What is the procedure to determine if a barrel is bent

[RBruce]

Other than noticing the 90 degree dogleg, how can I tell if a barrel has a slight/imperceptible bend? I recall that there was a discussion on CSP sometime ago, but I don't remember the details. TIA --RBruce

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[AKA Hugh Uno]

just about all bolt rifle barrels get a little straightening at the factory in a bending fixture. you just look down the barrel and the shadow/light shadow rings are concentric. apparently also, if you insert a de-primed case and hold the chamber end up to the light, it enhances the effect. whether or not YOU want to try and bend it back is another matter altogether but I suspect it's not that big of a deal to a "competent" smithie.

[Calif-Steve]

Lots of Sedgley barrels were bent and then "fixed" and sold mail order. Are you wondering about a Sedgley barrel?

[stonewall56]

I bought an M1903 with a Sedgley barrel. There was some hazing about 1/3 of the way up from the chamber and all my bullet strikes "keyholed" the target at 25 yards.

[RBruce]

It is a RA 9-43

[Jim Tarleton]

Open your front door in the daytime, stand back in your foyer with your rifle, bolt removed, and look through the barrel at the edge of the door. Once you get the edge of the door in the middle of the barrel, you will see a line going down the bottom length of the interior of the barrel. If that line breaks, you have a bend at the break.

All 1903 barrels were straightened at some point in manufacture, often more than once. Savage used to have a picture on their web site that showed a guy straightening barrels - all of them. You might note that some premier barrel makers prefer to taper their barrels, even though they won't fit them to your rifle. They want to make sure it is straight after turning, which tends to bend barrels.

Jim

[Chuckindenver]

Jims advise is a good one, if you saw how i straighten barrels, youd fall over.
if the barrels been shot a lot with a bend, chances are its trash, but you may get lucky.

[Jim K]

I know "never say never" but a bent barrel won't cause bullets to keyhole. Even if they get a little "bent out of shape" they will generally work fine if there is about 6" of straight barrel (that is the theory behind the bore sighter with its 2-3" spud).

For keyholing, I would look to the muzzle for a lot of wear or a badly cut crown (or the wrong caliber).

Jim

[Jim Tarleton]

I agree with JimK. Bent barrels can shoot amazingly straight. I have an old Mauser with a slight bend, and it shoot just fine. I have a 91 Mauser barrel that I shortened to 18' (it shot great before - but not after) and discovered that the bore was noticeably off-center at the cut. Bores are cut with self-centering bits, and this one obviously wandered a bit.

If you are wondering why I would want an 18" barrel, it is becasue I hunt in a swamp with very thick brush and undergrowth in places. I use a very light, very short, open sighted 91 Mauser (clip fed and quick loading) in 7.65mm as we do have bears. The muzzle blast and recoil is awesome:-). I can stand erect with the barrel straight down and the muzzle is 6" off the ground. It weighs in at 6 lbs. I am making a second one for a friend who saw mine and just has to have one too. I am seriously considering a Winchester Model 71 in 450 Alaskan (Win 348 necked up and blown out to 45 cal).

Jim

[Charlie]

I once read a Brit test report that stated that the last 4" of the bore was the most importent. Most of the de-mill bent barrels I have encountered had a slight .010-.012 protrusion at the point of the bend. It could deform the projectile to the point that it would not fly correctly after it exits the barrel.

To check a barrel to see if it's straight I drop a 3", .300 gage pin down the bore. If it slides straight through it's good. If it's a tight bore I'll drop a .299
If the gage pins hangs up the bore is bent.