Ringed Barrel ?

[RedneckRob]

I have a Chasspot/Gras carbine with a ringed barrel approximately 1-1/4” in front of the rear sight. You can feel it on the outside barely and can see, what looks like a gap inside, a black ring on the inside. When running a tight patch you can feel the loss of the rifling then catch it again.

The question I have is it safe to shoot with BP 3/4 loads. With the rifling almost the full length, I’m not worried about accuracy just don’t want to have a kaboom over my hand. It is a 1873 with a sleeved chamber if this helps any.
Thanks, Rob.
PS- where can I buy 50-110 WCF brass at ?

[elmacgyver0]

I would at least tie it to a tire and get back behind something and fire it a few times with a string.

[schutzen-jager]

never had any centerfires with ringed barrels, but several .22 rimfires + had no safety issues +accuracy was not effected -

[country gent]

A ringed barrel is stressed at that point How much is hard to tell even looking at it in hand. The problem with stressed areas is they can let go on the next firing or 100 later. I would consider having it lined replacing the chamber and ringed area both.

[Chill Wills]

You can also have it cut back and re-crowned.

[WILCO]

You can also have it cut back and re-crowned.

I like this answer.

[M-Tecs]

You can also have it cut back and re-crowned.

I have a Chasspot/Gras carbine with a ringed barrel approximately 1-1/4” in front of the rear sight. You can feel it on the outside barely and can see, what looks like a gap inside, a black ring on the inside. When running a tight patch you can feel the loss of the rifling then catch it again.

That would remove most of the barrel.

To the OP. I would never recommend anyone shoot it. That being said I it was mine I would shoot it using light BP loads.

[john.k]

I had a 303 with a case neck stamped in to the bore by subsequent shots ......noticeable bulge on the outside .

[indian joe]

You can also have it cut back and re-crowned.

in front of the rear sight .....gonna end up a tad short
aussies go to jail for stuff like that

[Bent Ramrod]

I had a Remington-Hepburn .38-40 that had a ring and bulge about 4” from the muzzle. The rest of the rifling was pristine.

I couldn’t get it to shoot for sour apples, whatever loads I tried. Back then, I was only using smokeless. I drilled out the barrel ahead of the ring&bulge and “crowned” the new muzzle end as best I could by turning the drill carefully by hand. Still couldn’t hit anything with it, so drilled it out the rest of the way for a liner.

On the other hand, I found a Winchester bolt action .22 at a storage auction sale with a similar ring and bulge that shot as well as any other non-target-grade .22 I own.

I’d do some judicious experiments with black-powder loads and see what happens at the target.

[RedneckRob]

M-Tecs, yeah I’m going with 1/4 - 1/2 loads as max for now. I am also in pursuit of another barrel
The bad thing is that the current barrel is in overall good shape. Oh well, win some lose some.

Rob

[Chill Wills]

in front of the rear sight .....gonna end up a tad short
aussies go to jail for stuff like that

"a ringed barrel approximately 1-1/4” in front of the rear sight"

Ooops! It clearly said rear sight but in my mind, I saw front sight. I'll go sit in the corner now.

[4060MAY]

using a split bushing, squeeze the barrel back round, no heat
worst case it won't work , if you shoot it as is , might get some leading (gas cutting) at the bulge

I have seen my Smith do this with shotgun barrels

[4060MAY]

FYI
https://www.practicalmachinist.com/f...barrel.395083/
magnaflux was recommended to check for cracks

[Rockindaddy]

Rebarrel that ole Gras to 45-70 I make 11mm Gras brass out of 348 Winchester. 45-70 would work out better. Its a pain forming the 11mm Gras. You might have to modify your extractor. Hey its too bad there isn't much 50-70 brass available. 50-70 would be a good rebarrel too!

[indian joe]

"a ringed barrel approximately 1-1/4” in front of the rear sight"

Ooops! It clearly said rear sight but in my mind, I saw front sight. I'll go sit in the corner now.

nah ! ya get a pass on the naughty corner

on a more serious note dont you guys get in trouble for that too?
never made sense to me ---shortened long arms are illegal ? yet pistols are all over the place ? some politician logic involved there ...........................

[gloob]

Can you not debulge a barrel? If the barrel is round at that point and accuracy is shot, anyway, I'd give it a try.

Drill and bore out a hole in a bar of steel to match the OD of the bulged section. Cut it in half. Put the barrel in, clamp it, and hit it with a hammer. Check loose spot with a cleaning rod. Rotate and repeat until the loose spot is no longer noticeable. Then slug and check for tight spot and lap as required.

[john.k]

Yes,shotgun barrels are 'ironed out' all the time .........Id think a Chassepot /Gras would have a soft steel barrel and correction would have no effect on strength ......however ,to make the blocks you need a lathe ,and not everyone has one.

[indian joe]

never had any centerfires with ringed barrels, but several .22 rimfires + had no safety issues +accuracy was not effected -

seen a 22/250 with a ring near the muzzle ----knowing the gun and the people i say 99% a mud wasp nest in the spout
maybe some interesting pressure to do it