Hey Bert, have a look here, please

[Tim K]

This is the muzzle of a Savage .22 I had threaded. Bert, this is not the one you did, someone else did it. You can see a section of rifling about 1/4" long that appears to have been cut mostly away. It looks very much like a machining operation and nothing like a random process from a cleaning rod or such.

I have a LOT of confidence in the guy who did this work. He's done other work for me, and it's always superb. I honestly don't think he did this when he threaded the barrel. The only conclusion I can come to is that it came like this from the factory and I never noticed.

It's bizarre. I'm hoping someone here has seen something like it and can explain it.

BTW, it shoots great.

[MarkCO]

I'll bet a dollar to a doughnut I know what Bert will say, but I will let him respond first.

[BPTactical]

It appears that this barrel was recrowned.
First guess is a non piloted crowning tool or a piloted one that seized up.

Second guess would be a false muzzle that was either too loose or spun in the barrel.
If it was the former there is no better testament for crowning with a single point tool, if the latter it's just poor form.

Curious what your thoughts are Mark.

[skullybones]

I've looked at this barrel in person and it has all the appearance of a clean cut. It looks as if a boring bar was run a 1/4" down the barrel. There is even a very slight shoulder at the end of the marks. I've seen what centers do when they gall, and this doesn't look anything like that. The crown also looks to be cut with a lathe rather than a crowning tool. It is very puzzling to stare at.

I will second that the gun is a hammer with match ammo.

[ray1970]

Eh. They do that to those Mosin Nagants all the time.

[BPTactical]

OK, after zooming in on the pic I would tend to agree with the above post, it even appears that the lands are rebated a smidge.
Clearly machined this way on purpose.
Why? I have no idea.


Ray, don't you have some Cheetos to munch?

[MarkCO]

It appears that this barrel was recrowned.
First guess is a non piloted crowning tool or a piloted one that seized up.

Curious what your thoughts are Mark.

Your first guess is what I thought when I saw it. I guess it is possible it was made that way, but some research on the gun make would reveal that. I know there are muzzle loaders that are rifled, and then the last inch is back bored and they don't seem to lose accuracy.

[MarkCO]

Okay, I went and did some looking in the super secret squirrel chat room and found some posts about Savage 22 bores opening up when they are either 1. recontoured, or 2, threaded. Seems that the accuracy nuts found this out. The solution is to back-bore 1/2" or so. The bullet makes no contact that last little bit, and it tightens the groups back up.

Not positive, but being it is a Savage .22 and this appears to be a common practice among the specialists that shoot these guys from 100 to 300 yards, it seems reasonable.

So is it for sale?

[BPTactical]

Your first guess is what I thought when I saw it. I guess it is possible it was made that way, but some research on the gun make would reveal that. I know there are muzzle loaders that are rifled, and then the last inch is back bored and they don't seem to lose accuracy.

On a smokepole that is done to facilitate easier loading. With the projectile being patched and all contact with the rifling the patch doesn't know the difference in bore diameter and has no effect on the ball.

I need to dig and see if I can find any reference to the work that was done to Tims barrel.
I love a mystery....

[MarkCO]

Bert, red my post just above yours, #8.