Bulge in barrel

[metalcruncher]

I picked up a Columbian M1930 in 30.06. No issues at the range. In fact a great grouping at 50 yds.

But....while cleaning the barrel, I notice the patch “gives” for a moment towards the muzzle while being pushed from the receiver. I can barely make out a bulge in the barrel and just barely feel it with my finger.

It’s a tapered barrel moving from .7 inches to .6 inches so it’s hard to measure the difference from before the bulge to after.

Thoughts on if to shoot it again, barrel replacement or any fix.


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[pacrat]

I picked up a Columbian M1930 in 30.06. No issues at the range. In fact a great grouping at 50 yds.

CHOOT IT

[Beelzy]

Check accuracy again at 100yds, that might give you a better idea if you need to hassle with fixing the issue.

[CartridgeCalls]

What could go wrong? Dibs on your gun.

[hermosabeach]

It's and old gun that might or might now have started life as a 30-06.

Based upon what you describe- it sounds safe to shoot

I would enjoy it...and shoot it

**as with any surplus gun- have a qualified gunsmith inspect it to verify it is safe to use***

[Pofoo]

I have a .22 auto pistol like that.
It is very accurate.

[metalcruncher]

Thanks guys. I was a little concerned about it's safe operation . Thinking back to the hunter safety days of slide after slide of obstructed barrels that ended up looking like four banana peels coming off a banana.

I talked to the seller and he had no problems with it. Thought maybe a piece of dirt could have ended up in the barrel.

I'll get it out later for a 100 yd comparison.

[fguffey]

I picked up a Columbian M1930 in 30.06.

I purchased 4 30/06 Columbian Mausers that were advertised as being suspect, all of the barrels were shot out. The complete rifles cost $25.00 each. I tested all 4 receivers with one barrel and one bolt with a Belgium FN barrel. There was not more .001" difference in length between the head space and clearance for all 4 rifles. I made chamber gages out of the barrels. All 4 barrels had the same case head protrusion.

F. Guffey

[slamfire1]

I can't tell from your pictures that there is a bulge. But if you can feel it, that's bad in my opinion. The risk, as I see it, is that the barrel material has been stretched beyond yield, and taken a permanent set. I consider this bad for pressure vessels, as the material is now weaker than before, and will fatigue fail sooner than if it had not deformed.

It is unsafe to keep structures in use that have been stressed beyond yield. So my advice is, get a new barrel.

I will qualify, if the barrel blows, the weak spot is way up there and that should lessen the risk to your head and eyes of material flying around. But, bad luck happens.

I do have a 270 Win pre 64 M70 barrel that was bulged just at the muzzle. I could rotate the barrel and see the shadow move with the rotation, that is positive proof of an interior bulge. Maybe snow got in the thing. It shot poorly. It would fling shots. I guess bullets were wobbling as they left the muzzle. I sent it to a gunsmith and had him ream the inside of the barrel beyond the bulge. It never shot well, and I found a 30-06 pre 64 M70 barrel and screwed that one. It works, but is not very accurate either. Those featherweight pre 64 barrels heat up and walk. However, what was wanted was light weight in those days, because hunters walked to their stands instead of riding on ATV's.

[fguffey]

A friend died, he was a master machinist and then there were his business practices. He did not build guns that were not accurate, ugly?

So he took in a shotgun for repair, he repaired it and then returned it to his customer; it was not long before the customer returned, they had words. And then it got interesting; they agreed to meet at the range with the understanding my friend would shoot the repaired shotgun and the owner of the repaired shogun would would be given his choice of any shotgun.

Unfortunately the owner of the repaired shotgun agreed if the smith outshot him with the repaired shotgun the high dollar shotgun would belong to the smith. The old smith was a professor at North Texas State.

Another smith called me and asked if I would make an offer on his shop, guns and left over parts. So I did made an offer, in the left over pile of parts was a Sharps with 5 bulges in the barrel. I thought about repairing the rifle and then sold it to Lee Gun Parts In Irving, Texas.

End of a story with too much information: He sold it to an individual that had an interest in Sharps rifles. He informed me he took the rifle to the range and shot it with the bumps in the barrel. I did not tell him I had a plan on repairing the bumps.

F. Guffey

[divingin]

I think I had a stroke trying to read that post...

[fguffey]

I think I had a stroke trying to read that post...

You poor thing.

I can not imagine what the Sharps sounded like when the bang traveled pass the bulges.

F. Guffey

[fguffey]

I think I had a stroke trying to read that post...


You poor thing.

Every bulge the bullet passes allows hot high pressure metal cutting has to flow around the bullet. At the same time the gas is escaping the high pressure gas destabilizes the bullet. I understand reloaders claim the barrel with the bulge handles like a doll buggy.

It means nothing to most but there was a bullet maker from Iowa Park that blew blew barrels on a regular bases. Most of my friends thought it was magic. When talking about it they got all giggly.

F. Giffey

[ShotgunPreacher]

my son calls these "oblivion" conversations

[whutsup40]

I would shoot the heck out of it!!