What should I do about this barrel?

[Irving]

So some of you may remember that my grandfather gifted me a Mossberg US44 (a) rifle a few months ago. I'd say it's in pretty good shape (not that it matters since I'm keeping it no matter what), but I wanted to have a smith look at my barrel for me. Here are two pictures of the pitting on the barrel. I'd like to get it cleaned up if possible. If it's not possible to clean it up with basically sanding down, should I just leave it? I can't imagine it is hurting anything. Here are the pictures.

http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/qq226/1stuart1/Guns/DSCN1033.jpg
http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/qq226/1stuart1/Guns/DSCN1039.jpg

Also, I think this is the original sight with the several different posts you can use, but I'm not sure. It looks like the sight should have had a hood on it, that is long since gone. The issue with the front sight is that it is on the barrel crooked. I can move the sight around, but can't get it tight into the barrel and have it be centered at the same time. Should that be an easy fix?

[Irving]

Could I have this cleaned up and reblued perhaps?

[Backinblackrifles]

You sure can.

[Irving]

Hmmm, maybe I'll have the barrel threaded instead. Decisions decisions.

I don't ever plan to sell it, but I'm sure they are going to just get more and more difficult to find as the years go by. Would re bluing be just as detrimental to future value than threading the barrel?

[Marlin]

Frankly,, if you are keeping it, and not worried about some preconceived notion of value selling it.. Do what you want to it... As long as you're happy with it, who gives a flaming rats ass what anybody else thinks..

[Irving]

That's all part of my internal battle with this. ;)

[Marlin]

You have lots of inner conflict, don't you...[LOL]

[Irving]

You have lots of inner conflict, don't you...[LOL]


Well....I don't want to brag. ;)

[ROFL1]

[10x]

You could use some fine steel wool to clean up the barrel end and then use cold blue. Done with with some care you should get good results.

Likely, after that you will get more used to the gun and not want to do any more with it. That is pretty much the way you got it from your grandfather.

I like to leave the original finish alone. I like the "character" of an heirloom gun.

After a while, if it still bothers you, you could still get it refinished.

[Irving]

That's some good advice, I'll have to pick up some steel wool. What do you recommend for the cold blue? I have a pen (looks like a sharpie) but I find that it wears off really quickly.

[Circuits]

brownell's oxpho blue - I prefer paste to liquid.

[Irving]

Noted, thanks!

[BPTactical]

I would re-crown it and polish it.
The crown is critical to accuracy and you dont want to just sand it.
Cold blue wont last too long, especially on the muzzle end.

[Irving]

Yeah, I have this cold bluing pen (looks like a sharpie) that I got to clean up my sights because the bluing wore off from being holstered so many times. All it takes is some CLP and a stiff bristled nylon brush to take that blue pen right off.

[cowboykjohnson]

The birchwood casey liquid super blue works decent for small jobs like that. I tried a whole .22 rifle with it and it actually turned out really good.