restoring a rusted barrel

[45.70]

Gents,

Any ideals on how to clean up a rusted barrel.  The one I have is in bad shape and I know it will never be new, but for nostalgia I would like to try and make it shootable.

Thanks, Garry

[Eric Krewson]

I tried a radical fix it or ruin it on a barrel that I had trusted Rem Oil to prevent rust. The gun was always a poor shooter so I thought I had nothing to lose. I used an undersized jag with a piece of green scotch bright pad soaked in soft scrub from the kitchen. 20 passes down the bore and I could see metal shavings coming out on the pad. I switched to scotch bright and oil for 20 more passes , cleaned up everything and gave the gun a test firing. The patch tearing, 3" or worse group with fliers turned into this;

5 shots, one ragged hole at 50 with no fliers.

[45.70]

Eric,

I've used valve grinding compound on a patch, wrapped around a bore brush before.  That technique worked well for a small spot about 2 1/2" up from the bottom of a barrel.  But this one is in really bad shape, I'm not sure I could even get a ball down it currently.  I may give your tech. a try, I can't hurt it any worse.  

Garry

[hawkthrower]

Rusted spots and pitting are one thing - polishing and grinding small amounts are possible by hand or with a rod and drill motor and will smooth things out without too much trouble most of the time..... BUT - more radical mending of a bore (IMHO) should be done on a boring machine or on a lathe with the appropriate supports..... I have also smoothed out several barrels where the pitting and roughness made loading nearly impossible but I also had use of a machine shop and a lot of stuff not found in my garage.... Remember if you have to go far enough you might just want to send the barrel off and have it bored out beyond the rifling - then you'd be shooting a smooth bore.
Fixing up a bore that's too bad to load might be a labor of love but I think you may want to be very careful about causing any radically uneven diameters along the length of the barrel and perhaps causing odd pressure changes which might perhaps become dangerous.... donno...... How much metal you may need to remove before things are smoothed out might be a guess right now and the process of honing out the crusty snags might seem possible But if you go for it and find you are grinding and grinding and things are not smoothing out.... I'd consider sending it off  - but either way be careful!

[Eric Krewson]

If the gun is nice except for the barrel, a trip to Mr Hoyt with about $100 and you can get it rebored, rifled and like new again.

[hawkthrower]

If the gun is nice except for the barrel, a trip to Mr Hoyt with about $100 and you can get it rebored, rifled and like new again.

 

[rollingb]

If the gun is nice except for the barrel, a trip to Mr Hoyt with about $100 and you can get it rebored, rifled and like new again.

That's definitely the route I'd go if it has deep pits.  

[Uncle Russ]

If the gun is nice except for the barrel, a trip to Mr Hoyt with about $100 and you can get it rebored, rifled and like new again.

That's definitely the route I'd go if it has deep pits.  

Yep, same as what Eric and Rondo said!

Hawkthrower has also offered some sage advice, IMO.

Uncle Russ...

[45.70]

Gents,
I actually have thought about rebarreling or reboring in the past, but thought it would cost more than the gun is worth.  I priced a new barrel and decided it was a little more than I wanted to invest, but reboring might be an option.  The gun is an old Dixie southern mountain percussion in .32cal, there should be enough meat on the barrel to push it up to maybe a .36, 40, or maybe even .45cal.  I think it was made back in the 70's.  Does anyone have Mr. Hoyt's online address?
Thanks, Garry

[Eric Krewson]

He isn't online, you have to call him.

717-642-6696 call around 8 am Eastern time. Later in the day, he's on machinery and doesn't answer the phone.

Bob Hoyt
700 Fairfield Station Rd.
Fairfield, PA 17320

[Uncle Russ]

Uncle Russ...

[45.70]

Thanks Eric,

I'll give Mr Hoyt a call and see what he thinks.  Uncle Russ, well said.

Garry

[Stormrider51]

If you want to get a look at the condition of the barrel without the rust try putting some naval jelly down the bore.  It will make short work of the rust and you just flush it out with water once it has done its thing.  Don't get the stuff on the outside of the barrel or anywhere else you don't want finish removed.  It will make short work of any blueing, browning, etc. as well.

John

[waksupi]

I would just clean it out, and shoot it before doing a darned thing to it. I've seen some terrible sewer pipes that shot great.

[Eric Krewson]

New address for Mr Hoyt;

2379 Mt Hope Rd
Fairfield, PA 17320

I just got a TC Renegade barrel back from Mr Hoyt, amazing work and the barrel is now a tack driver. I went with 1 in 48, round bottom rifling.

The cost was $125 for the work and $20 for shipping back to me.

I called and called at 8AM and never got him. I tried once at 9AM and got him on the first try.