Barrel/Action pitting, how bad is too bad?

[emcon5]

Just got a 7X57 VZ24, and was really happy with the condition until I took it out of the stock:

http://www.shedracing.net/imgmisc/vz24pit4.jpg
http://www.shedracing.net/imgmisc/vz24pit1.jpg
http://www.shedracing.net/imgmisc/vz24pit2.jpg
http://www.shedracing.net/imgmisc/vz24pit3.jpg

The worst pit is the second photo above, about 7" back from the muzzle, and while it is not easy to measure, at its deepest point it seems to be about .75mm, maybe a little less.

At that point the barrel diameter is 16.5mm, so the barrel wall is about 4.75mm thick there.

It is before the barrel step, where the diameter drops to ~15.5, with 4.25mm walls.

Would you shoot it?

Thanks,

[mete]

At 7" from the muzzle the pressure has dropped a bit so that shouldn't be a problem. For the most part I'd just stick to reasonable loads like factory and not handload any higher pressure.

[g.willikers]

The pitting, as you have measured, isn't all that much of the total thickness.
But that's assuming the damage doesn't actually go deeper.
Without going to an expensive effort to find out, maybe the first couple of rounds that you try should be from a safe distance.
Just a thought.

[hooligan1]

Treat the areas affected with G-96, and let it set for a couple hours, then try to clean out all the pockets. They should come clean, and the oil in this product won't let it rust anymore.;) Scrub it out with a brass brush or brass wire wheel on your grinder. those spots aren't any deeper than a sight screw would be, or a scope mount hole would be.