Is there any way to salvage an older rusty bore?
Rifle is a pre64 m70.

Perry

Definitely; I use 00 steel wool and wd40 to start. Go from there. Then put some diamond bore polishing compound on it. Last resort use lapping compound; be careful. Very last resort is to lead lap it.
All depends on what you mean by rusty.
They usually will come back to life.

thanks.
What should I wrap the steel wool to? a brush?

Yes; I either use a brass brush or a patch jag. Do Not use a steel brush and reverse it in a bore.

Ok, Thanks!

Perry

What caliber? I have a few original barrels in 30-06 that might work for a replacement.

Rebore it or find a good used pre 64 barrel for a $100 to $200 bucks, depending on the caliber...

I would first determine it's true condition before you go replacing anything . Clean it, shoot it, and then you will know.

I used the steel wool and Flitz method suggested and it cleaned up pretty darn good.
I'll shoot it tomorrow and see what I've got.
The caliber is 257 Roberts so I really don't want to rebarrel it unless the accuracy is lost.

Perry

i would have used a bronze brush and brake fluid - wd40 works as well..

i've seen "crawfish holes" that still shoot

Well I have no standard to compare it to since I never shot the gun prior to the rusty bore.
I shot 5 different ammos, 3 handloads known to be accurate and 2 factory known to be ok in accuracy. Best group was 1" at 100 yds, worst was 2 1/4" at 100 yds. I call that pretty good considering this gun has a 5 pound trigger, the stock touches the barrel in 14 places at 12 different angles (not really, but you get the idea) and the action is not bedded and clearly has some wiggle room. Not to mention the sweet barrel screw that may or may not be loose....sometimes.
I shot one ammo at 200 yds and shot a 1 1/2" group, 3 shots.
All in all I'd say the rusty bore(once rusty bore, now just sorta marred looking) is not a deal breaker.

Thanks for all the cleaning suggestions. I used them and they worked.

Perry

Yes, that is good. I have a friend who has a borescope; the most useless invention ever, and he routinely rejects barrels for any tiny amount of darkness or scratch.
I have asked him, how do they shoot?; he is obsessed with how they look; not how they perform.
Good job.

Ive seen and I have some old Winchesters with bores that look like stack on a tramp steamer, that shoot damn good both of my granddads rifles shoot great, a 30-30 and a 38-40 both first year of production and carried in a saddle scabbard and been shot to death..still win turkeys with the 30-30..

But if I was talking about a pre 64 mod. 70 Id opt for a good condition old barrel, lots of them out there and they don't fetch much in 06 and 270...

Hey, Ray - it's a Bob!

quote:

Originally posted by perry:
The caliber is 257 Roberts so I really don't want to rebarrel it unless the accuracy is lost.

Perry