Bulged barrel

h.letourneau

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
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Location
Quebec City.
When I push a cleaning patch in the bore of my 1944 Long Branch it goes fine until about 3 inches from the muzzle where I feel some slack for about half an inch and then it bites again till it goes out.I find nothing wrong looking down the bore from the breech; looking from the muzzle it seems to me that there is a kind of dark ring in that spot but it is hard to see.Running my finger along the barrel I can feel a little bulge at the corresponding place.The gun shoots all right and grouping is good. Is it dangerous to shoot the rifle ?Will it get worst?Will I have to cut that barrel?
Thanks.
 
"...dangerous to shoot the rifle..." Yep. There's a weak spot in the barrel.
"...cut that barrel..." Replace it instead. You'll know for sure the barrel and the headspace is ok.
 
h.letourneau said:
When I push a cleaning patch in the bore of my 1944 Long Branch it goes fine until about 3 inches from the muzzle where I feel some slack for about half an inch and then it bites again till it goes out.I find nothing wrong looking down the bore from the breech; looking from the muzzle it seems to me that there is a kind of dark ring in that spot but it is hard to see.Running my finger along the barrel I can feel a little bulge at the corresponding place.The gun shoots all right and grouping is good. Is it dangerous to shoot the rifle ?Will it get worst?Will I have to cut that barrel?
Thanks.

I don't think it is dangerous unless you shoot it with another barrel obstruction at the bulge. I have seen many rifles with bulges like yours and the owners had no idea there was anything wrong. You happen to have enough riflling left after the bulge that your accuracy has not been affected much. The closer that bulge is to the muzzle the worse the accuracy will be.
 
I had that happen to me a few months ago, but in my case, accuracy went right out the window. Group sizes were about two feet at 50 yards, so I cut the barrel off and I'm back in business.
 
I have to agree with guntech. I had a No4 like that. Not only was the barrel ringed about 3" from the muzzle, but it also had a slight bend. It shot great through, 1.5 -2 MOA groups. I fired numerous rounds through this rifle without a problem. I don't know what caused this condition, most likely some soldier got dirt in barrel and fired a round through it. IMHO, barrel accuracy is determined mostly by the last couple of inches of the barrel and in particular by the crown. Throat erosion has some effect as well, but not as much as the muzzle end :cool:
 
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