Proper way to measure inside barrel size of an old rifle.

[Karen]

I was told to oil barrel, put in a ball of Aluminum foil near the top, them pour in a teaspoon of liquid lead. then take out lead and measure it.

Is that correct?

[fecmech]

That would be one way but due to the lead shrinking when cooling it will be smaller by a bit. Another is to use a soft lead sinker or something larger than the bore and tap it through the barrel with a brass rod, you would then have a precise measurement. Do not use a wooden dowel! That can cause big problems by jamming in the bore.

[stubshaft]

You could do it that way but like fecmech said it would not be an accurate measurement due to shrinkage. I would pour the cast as you described, place the muzzle on a solid surface like a chunk of hardwood and using a close to bore fitting rod of metal (no wood) insert from the chamber end and give it a couple of whacks with a hammer to upset the slug and insure that it conforms to the bores diameter.

[deltaenterprizes]

If you use Cerrosafe instead of lead you will get an exact measurement.

[izzyjoe]

Cerrosafe work's great, but after it cools it start's grow in size. the best way to measure the is use an egg sinker, just oil the bore drive it in all the way, and measure the slug. you can look on you tube, there's a good video about this.

[MtGun44]

SOFT lead ball, driven into the bore with a wooden or plastic mallet. It will flare out and
cut off a bit, but once inside, drive through with a brass rod. NOT a wooden dowel.

See the sticky thread about getting a jammed wooden dowel out of a barrel without
ruining the barrel. . . . . .


Bill

[adrians]

SOFT lead ball, driven into the bore with a wooden or plastic mallet. It will flare out and
cut off a bit, but once inside, drive through with a brass rod. NOT a wooden dowel.

See the sticky thread about getting a jammed wooden dowel out of a barrel without
ruining the barrel. . . . . .


Bill

thats it Karen.
welcome.
:twisted::bigsmyl2::evil: