Pitted Encore SS 50x209 Barrel

G2 Shooter · 08-22-2008, 05:33 PM

A year ago I went to the range and returned home to a Divorce. I didn't clean out my barrel and the gun sat in the safe since, which is in her house. I got the gun last week. Looked at it today and it's pitted from the breach to about 5 inches from the muzzle. UGH! I cleaned it as thoroughly as I could. I went to the range today and shot it about 20 times. My best load gave me 1 inch, 4 shot groups at 100 yards. Today, the best I could muster is 4 shots in 3 inches. This is still respectable for a hunting rifle. I guess I'm just wondering how the pitting will affect the accuracy over time. If I clean it like I normally did, should I expect the 3 inch groups for a while or will it degrade quickly? I didn't see any sabot material while swabbing between shots.

Please keep bashing to a minimum as I already feel terrible.

I guess the silver lining could be my need to buy a new barrel.

cayugad · 08-22-2008, 05:47 PM

Well you can try to get the pitting out. But you might not get the kind of accuracy with it you were used to. Perhaps it is time to get a new barrel for it, or a new rifle.

lemoyne · 08-22-2008, 05:50 PM

First off it should not degrade if you keep it from rusting any more. Second if you do a good careful lapping job or have one done it will improve but you will have to use a larger diameter combination of sabot and bullet. Third if you don't know how to do a lapping job be sure you find out first.
AND BEST if you send it in to TC [call them first ] and give them an accurate description of what happened they are liable to fix it for you and they do a really good lap job. Lee