Removing rifling?

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Pyd

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I just bought an Old .22, I want to use it for bird shot.
What is the best way to remove the rifling?
 
I have a great success rate with shotshells, but I can see the pattern spinning out of control. I shoot 50-75 shotshells a week with great success, I am just trying to tighten it up a hair.
So, the rifling, how does a guy get it out? Fill the grooves with molten lead or remove the lands?
 
You would want a reamer of the correct size.
Given that a .22lr uses a heeled bullet, the reamer would need to be just about chamber diameter. A .22rf throating reamer mounted on an extension would probably do the job.
 
If the bore is to supposed specs, it should be free and clear of rifling at .223 inches. A number 2 size chucking reamer, will get you to .221, and the next larger size, a number 1, will do you to .228 inch.
A 5.7 mm reamer is at .2244 inches. Maybe even available from a decent tool supplier (not BusyBee or that ilk, but more along the lines of KBC Tools.

If you were to use a Number 2 reamer to clear most of the material, you could also set up and slowly (!) remove the last of the rifling, if there was any, with an adjustable hand reamer, though the problem of the long skinny reamer extension is an issue.

Rough and ready. Silver solder a #2 drill bit to an extension, stone the corners of the drills lips to a round shape with a hand stone, and run it through the barrel, then make up a lead lap, and go to town on it to lap out the barrel to smooth.

Were it mine, I'd look to building up a pull through style reamer to clean it up.

Dunno if the experiment interests you, but I've heard of guys putting a choke on a rimfire barrel, using a pipe cutter type arrangement to squeeze it down a bit at the muzzle. If it fails to improve things, you can always ream it back out!

Some ideas to ponder....

Cheers
Trev
 
It appears as though I am well on my way to making a smooth bore out of this gun, if nothing else it will be a fun project.
I am very happy to see there is some experience to fall on if (when) I need it.
 
I know this is canada, in the u.s., it is usually against the law to turn a rifle into a smoothbore. The rifling is an identifying feature.
 
There are no legal issues involved with reaming out the rifling in this country.
In the US, a pistol cannot be smoothbored, though. It is considered to be a sawed off shotgun.
Whatever reamer you use - make sure it doesn't cut the chamber, unless you do all the reaming from the muzzle. A .22 chamber is just slightly larger than bullet/groove diameter.
.22 barrels have also been choked by boring out the muzzle and inserting a little choke sleeve. A choke could be added externally as well.
 
Pyd said:
I just bought an Old .22, I want to use it for bird shot.
What is the best way to remove the rifling?
Click to expand...

What do you use it for?

I think they used to make smooth bore .22's.

Would a .410 do the job any better or worse?
 
TBMH said:
What do you use it for?

I think they used to make smooth bore .22's.

Would a .410 do the job any better or worse?
Click to expand...


I am a wildlife control tech, occasionally part of my job is removing birds from barns and businesses. While a .410 would be more fun it would be slightly more destructive in your local grocery store.
Also, I am just looking forward to the project.
 
Ted Gaillard builds 22 rimfire barrels....you'd be miles ahead to just buy a drilled blank from him sans rifling and have him contour/chamber it (not sure of your budget on this project though)...not having to button rifle or lap the tube should make it quite affordable for ya.
 
If it were my gun,and a beater,I'd just run a 7/32 drill (.2188) in from the muzzle as far as it would reach and pattern that. You can buy extended bits (12-18in) at most hardware stores. Drill/pattern as you go and stay out of chamber.
Numbered wire drill sizes would be better. # 12 is as above
#6=.204
#1=.228
 
If rifling is "identifying feature" then I could conclude that a "shotgun" with a rifled slug barrel is now a rifle. Not trying to stir the pot but I suspect it's the ammo that makes the difference - so I've been told. --- John 303.
 
The bore must be very smooth to allow the shot shells to pattern well. I have a Remington smoothbore that was specially made for shot shells. There is NO comparison to shooting through a rifled barrel, range and pattern are vastly superior. I can kill English sparrows consistently at 50' distance with the smoothbore, shot from rifled barrels spread so badly that 15' is getting iffy. Someone suggested you use a .410 but a .22 shot cartridge is far safer and less damaging inside buildings than a .410. I'd say your project is worth doing, good luck!
 
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