Worn 30-06 barrel slugs to .323 diameter

[sledge]

Hi guys.
I have a worn milsurp barrel for 1941 Johnson. Failed the bullet test so I put a .308 projectile down it and it went through the barrel just with gravity.
I thought going up a notch would help. Put a .312 round down it, same thing. Right to the ground.

Then I slugged the barrel with a lead ball and it measures .323. WoW.

Does that mean I may be able to load .323 cast in 30-06 cases for it? Provided I find ones as light as possible?

Information

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[WarPig1976]

.323 is 8mm, that is an awful lot of wear! Have to ask, are you sure it's chambered in .30.06? If it is, IMO your trying to get blood from a stone.


"Nuts"

[fjruple]

Sounds like the barrel may have been re-bored and rechambered out to 8mm-06. A popular conversion after WWII.

--fjruple

[browningautorifle]

It's likely got just about no rifling in it correct? It probably won't hit a flock of barns and full keyhole at ten yards. It likely wouldn't cycle either. I suppose you could get it re-rifled at .35 and wildcat it. We just took a 03-A3 barrel and made it into a Johnson barrel. No problems and worked perfectly.

[jmoore]

One would have to think it was rebarreled to 8mm Mauser/7,92x57. Possibly by Cranston Arms. But 8mm-06 is an option. Probably not a great one for a Johnson rifle, unless downloaded from it's full potential!

[sledge]

8mm-06? I thought that was guys with Mausers after the war wanting to use an 06' casing for their 8mms.
Is there any other test I can do? Would a local gunsmith be any help here?

[fjruple]

Sledge-- That's true also. But folks with shot out 30-06 bores, especially owners of Johnson, spare barrels were not that available, would rebore them to 8mm-06 to make them a useable rifle.

--fjruple

[browningautorifle]

Is there any rifling? Or is it eroded? You don't give us a very good description. Is it shiny and bright? Or a sewer pipe?

[Johnny Peppers]

There is no way a .30 caliber barrel could wear out that much.

Agree that the 8mm-06 was a conversion of an 8mm Mauser rifle to accept .30-06 brass, and not the other way around.

[sledge]

Not as bad as a sewer pipe, but the worst bore I have for sure. There are faint traces of rifling looking down it. Faint. It is incredibly dirty and some pitting in places. I have gone through with all kinds of cleaners and using copper brushes and likely a hundred swabs and they are still coming out very dark.

Though the 8mm-06 conversion seems unlikely, I also wouldn't think .308 barrels could not wear to .323.