Bad looking barrel bores can shoot well

[BBGunn]

First off, I am in no way suggesting that a 'trash' looking barrel bore is going to shoot as well as a quality rifled bore from LW or CZ, etc.

My point is to tell that some really bad looking bores can shoot very well. Having use of a bore scope has showed me some air rifle bores are just appalling to look at! Yet..., are from rifles that shoot quite well. In fact, some bores I have viewed would leave you to believe that there is no way the rifle could possibly shoot accurately! However, that very rifle shoots with pretty great accuracy and consistency.

Consider, if ya buy a budget rifle and the bore looks like hell, don't discount the rifle's potential until after you have given it a chance on paper. If you can't get past the mental image of a 'trash' looking bore on your rifle than your best chance to avoid a bad bore is to buy a higher-end, quality rifle.

 

[BenjeneerJohn]

I always recommend shooting it before looking at it. A bore scope magnifies defects and makes them look larger than they are.

If it is accurate, leave it alone!

John

 

[Solo1]

I always recommend shooting it before looking at it. A bore scope magnifies defects and makes them look larger than they are.

If it is accurate, leave it alone!

John

Im starting to think a light polish on all barrels might be a good thing. My drs finally showed the barrel to be dirty by throwing flyers. I cleaned it patches were clean then i ran a bore mop with jb and you could feel rough spots gave it 40 strokes and by the end they were gone. Its now back to where it started still waiting to see if cleaning period is extended.

 

[hameditor]

I always recommend shooting it before looking at it. A bore scope magnifies defects and makes them look larger than they are.

If it is accurate, leave it alone!

John

AGREED!!!!!

 

[Billm]

When my Panthera mkII arrives, I’m filling it, throwing a scope on it and zeroing it at 50yds. No cleaning/polishing or bore scope. I will shoot some sort of 25 shot benchmark. Then I will give it a cleaning and a light polish and benchmark it again. Then I’ll look at the bore. I’m definitely a believer in barrel polishing.

 

[BBGunn]

When my Panthera mkII arrives, I’m filling it, throwing a scope on it and zeroing it at 50yds. No cleaning/polishing or bore scope. I will shoot some sort of 25 shot benchmark. Then I will give it a cleaning and a light polish and benchmark it again. Then I’ll look at the bore. I’m definitely a believer in barrel polishing.

I always give a new rifle a clean and light polish. I do that just because it makes 'me' feel better, not necessarily because the bore needed it.

In truth, many of us that polish our barrel bores probably think we are making a larger impact than we actually are. It takes a lot of scrubbing with a fairly abrasive compound to remove enough material to even have it show with measurement.

Our individual little traditions are all part of our fun with the airgun hobby.

 

[FL22]

When I received the new barrel for my Sniper, I don’t remember how many pellets I put through it but enough that I could see where lead was building up.

That’s when I put the scope through it to make sure where my polishing efforts would be most needed and beneficial.

 

[Billm]

I always give a new rifle a clean and light polish. I do that just because it makes 'me' feel better, not necessarily because the bore needed it.

In truth, many of us that polish our barrel bores probably think we are making a larger impact than we actually are. It takes a lot of scrubbing with a fairly abrasive compound to remove enough material to even have it show with measurement.

Our individual little traditions are all part of our fun with the airgun hobby.

My Ghost convinced me of at least a light polishing. I bought it used from AOA. It shot pretty good. I cleaned it with Ballistol and a light brushing with a brass bore brush. It didn’t really change anything and the patches came out with the usual grey tinge. Then I polished the barrel with JB and Flitz. The mops came out reddish brown and I thought wow, the previous owner allowed it to rust. But luckily it wasn’t rust but cosmoline that Ballistol had no impact on. There was a big improvement in accuracy after the polishing. I don’t care if it was because it removed the cosmoline or if it smoothed the barrel. I just cared that it worked. I’m not polishing the FX first, only because of the “is a $2000 plus airgun accurate out of the box”.

 

[pan60]

I always recommend shooting it before looking at it. A bore scope magnifies defects and makes them look larger than they are.

If it is accurate, leave it alone!

John

and at times not even defects.

 

[BBGunn]

and at times not even defects.

Yes. Sometimes a tiny fiber left from a patch, or any fluid substance can give the illusion of surface imperfection while using a bore scope.

 

[Scriv]

One of the most accurate 1911s I ever shot had such a bad bore you could see the rust pitting with the naked eye, yet it would stuff 200 grain wadcutters into one ragged hole.