Smoothing A Rough Bore

[Walkabout]

I bought a smoothbore Zouave a few month ago and I've noticed that fouling seems to accumulate about mid way down the bore. I'm assuming there's some pitting there. Is there any way to smooth it out? Thanks

 

[Rod Man]

Scotch brite with honing oil is what I have been using. It takes a bit, but going slow and steady seems to work. I have cleaned up more than a few using this method.

RM

 

[Rod Man]

I should have mentioned that I use an undersized jag. Say for example I have found that a .40 jag works for a .50 cal barrel with out too much fuss.

RM

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Scotch brite with honing oil is what I have been using.

What color? Some are much more aggressive than others ...

 

[Rod Man]

Good Point. I should have mentioned that. Maroon. I have no idea what the grit is considered though. I must admit that I discovered this out of frustration with a lyman I had. I tried it and it worked and didn't tear anything up so I have used it on other bores since.

RM

 

[waksupi]

Increase your charge. It is telling you your load is too light for best efficiency.

Don't assume, a bore light is $12 from Ebay.

 

[BigSkyRambler]

Maybe fill the bore with Evaporust for a few hours before scrubbing. I have a badly rusted Belgian trade musket that looks great on the outside, but has an awful bore.

 

[Walkabout]

Increase your charge. It is telling you your load is too light for best efficiency.

Don't assume, a bore light is $12 from Ebay.

I dunno, I'm loading 90-100 gr of ffg. It's a .760 bore.

 

[waksupi]

Try 3F.

 

[nhmoose]

Sunnen hone.

 

[Willy]

I was just getting ready to ask about this. My ol' SxS 12ga has had rough bores for years. Years ago when I was getting ready to be stationed overseas, I was going to leave my guns with my brother. He had them for two years and used them and wasn't much on cleaning them afterwards. I've had troubles with the bores on the SxS ever since. Enough so that if I try to run a patch down it on a jag, the jag seizes up on the roughness and won't come out.

 

[hanshi]

If Scotch Bright doesn't do the trick go on to the "nuclear" option. That option is use of 0000 steel wool which is fine enough to smooth metal but not coarse enough to scratch it.

 

[Daryl Crawford]

I'd add, lube up that 0000 steel wool. I've used a bit of it on a jag, sprayed down with ballistol, and gently run the jag back and forth. After a few passes in each direction, I run a clean patch to remove grime, then back to the 0000 steel wool and ballistol. Repeat until the "rough spot" is gone.

 

[springfield art]

I bought a smoothbore Zouave a few month ago and I've noticed that fouling seems to accumulate about mid way down the bore. I'm assuming there's some pitting there. Is there any way to smooth it out? Thanks

I used brake grinding paste on a patch to smooth out a rough bore. Seems there's various techniques out there; the several answers should give a good choice!

 

[SDSmlf]

What color? Some are much more aggressive than others ...

Here are some charts with equivalents to steel wool and grits for the various 3M Stoch-Brite pads.

 

[SDSmlf]

Double post.

 

[shaman]

Check this out.

 

[rich pierce]

I’d unbreech it and really see what’s going on.

 

[Artificer]

I’d unbreech it and really see what’s going on.

Further if one does need to do more aggressive bore polishing, you ALWAYS want to begin at the rear so you don't open up the muzzle before you get the rough spots smoothed out.

Gus

 

[SPQR70AD]

some guys are making out like they are working on an artery. the barrel is steel and smoothbore. wrap steel wool around a brush chuck the rod in a drill and on medium speed clean it up