"Dark" bores

TMB2 · September 11, 2000, 01:59 PM

My recently aquired WWII Mauser has a bore that has no accumulated "crud" but no matter how many times I scrub it with my bronze brush, patches and MPro7, it remains very dark. What causes a bore to turn very dark and why does it not seem to want to be bright again? Is it safe to shoot a rifle with a very dark bore?

johnwill · September 11, 2000, 05:41 PM

It's perfectly safe, lots of old rifles have dark bores. It's corrosion from corrossive ammo. As long as it shoots accurately, there's no reason to be considering a new barrel. One problem with a dark bore is it's a bit rougher than a bright bore, so it'll foul a bit quicker.

beemerb · September 11, 2000, 07:15 PM

Get a Brownells fire lapping kit and clean the bore up.Will smooth it out make it look better and be more accurate.

------------------
Bob--- Age and deceit will overcome youth and speed.
I'm old and deceitful.

George Stringer · September 13, 2000, 08:21 AM

TMB2, some of the most accurate shooting surplus rifles I've ever seen had sewer pipes for bores. George

Cherokee · September 13, 2000, 06:58 PM

George is right. I got a 39 Turk and the barrel looks like somebody crapped in it but it shoots great...not bad for less than $50.

September 11, 2000, 01:59 PM	#1
TMB2 Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1999 Location: Rochester Hills, Michigan Posts: 130	My recently aquired WWII Mauser has a bore that has no accumulated "crud" but no matter how many times I scrub it with my bronze brush, patches and MPro7, it remains very dark. What causes a bore to turn very dark and why does it not seem to want to be bright again? Is it safe to shoot a rifle with a very dark bore?

September 11, 2000, 05:41 PM	#2
johnwill Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,451	It's perfectly safe, lots of old rifles have dark bores. It's corrosion from corrossive ammo. As long as it shoots accurately, there's no reason to be considering a new barrel. One problem with a dark bore is it's a bit rougher than a bright bore, so it'll foul a bit quicker.

September 11, 2000, 07:15 PM	#3
beemerb Junior member Join Date: October 2, 1999 Location: AZ Posts: 1,759	Get a Brownells fire lapping kit and clean the bore up.Will smooth it out make it look better and be more accurate. ------------------ Bob--- Age and deceit will overcome youth and speed. I'm old and deceitful.

September 13, 2000, 08:21 AM	#4
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	TMB2, some of the most accurate shooting surplus rifles I've ever seen had sewer pipes for bores. George

September 13, 2000, 06:58 PM	#5
Cherokee Junior Member Join Date: September 4, 2000 Posts: 14	George is right. I got a 39 Turk and the barrel looks like somebody crapped in it but it shoots great...not bad for less than $50.