Scratches in GP barrel.

freebird72 · January 5, 2013, 02:22 PM

I just bought a GP at a gun show for $365, and it passed the revolver checkout; at least I thought. When I was at the gun show I looked down the barrel and it was super clean; however, when I got it home I noticed it has scratches inside the tip of the barrel that are hard to see unless you hold it a certain way.

I assume someone pushed a cleaning rod too hard and scratched it up. I took it to a local gun shop, and he said it was probably just cosmetic, but I am still uneasy.

The whole barrel is very clean except for the the tip that has scratches. Is this something to worry about? Would it effect the accuracy of the gun? I have not shot the gun yet. What do I do?

I do not have camera at this time, or I would post pics.

Hammerhead · January 5, 2013, 03:05 PM

Since you didn't notice them on initial inspection, they probably aren't deep, and I doubt they will bother anything.
Dents or dings at the muzzle crown are more likely to cause accuracy issues than scratches.

freebird72 · January 5, 2013, 03:22 PM

Well there are a few dings and dents near the tip too. I honestly figured that was only cosmetic too. I really hope I didn't mess up again.

I mean the gun looks really nice everywhere else, it locks up tight, it has a great trigger pull, and it looks like it has hardly been fired. Its just looks like the tip of the barrel has scratches and a few dings and dents near the opening.

I have been looking for a blued 4 inch GP100 for a while and I was so happy to have finally found one.

Kreyzhorse · January 5, 2013, 03:28 PM

Sounds cosmetic to me. Besides, now you won't feel so bad when you put your first scratch on it. Anyway, go shoot your gun and enjoy it, no worries.

buck460XVR · January 5, 2013, 03:37 PM

Only way to know is to shoot the damn thing........

savit260 · January 5, 2013, 03:56 PM

Go shoot it, and if it shoots poorly, and you are that concerned about a couple of scratches (I'm assuming these are inside the barrel) have a qualified gunsmith take a look at it. He'll be able to a. tell you if something is actually wrong with it. b. will tell you what needs to be done to repair it if there's actually damage..

Stressing out before you even shoot it is kind of pointless.

ClydeFrog · January 5, 2013, 03:58 PM

If the damage is minor, you should be okay. If you really want to upgrade or improve the GP revolver, I'd buy a brand new Ruger barrel; www.e-gunparts.com & install a new front sight post. New stainless GP barrels may run around $150.00 to $200.00.
I had some minor scuffs & nicks on the GP cylinder of my GPNY revolver in early 2008. I had it slip out while pumping gas late at night while on duty. It hit the cement hard.

I saw a replacement .38spl stainless cylinder on E-gunparts.com .

You could find a local professional gunsmith to install it or go here; www.geminicustoms.com .

CF

drail · January 5, 2013, 05:26 PM

Scratches in the bore will have no effect on the bullet unless they are very deep. Any damage, even slight, the crown will have a very negative effect on the bullet as it leaves the muzzle. The gases need to vent into the air evenly all the way around the bullet's base as it leaves or it will tip off axis. Have it checked out by a gunsmith. Recrowning is cheap and easy once you have the correct tools. Never try to clean up a crown without a cutter guided by a pilot in the bore or you will just make it worse.

jben · January 5, 2013, 06:00 PM

I had a Smith and Wesson model 657 41 magnum that had fairly deep scratches inside the barrel. It didn't seem to hinder it much. It shot just fine. jben

johnwilliamson062 · January 5, 2013, 06:22 PM

Even if the crown is damaged, that is dirt cheap to fix. The tool doesn't cost much at all.

freebird72 · January 5, 2013, 06:25 PM

Is the crown the top right before the hole starts?

Hammerhead · January 5, 2013, 06:40 PM

Yes.
The crown is the transition from the barrel to the muzzle.

ClydeFrog · January 5, 2013, 07:33 PM

I checked the E-gunparts.com & saw the Ruger GP barrels were sold out.
They may be re-stocked but note: the sale price is around $87.00.

Clyde

GP100man · January 6, 2013, 07:23 PM

Stainless is fairly soft gun material .

Here`s some scratches from a bronze brush on mine .
As long as the crowns edge is`nt dinged you`re fine ,enjoy !!

stormyone · January 7, 2013, 02:23 AM

Shoot 300 rounds of 357 through it..... betcha the scratches are gone by then.

warningshot · January 7, 2013, 02:30 AM

Cut the barrel down to a snub nose size revolver.

drail · January 7, 2013, 09:41 AM

With a dull hacksaw in a rusty pipe vise.

kimbers rule · January 8, 2013, 08:43 PM

Stop looking so close. You already bought it and you cant look back now. Just shoot it and if it doesn't shoot as well as you think it should, let someone you know that is a good shot shoot it. Then you can start to worry. Dont panic yet! They are a great gun and it sounds like you got a good price.

