That's actually a pic I posted on surplusrifle forum (and my avatar at militaryfirearms forum for about 4 years) and yes .... that's exactly what it looked like. No optical illusion.

He asks a good question. How did it get all the way to 2014 like that? At least two of them.

As the OP on the other forum described his (looked the same as this, he noted) as I (and he) ran a cleaning patch down the bore it loosened up momentarily and a look down the bore revealed that image!! The rifle was a well worn '43 Maltby from Classic Arms and returned and promptly and courteously replaced.

Scary, huh!?