Mmmm....Papa's first '17

[zacmp]

Cost me my nicest 9mm pistol, but whatever....she's a waaaay prettier in p erson than the pictures show AND it's my first '17! She's got a Remington 6-18 Barrel, an Eddy bolt, a couple other E's and W's on stock parts (haven't seen a trigger stamp, but haven't dis-assembled). The finish is perfecto! Where she's not blue, she's got the most beautifully patina (patena?). No rust, no pitting, maybe the very first signs of some of the dark spots in the patina turning to rust, but it's hard to tell if it's rust or not. Bore...well, I'll start by saying it could be a lot worse... The rifiling is strong and looks pretty good for a rifle with obvious heavy use, but there's no shine left (is this what they call "frosted"). The wood is very deep and has the nice boxed P and boxed S S.A.A., looks like it's never seen sandpaper and has been well oiled all it's life. I got her last weekend and instantly went after the bore with solvent, amazing amount of crap came out, but it may never be shiny again...another "whatever" in my mind.

Haven't shot her yet, but she came with 80rds on stripper clips so it won't be long. It was my brothers, and I was told I shot it a decade ago and was very, very impressed with the accuracy, but damned if I can recall. Anyway, I'll shoot her and post some results down the road.

Hey, what's with the hole in the right-front of the receiver (picture 2)? Almost looks like a loaded chamber inspection hole?

thanks, zacmp

Information

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[Gibbs505]

Very nice indeed!!

[vintage hunter]

That hole in the reciever is called a gas escape hole. It's supposed to vent the gasses away from the shooter in the event of a blown primer or ruptured case. As for the bore, it may just need a good cleaning, but if it was last fired 10 years ago with corrosive ammo it's probably rusty and likely to remain dark. But one never knows..............

[gunner]

Good looking one!

[Patrick Chadwick]

I got her last weekend and instantly went after the bore with solvent, amazing amount of crap came out...

This suggests that there are still some surface deposits in the bore.

... but it may never be shiny again...

Well that could depend on you. You need:
1) a very long cleaning rod that will reach the muzzle from the breech end.
2) a fistful of cleaning swabs.
3) in order of effectiveness, Neco 1200 grit bore lapping paste OR the cleaning paste sold here by VFG that looks like blue toothpaste ( I imagine that something similar is available wher you live) OR - literally - toothpaste - but the old-fashioned gritty-tasting chalky kind, not the modern stuff that dries out like chewing gum.
4) patience
5) more patience.

Clean from the breech end, and try not to let the swab run out of the muzzle every time. I simply place a finger over the muzzle end and push/pull the cleaning rod with the other hand. After a few strikes you will get the rhythm that yets you push the rod down the bore so that the finger over the muzzle acts as a living spring to let the swab go right down the bore, but not pop out of the muzzle.

Put on some good music and clean, clean, clean...
When you can't stand cleaning any more, swab out clean and dry, and oil lightly with a swab moistened with Ballistol or equivalent.

Treat yourself to a session at the range. Clean with a swab merely moistened in copper/lead solvent, then repeat the long toothpaste cleaning ...

If you have the Neco lapping paste, just use it for one long session. Do not use it over and over again, or you might end with nicely shiny but slightly rounded lands. One long session with the Neco and then the toothpaste!

It takes several sessions to get the bore (probably) as good as it's ever going to be. But it works. Partially, I think, because the "toothpaste" mechanically removes some microscopic particles that are not touched by the chemical action of the copper solvent.


Patrick

[mannparks]

i would say you came out ahead as far as the 9mm is concerned.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Double 'ditto' what mannparks said. That's a beauty!

Welcome to the site! Best guys around here that you'll find anywhere. Looking forward to your range report.

[Chuckindenver]

said rifle is blue finished. if you suspect a bad bore....clean it before you shoot it...or you may be sorry...and for the record...patina if im selling, rust if im buying...
brown patina is rust... patina is a more attractive word to dicribe it when being sold...
when i look at a rifle,,my comment is...well, it does have a little RUST, but thats history...
when i sell the same rifle, i list it as having a nice over all PATINA...lol..

[mdoerner]

Also, remember the Enfield rifling in the barrel may favor 165+ grain bullets. My M1917 shoots M2 Ball (150 grn) just fine, but others have noted 168 and 180 grain bullets shoot better than the lighter ones. YMMV.

Mike Doerner