These days, I seem to be running into many used .22s with ringed bores. Often about halfway down the barrel, they can be both seen and felt as a "loose" spot when cleaning. I have never fired any of them and returned them to the supplier. Is this just bad luck or are ringed bores really this common? Do they necessarily affect safety and/or accuracy? And what usually causes them?
Ringed bores
- Thread starter Rob
- Start date
Usually caused by being fired with a barrel obstruction.
May or my not affect accuracy if mid-bore. Bulge at the muzzle will probably destroy accuracy. Testing is only way to determine if accuracy is spoiled.
Unlikely to affect safety unless barrel is cracked - which does happen. Saw one Cooey with a chunk blown out of the barrel.
Don't know how common ringed .22 barrels are, but they are not rare. Something to check for if purchasing a used rifle.
Very undesirable from an esthetic standpoint.
Apart from a replacement barrel, relining is a functional remedy.
May or my not affect accuracy if mid-bore. Bulge at the muzzle will probably destroy accuracy. Testing is only way to determine if accuracy is spoiled.
Unlikely to affect safety unless barrel is cracked - which does happen. Saw one Cooey with a chunk blown out of the barrel.
Don't know how common ringed .22 barrels are, but they are not rare. Something to check for if purchasing a used rifle.
Very undesirable from an esthetic standpoint.
Apart from a replacement barrel, relining is a functional remedy.
Rimfire ammunition comes in a bunch of flavours, including loud, louder, quiet, more quiet, and quietest. Aguila, for example, sells both 'Colibri' and 'Super Colibri'. Apparently, the 'Colibri', which is quieter, is intended only for use in short (ie.: handgun-length) barrels, and the 'Super Colibri', which is faster than 'Colibri', is intended for use in longer (i.e.: rifle-length) barrels.
It's not difficult for me to imagine that used surplus rifles which might have been used by multiple users over multiple locations might have been used with odd ammunition (which might or might not have ensured that the bullet left the bore), and it's not difficult for me to imagine some of these same users sometimes having been unaware of that fact (one way or the other).
It's not difficult for me to imagine that used surplus rifles which might have been used by multiple users over multiple locations might have been used with odd ammunition (which might or might not have ensured that the bullet left the bore), and it's not difficult for me to imagine some of these same users sometimes having been unaware of that fact (one way or the other).
Rob, are you describing "ringed" as having a single area with a ring like from an obstruction OR 'multiple rings' like caused by "Chatter" of the rifling tools ? From what I've read and seen, unless the 'rings' are Very close to the muzzle there is usually not much of an effect on accuracy until you get down to measuring groups under 1-MOA or so. JMO
Rod B
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I had a Schultz & Larsen model 77 with a ring in the bore about 11inches in front of the chamber. I also had a second one with a perfect bore. I found that the ringed bore had no effect on accuracy. I sold the one with ringed bore to a fellow club member he was aware of the ring & is very satisfied with the rifle.
Have you been running into these guns 'New' from vendors or are they used ? If 'New' then did you get a 'second opinion'? Maybe the 'rings' are not from 'obstruction, but just manufacturing variances? I've never had one But I did buy a New Ruger Ranch in x39 that had a couple 'Bad looking' spots in the barrel, like a chunk of debris got caught up in barrel during rifling. I chose to fire it b4 going for warranty - I didn't want to go without for xx weeks as Gravels wanted me to 'send it in'. I fired it and I can get around 1-MOA out to the 180 yd my range has. Here's the worst of 3 spots in that barrel. And then 'chatter' marks thru much of the barrel. Didn't seem to affect accuracy, unless it could have been better w/o the 'damages'. And one of my better targets with that gun and a '51 Tula with irons.
gewehr76
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Many revolvers have ringed barrels due to weak loads and people just blasting away not realizing they have squib and no hole in the target.
ringed barrels can be fixed by hammering the area around the bulge, yes it will not be as new, but if done correctly and with some patience it could be hardly noticed if looking at the bore.
marks outside from hammer can be smoothed and polished and area reblued etc.
By no means not the end of barrel life unless occurred at the muzzle or crown area.
ringed barrels can be fixed by hammering the area around the bulge, yes it will not be as new, but if done correctly and with some patience it could be hardly noticed if looking at the bore.
marks outside from hammer can be smoothed and polished and area reblued etc.
By no means not the end of barrel life unless occurred at the muzzle or crown area.
