bore condition question

[halhunt]

I am new to milsurps, so far have two-a 1943 Mosin-Nagant 9130 and a Chinese SKS and I am interested in acquiring more. The Mosin-Nagants bore was dirty when bought but cleaned up and the SKS was clean but covered in cosmo. I am interested in both collecting and shooting the rifle, so bore condition is important to me.

I see terms advertising rifles as dark bore, frosty but shootable, strong rifling etc.

What should I be looking for and what do those terms mean when checking out a milsurp before buying. Should I get one of those bore lights if the seller doesnt bring one out. Thanks.

 

[tiriaq]

All those terms basically mean that there has been some corrosion damage to the bore at some time, and that it can be easily seen with the eye. The rifle may still shoot OK. A cared for, but well used bore will have a rounded look to the rifling in front of the chamber. The crown should be sharp, and not rounded over from sloppy use of a pull through. Ideally, a bore should look sharp, bright, clean. A bore light helps, but unless the bore has been cleaned, it can be hard to judge. Wiping it out helps, but this isn't a cleaning. A really dirty bore can look to be be in very poor condition, but it might be just fine when cleaned. Often barrels on ex-service rifles have never been really properly cleaned and will have a lot of accumulated metal fouling.

 

[halhunt]

Thanks Tiriaq.