Fouled bore

[Merc]

I am primarily a collector (Mauser's) and never look at bores, I have a rather large collection and if you "shoot one, you have shot them all". When I clean and find an excellent bore I consider it a bonus! Dealers seldom clean rifles for sale, especially bores. When I was young it was different, but not any more.

I don't always consider the condition of the bore when buying an antique firearm. Only the ones I plan to shoot must have a good bore and action. Sellers at gun shows always surprise me by asking top dollar for WW1 & 2 rifles that have worn or fouled bores. Knowing what to look for in advance helps to avoid buying a non-shooter.

I own two firearms that I have no intention of shooting. I acquired them for what they are - examples that were used during the Civil War and Indian Wars.

Merc

[Merc]

I hand picked a pretty nice one at CMP South Store when they first hit started selling them. The deciding factor on that one was, the bore appeared to be fairly decent. First round down range, the bolt had to be knocked open with a block of wood. It was not an over-pressure problem. The chamber was so horribly pitted the case expanded into the pits/craters, causing the extraction problems. Well, extraction problem because I only fired the first round.

My point being, even if the bore appears fine, the chamber might not be and that might not be apparent without the use of a bore scope.

Too bad. I always try to look at the bore from both ends with a bore light. It's not ideal but it might show some signs of rust. Assuming you still have the rifle and the rest is in nice shape, I'd be tempted to have a gunsmith take a look at the chamber to see if it could be cleaned up and polished enough to allow normal case extraction without making it too spaceous. Strange how the chamber became pitted while the bore remained clean. Maybe stored somewhere damp without the bolt?

Merc

[Andouille]

Too bad. I always try to look at the bore from both ends with a bore light. It's not ideal but it might show some signs of rust. Assuming you still have the rifle and the rest is in nice shape, I'd be tempted to have a gunsmith take a look at the chamber to see if it could be cleaned up and polished enough to allow normal case extraction without making it too spaceous. Strange how the chamber became pitted while the bore remained clean. Maybe stored somewhere damp without the bolt?

Merc

Well, Merc, I wouldn't say the bore remained clean, only "fairly nice." I doubt very many of the rifles that came back from Veteran's groups had clean or very nice bores. Overall, it was an OK looking rifle with a fairly nice, but not great bore, and I briefly toyed with just assuming the position and having the gun re-barreled, but CMP was kind enough to exchange it, so that, was that.

And trust me on this: the chamber was so horribly pitted that it would have had to be polished out to something like 300 magnum diameter (only a slight exaggeration!) to be smoothed up sufficiently.

[Merc]

Well, Merc, I wouldn't say the bore remained clean, only "fairly nice." I doubt very many of the rifles that came back from Veteran's groups had clean or very nice bores. Overall, it was an OK looking rifle with a fairly nice, but not great bore, and I briefly toyed with just assuming the position and having the gun re-barreled, but CMP was kind enough to exchange it, so that, was that.

And trust me on this: the chamber was so horribly pitted that it would have had to be polished out to something like 300 magnum diameter (only a slight exaggeration!) to be smoothed up sufficiently.

Understood. Too bad. I hate to hear of a M1917 that was allowed to deteriorate.

[Merc]

Well, Merc, I wouldn't say the bore remained clean, only "fairly nice." I doubt very many of the rifles that came back from Veteran's groups had clean or very nice bores. Overall, it was an OK looking rifle with a fairly nice, but not great bore, and I briefly toyed with just assuming the position and having the gun re-barreled, but CMP was kind enough to exchange it, so that, was that.

And trust me on this: the chamber was so horribly pitted that it would have had to be polished out to something like 300 magnum diameter (only a slight exaggeration!) to be smoothed up sufficiently.

Question for the gunsmiths out there: Assuming the bore is ok, is it possible or economically feasible to install a sleeve in a M1917 chamber damaged by corrosion?

[trimmer99]

I have a trapdoor that had a pitted chamber. I sent the barreled action to a man named Hoyt (if you need his first name and contact info I can look it up). He resleeved the chamber for me and turned a non shooter into a shooter. I'm not sure of the mechanics involved between these two different rifles but I would think it possible to resleeve the chamber on a 1917. At least worth checking out. It was relatively inexpensive. Of course it detracts from the integrity of an historical piece but I am not personally interested in a rifle that I can't shoot. RB

[Merc]

I have a trapdoor that had a pitted chamber. I sent the barreled action to a man named Hoyt (if you need his first name and contact info I can look it up). He resleeved the chamber for me and turned a non shooter into a shooter. I'm not sure of the mechanics involved between these two different rifles but I would think it possible to resleeve the chamber on a 1917. At least worth checking out. It was relatively inexpensive. Of course it detracts from the integrity of an historical piece but I am not personally interested in a rifle that I can't shoot. RB

RB,

I thought resleeving was a viable and economical option. An unaltered specimen is always desirable but preserving a
shooter, especially one that can be saved from being scrapped for parts, is also desirable. Can you see the sleeve?

Merc

[trimmer99]

Merc,

If you know what you are looking for you can tell. It's seen as a brighter ring at the opening of the chamber. Most would not know it was there. If you are selling though you would want to make the buyer aware of it. RB