Picked up a replacement '03 barrel before checking here!

[BobinNJ]

OK, so I bought a '44 USMC Sedgley surplus barrel at a local gun show BEFORE I checked here! It looked fine when I inspected the bore & gauged the muzzle & throat. So, now I've been checking and have seen the posts here about the de-milled barrels that made it into the surplus market. I'm pretty sure I bought one! I ran a lead slug down the barrel, and I noticed resistance about 1/2 way down from the muzzle. I checked the slug, and it's .307 across the grooves & .300 across the lands. Opinions? I assume that's within spec for a unused barrel? So, I guess as long as the barrel is straight, it should be OK to use? Of course, I'll be working with a qualified gunsmith if I use it.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

So...has it been welded back together in the middle or what?

[Tom in N.J.]

Many Sedgley USMC barrels were de-milled by bending prior to bring sold for scrap. I also fell for an ad and bought one after being assured it was 'new'. Based on a letter to Winchester from Sedgley complaining about the price quoted for barrels, I believe the Sedgley USMC barrels were made under sub-contract by Winchester.

[Calif-Steve]

De-milled by bending. Job done in the Philippines and lots of Sedgley barrels seem to show up. Guys have been "unbending" them for years. I had one years ago and sold it to friend who wanted it as a bent barrel. I would not use it and would take it back to the seller.

[1911Ron]

OK, so I bought a '44 USMC Sedgley surplus barrel at a local gun show BEFORE I checked here! It looked fine when I inspected the bore & gauged the muzzle & throat. So, now I've been checking and have seen the posts here about the de-milled barrels that made it into the surplus market. I'm pretty sure I bought one! I ran a lead slug down the barrel, and I noticed resistance about 1/2 way down from the muzzle. I checked the slug, and it's .307 across the grooves & .300 across the lands. Opinions? I assume that's within spec for a unused barrel? So, I guess as long as the barrel is straight, it should be OK to use? Of course, I'll be working with a qualified gunsmith if I use it.

To me that would stop me from using it.

[Calif-Steve]

Take it back to the seller. That guy knew what he was selling to you.

[Randy A]

I've got one and it's fine, do the drill bit thing and see rather than speculate.

[BobinNJ]

I've got one and it's fine, do the drill bit thing and see rather than speculate.

What length drill bit did you use?

[browningautorifle]

What length drill bit

I made a straightness gauge for this sort of thing. Then it comes out at exactly the right size and about four inch minimum. I tapped a hole for a cleaning rod too, for using it to do straightening jobs, not just dropping through. A drill bit isn't quite right, no matter which numbered size you use...

[MGMike]

Not all Sedgely USMC-marked '03 barrels were demilled. Thousands were sent to foreign allies who had received '03 rifles as military assistance; these were used as spares when the rifles were refubished in foreign arsenals. It is quite common to find them on CMP Springfields returned from Greece.

M