K98 Barrel

[Somerset Bar]

Just wondering...I have had a K98 for a while that has a pretty poor barrel (inside). It shoots okay, not great, but it is pitted pretty bad in the barrel so it is always fouling with copper. When I use bore cleaning foam, it comes out almost ink-blue (blue is copper, black is carbon).

Anyway, just looking for thoughts on this old girl, she's a ruskie capture with full intact birds, stock is rough but perfectly serviceable, and I'll never get rid of her but I was wondering if it is better to get a new '98 with a good barrel and just keep this as a safe queen, or look into putting a new barrel on this one and actually keep shoot it? Is that even a feasible option? (I'm not a fan of safe queens at all).

 

[matthunt101]

I'd personally pick up another K98. Take whichever one you think is nicer and put it in the safe and only shoot it once a year, and shoot the other one whenever you want.
Just my .02

 

[bearhunter]

RCs are very common right now so what you decide is up to you. Likely nothing else on the rifle matches so what is there to lose??? The thing is that by the time you rebarrel it you are half way to the cost of a very good or better M48 in excellent condition or an Israeli refurb in similar condition.

 

[Somerset Bar]

Everything on the gun seems to match except the bolt, it's the only thing with electro-pencil. But I hear what you guys are saying. I have a Swedish Mauser that shoots perfectly (although sighted for 300 yards), but it's not really the same. I may simply try fire lapping it, at least that is an excuse to shoot it. Maybe I'll keep an eye out for another 8mm.