Opinions needed- Bad Bore ?

[brokenhand]

I picked up an 94 Winchester a few weeks ago in 32-40. Mechanically everything worked fine with good rifling. The rifle shoots great, but then my trouble starts. You literally had to beat the shells out of the bore. I finally got around to taking it to a gunsmith yesterday. I showed him the shells and about a 1/4" inch back there was a ring all around the shells because a ring in the bore had developed and the shells were expanding into this ring making extraction impossible. It said he could smooth out the bore some, but he couldn't guarantee it would work perfectly. At least he was honest and I'm not sure whether to let him do the work or not. Has anyone else had this work done. I know this board has the answer I looking for. I'm not even thinking about replacing the barrel, since I wanted to keep as close to original as possible.
Thanks
Jim

[Pete44ru]

Your bore is not bad, as cartridges don't extend into the bore. You most likely have a ringed chamber.

The only repair I know of, for a ringed chamber (which is what it sounds like you have there) is to either rebarrel (if you can locate another original .32-40 barrel at Winchester Bob's or somesuch) or to have the original barrel bored out, relined with a .32 cal liner, and the liner chambered/headspaced to .32-40.

If you handload, another possible option (depending upon where the chamber ring falls on the case neck) would be to shorten all your case necks so they don't extend as far into the chamber as the ring, and so wouldn't expand into it, preventing extraction.

Of course, if the ring is located in the area of the case body, then shortening the neck would be no help at all.

I'm at a loss, as to how your chamber got ringed - unless it was subjected to extensive firing of .32 pistol ammo with one of those old chamber adaptors that used to be sold as cheaper practice shooting substitutes.
If that was the case, the pistol ammo would definitely corrode (ring) the metal directly around the adaptor's forward mouth in the chamber.

.

[Tycer]

That sucks!
If it's in the case, not the neck, you could ream to a 32 Special. If it's in the neck, you could rebore to 35 cal as a 35-40 or a 35-30/30.

[EdinCT]

I agree that it could be bored to a larger cal don't rule out 38-55 if it would remove the ring.
Also I think a good liner job will not show in the barrel and you could put it back better than new in original 32-40 if unable to locate a replacement barrel. I imagine a liner really hurts collector value though. I have a rifle with a dark bore that shots good but really bugs me to no to end, twenty years ago I would of said reline I will never sell anyway now I am older and see the day approching I think of collector value.

[Modoc ED]

I'm at a loss, as to how your chamber got ringed - unless it was subjected to extensive firing of .32 pistol ammo with one of those old chamber adaptors that used to be sold as cheaper practice shooting substitutes.
If that was the case, the pistol ammo would definitely corrode (ring) the metal directly around the adaptor's forward mouth in the chamber.

And that is a great explanation as to why it isn't a good idea to shoot pistol bullets in a rifle caliber chamber -- i.e., .44 Magnum fired in a .444 Marlin. Just because you can doesn't mean it's a good idea.

[Tycer]

I'm at a loss, as to how your chamber got ringed - unless it was subjected to extensive firing of .32 pistol ammo with one of those old chamber adaptors that used to be sold as cheaper practice shooting substitutes.
If that was the case, the pistol ammo would definitely corrode (ring) the metal directly around the adaptor's forward mouth in the chamber.

And that is a great explanation as to why it isn't a good idea to shoot pistol bullets in a rifle caliber chamber -- i.e., .44 Magnum fired in a .444 Marlin. Just because you can doesn't mean it's a good idea.

I always scrub the chambers of my 357s after shooting 38s before shooting 357s for that very reason.

[brokenhand]

Thanks for the input. The ring is in the neck area and I don't have a clue either how this happened. It was made in 1908 and has the round barrel and from what I can gather from the Madis book, they made fewer round barrels in the early production.
Thanks
Jim

[flatnose]

Ask the gunsmith if he can set the barrel back and rechamber it. You might only lose a quarter of an inch in barrel length if you are lucky. The forend hanger screw holes will have to be relocated as well.

[brokenhand]

Thanks, that's a thought
Jim

[JerryB]

Mike Hunter on this forum is a gun smith and does restorations also, he would be one to ask or Steve Young too.