it's an issue then no big deal. I was planning on cutting the barrel down before I realized the great overall condition of the rifle. Working on a pic.

January 29, 2024, 10:35 PM	#3
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,427	If the ring is shorter than the bearing surface of a bullet, I wouldn't worry about it. If longer, you should probably cut it back. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

January 30, 2024, 10:41 AM	#6
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,427	Send it. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

January 30, 2024, 04:23 PM	#7
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,860	Before doing anything else, clean the barrel, get some ammo and see how the gun shoots, as is. Possibly it will be fine. Possibly it will be crap, but don't cut the barrel or do anything else until you KNOW. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

February 1, 2024, 09:27 PM	#9
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	The photo makes it look like something on the surface, especially that little curl at 3:30 that appears to interrupt the ring. I'll be interested to learn if you find it just brushes or patches out. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

January 29, 2024, 10:02 PM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,545	I bought a 788 .223 and paid little attention to the dirty bore. I should have, the barrel was ringed near the muzzle but the bore was also pitted and cutting off the barrel behind the bulge did little good. Pitted? Who makes corrosive .223 or 5.56? Nobody I know of, but somebody I don’t. Remington replaced the whole barreled action, not just the barrel, for $135. But that was years ago. So, good luck on your Hornet.

January 30, 2024, 09:23 AM	#5
Doug Lee Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2013 Location: S.E. Virginia Posts: 107	Hello All, Is that a manufacturing defect? Doug *

January 30, 2024, 09:22 PM	#8
H.W. French Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2009 Location: Blue Ridge Plateau Posts: 151	Going to scrub the bore this weekend and track down some ammo. Thanks for the advice thus far.

February 2, 2024, 12:27 PM	#10
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,314	first thought My first thought was that the rifle was fired with a bore obstruction. After seeing your pic, I'm going out on a limb and wager that is some type of corrosion/ staining or crud caused by what.........I dunno. The ring seems very slim and uniform. Were it mine (and I've wanted a M43 Hornet for years) I'd brush it and hit it with JB bore paste and see what I've got. Then I'd shoot the thing and see how it groups. I wouldn't cut a Model 43 only as a desperate last resort and probably not even then......

February 13, 2024, 01:30 PM	#11
H.W. French Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2009 Location: Blue Ridge Plateau Posts: 151	Update: After a good soak and a little brushing it disappeared. Nothing left but a shiny bore. I guess I’ll have to find another in “less desirable” condition to put under the knife. This one is just too nice.

February 16, 2024, 06:38 AM	#12
Doug Lee Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2013 Location: S.E. Virginia Posts: 107	Good news, one question. That's great, What product did you use to clean it up! Doug *