Used guns - barrel pitting

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Aabradsh

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I’m looking at a vintage double. A make and model I’ve done some research on over the past few years and found one in the configuration I’d like most. The only issue is the seller has told me it has some minor pitting in the barrels. He has good reviews and by all accounts is reputable, so I’m not concerned about his description. But how much of an issue is this? What can be the problems with it and would you use it?

This gun would be used for grouse a few days a year. Not heavy range shooting or anything
 
Sort of depends what you want to hear - a brand new shotgun barrel, inside, has really shiny bores - you could say they look like a mirror - as if they were coated in glass - super smooth. I do not know what effect "minor" pits would have. Typically - and mostly about rifles - the length of the barrel develops the velocity as the burned powder gas expands - "accuracy" is really mostly about the very last 1/4" or so at the muzzle where the barrel last has contact with the bullet. Unless the pitting is so bad that it wrecks the shot cup, upsets the shot load, etc., I am not sure that "minor" pitting has much effect - unless it is right at the muzzle. And what he might describe as "minor", might be "major" to you. All that uncertainty should be reflected in the price - if it has not been recently fired, not patterened, etc. - there is really no way for the seller or the buyer to know how it will perform. And if the inside of the bore is a mess, no doubt the outside might also be - although there are many "good lookers" that are crap inside ...
 
A more complete description of the gun in question would help responders give you a better answer. For example, pitted fluid steel barrels are a different equation than pitted damascus barrels.
 
straightshooter said:
A more complete description of the gun in question would help responders give you a better answer. For example, pitted fluid steel barrels are a different equation than pitted damascus barrels.
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Oh, yeah this gun has fluid steel barrels. The rest of the gun appears to be in pretty good condition. Some marks and scratches on the stocks. Exterior blueing appears to have faded, but it’s not rusty. Some case hardening remains on the side plates and trigger guard. It’s in overall good, though used condition and the seller says the action is still tight.
 
I’m assuming the gun is not close by and has to be shipped. If you’re satisfied that the price reflects the gun’s condition including the light pitting, you could ask for the right to inspect upon arrival with a full refund if not satisfied. You will likely be responsible for shipping both ways under this arrangement, but that may be preferable to keeping a gun that you don’t feel comfortable with.

Light pitting should not compromise the performance of the gun. But, it has a bearing on value, particularly in the case of collector and vintage guns. The devil is in the details. If the gun was the only known example of a desirable make or model, minor pitting might not matter much. If the make/model is less rare, pitting of any sort could relegate it to being only a cherished shooter rather than a candidate for a serious collector.
 
I don't want to name names but i have bought guns that were described as having "light pitting" and when they arrived and the barrels were examined after a thorough cleaning, there was essentially no pitting. The seller could not distinguish between pitting and dirty barrels and couldn't be bothered to clean them before selling them.

I'm not complaining.
 
cosmic said:
Well - In the old days, a fella could get badly pitted barrels honed. As stated above, I wouldnt be too worried about light pitting.
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You can still get them honed if you want. The question then becomes can you take out enough metal to be rid of the pits but leave enough that the gun is still safe. And for that to be determined one needs access to someone with the equipment and skill to properly measure the barrel wall thickness.
 
An American or German gun usually would have lots of meat in the barrel walls to polish most pits out. Many British guns have very thin barrels as built so caution is advised when removing material. Ordinarily in UK if a gun has had material removed from barrels it has to be reproofed but I could be wrong in that assumption. That being said I've owned several shotguns with slightly pitted bores that gave good service. Just not as easy to clean as a gun with fine bores.
 
Mike Webb said:
An American or German gun usually would have lots of meat in the barrel walls to polish most pits out. Many British guns have very thin barrels as built so caution is advised when removing material. Ordinarily in UK if a gun has had material removed from barrels it has to be reproofed but I could be wrong in that assumption. That being said I've owned several shotguns with slightly pitted bores that gave good service. Just not as easy to clean as a gun with fine bores.
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Reading proof marks is a great help. Guns proofed in the UK show what the original bore size was at proof. If the bore has been increased through honing to more than a 10 thou difference, the gun is technically out of proof. That is a legal problem in the UK but meaningless here, except that it MAY mean that some areas of the barrels are thinner than is safe. But it is all just discussion and conjecture without measuring the wall thicknesses.
 
Without actually inspecting a specific gun, it is really hard to express an opinion about that gun.
In general though, "minor pitting" in shotgun bores shouldn't make much difference. Apart from affecting price...
Of course, there is the matter of interpretation about what constitutes "minor".
 
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