Reboring an antique barrel

[dogfood]

Hi all,
I recently acquired an antique percussion rifle of about .36 caliber, maybe a bit smaller. Its barrel is 7/8" across the flats. The bore isn't a sewer pipe, but the rifling looks shot out that I can only barely make it out. There are no legible markings on the lock or barrel to date it, so I don't even know if it's bessemer steel.
With those factors considered, what would the range of calibers be to re-rifle the barrel? I'd definitely be sending it to a gunsmith as that kind of work is beyond my competency.
Thanks for your help.
Cheers,
dgfd

 

[Phil Coffins]

I would ask the fellow that will do the work. The smallest calibre change that cleans would be my choice. 38 perhaps.

 

[Larry Akers]

You could go any caliber up to .50 safely.

 

[Whitworth]

Bobby Hoyt is your man.

 

[nit wit]

Willie Boitnot of Ohio did a New England boys rifle for me many years ago. 36 to .40 cal.
Nit Wit

 

[mooman76]

You could just have it refreshed for slightly larger or even have a barrel insert to keep that caliber.

 

[TFoley]

Having said that the bore is like a sewer pipe, have you actually cleaned it to prove it?

A lot of guns that seem to have bores that are as dead as a dodo can actually be cleaned up - as I've read here many times. Lots of advice on how to do this are just waiting for you to ask for.

 

[dogfood]

Thanks for the ideas and names of smiths, gents. I'll see how it shoots with the present very shallow rifling before sending it out. It definitely needs at least some work done to it, but for reasons both historical and practical, doing the least amount of work to it necessary to get it up and running is the goal.
Here are some pics in case anyone was curious (also posted to the identify subforun because I don't have any real idea what era/school this is from)

 

[user 49399]

I have a rifle that I thought the rifling was shot out when I got it. I fiddled around with different loads and found out I could hit skeets with it at 50 yards.

 

[excess650]

I'll call it a ''generic plains gun" post 1840. IIRC, Remington was mass producing cast barrels post 1816, and Bessemer steel didn't exist until 1855+. Those older, wrought iron barrels were plenty good for blackpowder roundball guns.

I'll 2nd Bobby Hoyt for a rebore or reline, and he can let you know the condition of the breech and drum. A rebore would be exactly that, take it out to 40cal or 45cal and rifle. It could be relined where it would be bored out, steel liner inserted, bored and rifled to whatever caliber, smaller or larger than current.

 

[rusty]

maybe you should shoot it first, you never know it could shoot well as is.

 

[hawkeye2]

maybe you should shoot it first, you never know it could shoot well as is.

My feelings too.

Hoyt can bore and rifle the existing barrel to a larger caliber if it needs it. He can also install a liner though he would probably only do that to keep the original caliber or make it smaller. Liners are pre-rifled and all that is needed is to bore the barrel to take the liner. He can also inspect the breech plug and repair or replace as needed, same with the drum and nipple.

 

[excess650]

Liners are pre-rifled and all that is needed is to bore the barrel to take the liner.

Hoyt installs a sleeve and then reams and rifles it. I was in his shop and talked to him about this within the last 2 weeks.

 

[Eterry]

It's your gun, but I would clean it up and see how good/ bad it shoots before having work done on it.
I've seen many guns, black powder and smokeless, with a bore resembling hammered bat guano, that shot amazing after a good cleaning.

 

[Rudyard]

Willis Boitnot must be a very old man by now He certainly did nice work , And a very fine gentleman. Ide describe the rifle as a' degenerate Hog rifle' but no accounting for taste . You have good advise re trying it first .
Rudyard