A friend of mine just aquired a pre 64 but the barrel is still dark after cleaning.
According to the previous owner, ammunition with the corrosive type primers were used and the rifle wasn't cleaned and left to sit.
The rifling still looks strong in the rifle (just looking down the bore)...we haven't tried to shoot it yet.

Anyone have experience with this?

Yes if well used dark bore Mauser 98s qualify.Some of these shoot not bad at all.

Maybe a few hours of Bon Ami lapping will improve the appearance.What is it chambered for? roger

It's chambered in 30-06...I assume some old mil. surplus ammo was used in it years ago.

quote:

Ruined barrel

Probably not.....give it a few strokes with a phosphor bronze brush and the shine may return! Do it dry with no additive such as oil etc....

I cant remember exactly, but if there is no pitting, the black oxidisation is probably fe4 o3 which wil in effect protect your barrel from rust. Forget the colour, fire lapping will soon change the apearance, which will look better but, may not really be so. Sometimes, black is good. Sorry, its been ten years since I learned this and I cant be more exact.
The amount of iron to the amount of oxygen makes a big difference. Fe3 04 is the oxide that is corrosive( the red one) The black one is the good one.
boet

May surprise you how well it still shoots. I have an M1 that was lend leased to the British during WWII which obviously suffers from the same fate. It shoots moa (after accurizing) but requires special attention after shooting and before storing to keep from rusting.

You might want to look @ this ad in AR classifieds just in case.
Pre 64 30-06 barrel for sale

Regards,
hm

I picked up a old Mauser that had been shot with the corrosive primed Turk ammo and not cleaned worth a hoot. The barrel was absolutely cruddy and I mean rougher than 60 grit sandpaper. I mixed up a batch of Eds Red and it was like I was washing mud out of the barrel.

It cleaned up nicely - still a bit dark but it shoots.