In regards to barrel rust and pitting. I bought aHawkin's rifle used that has some small pits in it and I shoots great so I know that SOME pitting doesn't effect the accuaracy.Although now I have obtained a Kentucky rifle that looks like it was shot about 10 years ago and then never cleaned. I'm wondering how bad is too bad. Obviously if the barrel is too bad then it won't shoot worth a hoot, but saftey wise, I don't want it blowing up in my or someone elses face.

What's your opinion?

Well, the only way you will know is to detail clean the bore and run some JP bore polishing paste.

Get yourself a bore light so you can see what things are looking like inside the bore.
Here is a good one. Other shops have similar.
http://www.cabelas.com/spodw-1/0006754.shtml

You would be amazed as to just how much pitting you can have in a bore and an ML will still shoot acceptible for hunting.

As far as dangerous to shoot because of rusting, again I would inspect the inside of the bore after cleaning and polishing and make a determination then. Likely should be no problem safely-wise if you stay within the rifle's acceptible loading data.

I suppose if you are seeing substantial bore material that has rusted away beyond the garden variety pitting, then perhaps you have a wall hanger only.

Tahquamenon

I was given a rifle that was considered "ruined." In fact the prior owner considered it junk. The rifle is in very poor shape without argument. I lapped the barrel and then used J-B Bore Paste and cleaned all that I could, then oiled it up real good. The prior owner told me that it shot best with 90 grains of Pyrodex RS and a patched roundball. I discovered it no longer could handle the stronger loads but with 70 grains of Goex 2f and a patched roundball the rifle shoots excellent. In fact the prior owner saw me shooting it one afternoon and asked if that was "his old rifle." I told him it was, but I managed to save it. I actually think he expected me to give it back or something...

Alrighty. It was given to me and I basically accepted it as a "wall decoration". But I'm going toclean it out the best I can and hope to at least be able to plink around w/it. I don't know what happened to my bore light so I can't be for certain how bad its in just yet. But when I ran the ramrod down the barrel w/just the jag it sounded like I was using a sand paper patch to swab with . Not good.

Oh well, if I can't salvage it no big loss. I was just hoping to make something out of nothing.

Take a piece of tin foil and roll it into a ball smaller then the bore of the rifle. Drop that down the bore and then shine a flashlight to the side. The light will reflect off the tin foil and somewhat illuminate the bore for you. When you are done looking, just tip the rifle and the tin foil will roll right out...

If after you clean it up and your not sure of the damage to the barrel, have it checked, or load it very light. No telling how deep the rust has penetrated.

I had a friend that brought me a CVA .54 percussion that was in bad shape...
I poured plugged the nipple with a toothpick and poured vineger down the barrel, let it soak for a few days, poured it out and poured fresh...After a week, I cleaned it up and took it to the range, shot very well...His son-in-law is still using and that's been 6-7 years ago...It's amazing the crud that floated to the top...

I agree with Cayugad and Nchawkeye.
I have revived many very neglected and left for useless or dead ML's to either excellent or acceptableshooting condition. Onlyin a couple of instances have a come across an ML that I ended up plugging the bore so could not be fired. The reason was not so much the rust/pitting, but because the barrels were bulged from double loading (loading another charged load on top of load already in the bore = big no no!).

Tahquamenon

From a safety standpoint, I would think it would have to be pretty rust to weaken it significantly. I would certainly give it a good cleaning and go from there.

I have a 50 cal. TC White Mountain Carbine I got from my dad. Back in his younger partying days he hadput it up in a closet after shooting and forgot to clean it. I've always hunted since I was about 10 years old, but started getting into ML'ing the last 5 years or so. I knew he had a couple ML's so I asked him about them. (He hasn't shot in about 10 years). He has several of them. The Carbine was the only one put up dirty. Anyways I cleaned it up and there was considerable rust in the barrel. However it is still very accurate out to 75 yards. Which isn't bad for a Carbine anyways. I killed my first ML deer with it shooting a patched roundball and 80 gr. Pyrodex. I have 2 other ML's besides that one now, but still like shooting it. I'd say if yours may be ok for lighter loads. I was surorised that old TC was still accurate.

chris