January 5, 2013, 02:22 PM	#1
freebird72 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2010 Posts: 241	Scratches in GP barrel. I just bought a GP at a gun show for $365, and it passed the revolver checkout; at least I thought. When I was at the gun show I looked down the barrel and it was super clean; however, when I got it home I noticed it has scratches inside the tip of the barrel that are hard to see unless you hold it a certain way. I assume someone pushed a cleaning rod too hard and scratched it up. I took it to a local gun shop, and he said it was probably just cosmetic, but I am still uneasy. The whole barrel is very clean except for the the tip that has scratches. Is this something to worry about? Would it effect the accuracy of the gun? I have not shot the gun yet. What do I do? I do not have camera at this time, or I would post pics.

January 5, 2013, 03:28 PM	#4
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	Sounds cosmetic to me. Besides, now you won't feel so bad when you put your first scratch on it. Anyway, go shoot your gun and enjoy it, no worries. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

January 5, 2013, 03:58 PM	#7
ClydeFrog Junior member Join Date: May 1, 2010 Posts: 5,797	minor damage; E-gunparts.com.... If the damage is minor, you should be okay. If you really want to upgrade or improve the GP revolver, I'd buy a brand new Ruger barrel; www.e-gunparts.com & install a new front sight post. New stainless GP barrels may run around $150.00 to $200.00. I had some minor scuffs & nicks on the GP cylinder of my GPNY revolver in early 2008. I had it slip out while pumping gas late at night while on duty. It hit the cement hard. I saw a replacement .38spl stainless cylinder on E-gunparts.com . You could find a local professional gunsmith to install it or go here; www.geminicustoms.com . CF

January 5, 2013, 07:33 PM	#13
ClydeFrog Junior member Join Date: May 1, 2010 Posts: 5,797	NOTE: E-gunparts.com.... I checked the E-gunparts.com & saw the Ruger GP barrels were sold out. They may be re-stocked but note: the sale price is around $87.00. Clyde

January 6, 2013, 07:23 PM	#14
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	Stainless is fairly soft gun material . Here`s some scratches from a bronze brush on mine . As long as the crowns edge is`nt dinged you`re fine ,enjoy !! __________________ GP100man

January 5, 2013, 03:05 PM	#2
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	Since you didn't notice them on initial inspection, they probably aren't deep, and I doubt they will bother anything. Dents or dings at the muzzle crown are more likely to cause accuracy issues than scratches.

January 5, 2013, 03:22 PM	#3
freebird72 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2010 Posts: 241	Well there are a few dings and dents near the tip too. I honestly figured that was only cosmetic too. I really hope I didn't mess up again. I mean the gun looks really nice everywhere else, it locks up tight, it has a great trigger pull, and it looks like it has hardly been fired. Its just looks like the tip of the barrel has scratches and a few dings and dents near the opening. I have been looking for a blued 4 inch GP100 for a while and I was so happy to have finally found one.

January 5, 2013, 03:37 PM	#5
buck460XVR Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Posts: 4,342	Only way to know is to shoot the damn thing........

January 5, 2013, 03:56 PM	#6
savit260 Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2006 Posts: 702	Go shoot it, and if it shoots poorly, and you are that concerned about a couple of scratches (I'm assuming these are inside the barrel) have a qualified gunsmith take a look at it. He'll be able to a. tell you if something is actually wrong with it. b. will tell you what needs to be done to repair it if there's actually damage.. Stressing out before you even shoot it is kind of pointless.

January 5, 2013, 05:26 PM	#8
drail Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2008 Posts: 3,150	Scratches in the bore will have no effect on the bullet unless they are very deep. Any damage, even slight, the crown will have a very negative effect on the bullet as it leaves the muzzle. The gases need to vent into the air evenly all the way around the bullet's base as it leaves or it will tip off axis. Have it checked out by a gunsmith. Recrowning is cheap and easy once you have the correct tools. Never try to clean up a crown without a cutter guided by a pilot in the bore or you will just make it worse.

January 5, 2013, 06:00 PM	#9
jben Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2006 Posts: 216	I had a Smith and Wesson model 657 41 magnum that had fairly deep scratches inside the barrel. It didn't seem to hinder it much. It shot just fine. jben

January 5, 2013, 06:22 PM	#10
johnwilliamson062 Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 9,995	Even if the crown is damaged, that is dirt cheap to fix. The tool doesn't cost much at all.

January 5, 2013, 06:25 PM	#11
freebird72 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2010 Posts: 241	Is the crown the top right before the hole starts?

January 5, 2013, 06:40 PM	#12
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	Yes. The crown is the transition from the barrel to the muzzle.

January 7, 2013, 02:23 AM	#15
stormyone Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2005 Location: midwest Posts: 532	Shoot 300 rounds of 357 through it..... betcha the scratches are gone by then.

January 7, 2013, 02:30 AM	#16
warningshot Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 2009 Posts: 995	Cut the barrel down to a snub nose size revolver.

January 7, 2013, 09:41 AM	#17
drail Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2008 Posts: 3,150	With a dull hacksaw in a rusty pipe vise.

January 8, 2013, 08:43 PM	#18
kimbers rule Member Join Date: November 3, 2012 Location: State of Jefferson Posts: 95	Stop looking so close. You already bought it and you cant look back now. Just shoot it and if it doesn't shoot as well as you think it should, let someone you know that is a good shot shoot it. Then you can start to worry. Dont panic yet! They are a great gun and it sounds like you got a good price.

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