Can I assume there is some life left in this barrel?

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08-12-2016, 08:41 PM
HDSledge

Can I assume there is some life left in this barrel?

In an older thread on how to tell if your bore is worn Harlan said this:
"The bullet tip for an M1 carbine is short and round, so it doesn’t work very well because the relative differences in muzzle size is hard to see. (Even on a new barrel, the muzzle is very close to the front of the shell casing) "

Since I have nothing else to test with I took a pic of what the .30 cal round looks like out of curiosity. Based on the pic do you guys think I might be able to hit the broad side of a barn when I get to the range? (If it will ever stop raining.)

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_7183-1.jpg
08-12-2016, 09:49 PM
AFJon

You'll get a better reading with a M2 ball round. I'd venture there's' plenty of life left in the barrel.
08-12-2016, 10:24 PM
HDSledge

Quote:

Originally Posted by AFJon

You'll get a better reading with a M2 ball round. I'd venture there's' plenty of life left in the barrel.

I'll post a pic of the group when I finally get out there to shoot it.

re. the M2 ball round: I'm not sure where to get one. Will a regular 30-06 work or is it too different?
08-12-2016, 11:10 PM
browningautorifle

I'll bet you can't drop a bullet in the barrel and blow it through with your lips... It's fine.
08-12-2016, 11:46 PM
HDSledge

Quote:

Originally Posted by browningautorifle

I'll bet you can't drop a bullet in the barrel and blow it through with your lips... It's fine.

Got a laugh out of that one. Reminds me of the time as a kid I made a dart gun and let my brother have a try. Instead of blowing out he inhaled the dart and swallowed it. Nothing shows up as well on an x ray as a wad of foil with a pin sticking out of it. He had to "look" for the dart for a couple days. Maybe I should let him take a shot at it.
08-13-2016, 12:19 AM
JimF4M1s (Deceased)

It looks like plenty of life is left.

These work nice, but around $25-$30

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...M1gauge2-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...zlegauge-1.jpg
08-13-2016, 02:30 PM
AFJon

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDSledge

I'll post a pic of the group when I finally get out there to shoot it.

re. the M2 ball round: I'm not sure where to get one. Will a regular 30-06 work or is it too different?

If you can meet the CMP eligibility requirements
Eligibility Requirements - Civilian Marksmanship ProgramCivilian Marksmanship Program

Ammo
Civilian Marksmanship Program eStore

If you don't have an M1 Garand yet this would be a great excuse to get one.
08-13-2016, 02:57 PM
HDSledge

Quote:

Originally Posted by AFJon

If you don't have an M1 Garand yet this would be a great excuse to get one.

Feed the beast eh? ;) Buy the gun so I can buy some ammo so I can use one round to inaccurately check my bore? Sounds reasonable.

In the meantime I ordered this: 20 bucks shipped. Someone suggested drill a hole and hang it from a keyring.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...re_guage-1.jpg
08-13-2016, 09:48 PM
INLAND44

You're in great shape. The .30 Carbine bullet never gets flat before the case mouth which is why you should use the M2 Ball. So, considering that, your muzzle is probably about like new.
08-17-2016, 09:46 PM
HDSledge

Quote:

Originally Posted by INLAND44

You're in great shape. The .30 Carbine bullet never gets flat before the case mouth which is why you should use the M2 Ball. So, considering that, your muzzle is probably about like new.

Haven't received the wear gauge yet but I don't think it matters. Went to the range today to finally try out my M1A1.

I used the 100 yd peep and held a few inches low since the berm was only 60 yards away. Fired the first shot in 50 years out of the rifle and it went right where I was aiming, bottom of the target. Next I shot a group of 5 that wound up a bit right so I tried again and the next group was almost all in the center square but a bit left.

My shooting eye is not as good as it used to be but I was very happy with the accuracy of the rifle.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_7203-1.jpg
08-17-2016, 09:49 PM
USGI

Can't complain about that a bit! :thup: - Bob
08-18-2016, 12:48 AM
browningautorifle

See? Nothing wrong with that barrel...
08-19-2016, 01:51 PM
HDSledge

Looks like the barrel has a "few" shots left in it. :) If I'm reading the wear gauge right it shows .3012. Bore diameter is .300 and groove diameter is .308 so the grooves have more than 85% of their initial depth. Correct?

How does 85% of groove depth left translate into number of rounds? Is a barrel "shot out" before you reach totally flat lands? This gauge would fit all the way into the muzzle well before .308.

I'm surprised at the lack of wear shown by the gauge since the rifling appears very shallow and indistinct from the muzzle end, while at the breech it is very sharp and defined. I guess it is easier to see from the breech than down the barrel at the muzzle end.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_7214-1.jpg
08-19-2016, 08:17 PM
Mike Haas

My sense of humor went rampant..

Quote:

Originally Posted by browningautorifle

I'll bet you can't drop a bullet in the barrel and blow it through with your lips... It's fine.

I was about to comment about an x-girlfriend but don't want to kicked off the forum.:nono::nono:
08-19-2016, 08:59 PM
browningautorifle

That would be suck starting a Harley...?
08-19-2016, 10:38 PM
HDSledge

Quote:

Originally Posted by browningautorifle

I'll bet you can't drop a bullet in the barrel and blow it through with your lips... It's fine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Haas

I was about to comment about an x-girlfriend but don't want to kicked off the forum.:nono::nono:

Quote:

Originally Posted by browningautorifle

That would be suck starting a Harley...?

How does the chrome trailer hitch fit into the Harley scenario?
08-19-2016, 11:06 PM
INLAND44

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDSledge

Looks like the barrel has a "few" shots left in it. :) If I'm reading the wear gauge right it shows .3012. Bore diameter is .300 and groove diameter is .308 so the grooves have more than 85% of their initial depth. Correct?

How does 85% of groove depth left translate into number of rounds? Is a barrel "shot out" before you reach totally flat lands? This gauge would fit all the way into the muzzle well before .308.

I'm surprised at the lack of wear shown by the gauge since the rifling appears very shallow and indistinct from the muzzle end, while at the breech it is very sharp and defined. I guess it is easier to see from the breech than down the barrel at the muzzle end.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_7214-1.jpg

You're not measuring 'the bore', just the muzzle. What little wear there is in your muzzle was put there by sloppy steel cleaning rod use. Carbine rifling is very light, like the 1911. This is because its a low-velocity round and doesn't need high rifling to be controlled. Your barrel is essentially like new.
08-19-2016, 11:15 PM
browningautorifle

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDSledge

How does the chrome trailer hitch fit into the Harley scenario?

As well as the bullet does...just grasping here...
08-19-2016, 11:25 PM
HDSledge

Quote:

Originally Posted by INLAND44

You're not measuring 'the bore', just the muzzle. What little wear there is in your muzzle was put there by sloppy steel cleaning rod use. Carbine rifling is very light, like the 1911. This is because its a low-velocity round and doesn't need high rifling to be controlled. Your barrel is essentially like new.

The previous owners' wife told me her husband never fired it over the decades the family owned it but that he would take it out and oil it every so often. I guess that explains the condition.