What causes a dark bore

HIGHRPM

HIGHRPM

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I collect milsurps, and to date have always bought them with shiny bright bores. I have heard about dark bores, but have never seen one or had anyone explain what really causes it. Can it be removed or is permanent. I recently bought a beautiful Mosin, strong rifling but has a dark bore, which I have read can still be a great shooter. And I insist on shooting what I buy. Time to ask everybody about their knowledge and experience with this, so please chime in and share what you know ! :confused:
 
As long as the rifling is somewhat sharp it will be fine. I once had a counter-bored (oh the horror!) pitted in the grooves, Finnish VKT M91 that would shoot 1-1.5" groups at 100 metres all day long. Especially with that nice fine sight blade. ;)
 
I have been told it can be evrything from pitting to rust to the cosmoline left rotting in there for so many years.
I have found that the only true judge of the condition of a rifles bore is to shoot it.
I have a dark/rough bored 1891 Mosin that shoots very nice groups with little effort.
 
Travis Bickle said:
I have been told it can be evrything from pitting to rust to the cosmoline left rotting in there for so many years.
I have found that the only true judge of the condition of a rifles bore is to shoot it.
I have a dark/rough bored 1891 Mosin that shoots very nice groups with little effort.
Click to expand...

Very true. I have seen many clean and shiney bores shoot poorly for one reason or another. My dark, pitted AND counterbored 1939 Tula Finn capture 91/30 shoots very, very well though. With reloads will do 2ish inches at 100m.
 
Funny bit 'o' science there...

I have a .22 with a TERRIBLE bore. (I know...not the same thing) pitted not too far from chamber...awful looking. It is one of my most accurate .22's.

Another "semantic" based inquiry (not nec. hijacking)...what the heck is a "frosted" bore?
 
A frosted bore is basically a bore that is more of a grey then a jet black. Pretty much the same thing, just a lower level of pitting from what I have seen.
 
I always thought it was corrosive ammo....

I have a SmLE with a dark bore that shoots a very tight group. Dark isn't the end of the world.:)
 
Seems like it is caused by carless maintenance. I have heard the term and know I know, learn somehting new everyday here on CGN.
 
Thanks for the replys everyone. I am just going to give her a good cleaning and take her to the range, and it is what it is.
 
Some people have to many milsurps to clean them.
I've bought rifles here on the equipment exchange advertised with dark bores that turned out to have nothing more than a lot of baked-in fouling. CLP, a tight Parker Hale bronze brush & a bit of elbow grease brought them right back.
 
Ah don't git round ta cleaning my thurty-thurty until jest befor huntin season. So why caint I do the same with this old army rifle after shootin that surplus ammo?

When the rifle was in service, you would get a strip torn off your hide for a dirty rifle by the Sergeant Major, so they had good bores at the time they were released to the public.
 
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