Rifle Recovered from Fire. Safe to Shoot?

[JWHuey]

Wow. That's an $800-1k gun in good condition.
Very cool.

[jebuwh]

I was going to say I recognize that stock!

My dad has one in 25-06. First hunting rifle he ever got. Bought it at Kmart in like 79-80.

Thing is crazy accurate. Find another stock for it and shoot away!

[iluvmycolt]

We call that heat treated. That barrel should be sub-MOA now.

Lol

[bombadillo]

Replace that butt pad, give it a solid refinish, and kill something with it. Then proceed with the stories.

[DennisCA]

Take it to the range, clamp it in a vise, and pull trigger with a string.

Or if have someone you really-really don't like; give to them to shoot!
(just kidding)

If it was mine before I shot it, I would have it inspected by a gunsmith.
Yes it is going to cost you a few bucks - better than a hospital visit.
I don't think most ranges will allow you to set up a gun in a vise and use a string to pull the trigger; safety issue.

[sharxbyte]

You are right to be wary. Metal does not have to melt in order to become unsafe. It only has to reach its annealing temperature, which is in the low hundreds of degrees C.

Heat treatment tends to make steels harder, but also more brittle. Steels used in pressure chambers of any kinds, and barrels especially, need a specific mix of properties that differ from other applications.

Having said that, your example doesn't look too bad. You should clean under the stock carefully since pyrolyzed wood can be corrosive.

You have that incorrect. Steel will anneal if it gets too hot, but if there is a rapid hot->cold transition, it will harden the steel to the point of being brittle. Knife blades are heat treated to between 350-500 degrees to change them from being brittle to being flexible. It's a partial annealing which balances the ability to hold an edge and the ability to flex without cracking.

[edgerly779]

It should be fine the chamber area did not receive a lot of heat. Estimate 300 degrees and not for long or the stock would be charcoal. I'll buy it from you and go shoot it with no qualms.

[Johnnykck]

Machine guns are sometimes shot until the barrel and actions a glowing red from the heat. Some guys have shot AK's and AR's on full auto until the furniture has caught on fire from the heat. If they can handle that, I do not think this riffle having any damage from the heat it was exposed to, except cosmetic.

[teetsjones]

We call that heat treated. That barrel should be sub-MOA now.

Noooo, now you have to do a cryogenic treatment. Put it in the freezer for a few days, then we're talking sub MOA.

[The Last American Hero]

go easy on the re-finish

should have a wonderful patina you just don't get (without leaving the gun in a burning ****-shed)

[Soginator]

In my opinion, you just got an expensive gun for free. You should throw out a little bit of money to a gunsmith to certify that it is safe if there is any doubt. $40 for a nice gun and to make sure you don't lose a hand is a small price to pay.

[edgerly779]

Proof testing a firearm is not a little bit of money. Just have a competent gunsmith look it over if worried. Not a parts changer like a lot of gunsmiths these days.

[heidad01]

I'd clear it with the Police and the DOJ before I even worry about it being shootable or not.

[bruss01]

Terrific find! Congrats on the bonus house they threw in with the purchase of your new gun woo hoo!

Completely disassemble everything... clean, inspect, lube, re-assemble.

Be especially sure to clean the bore well.

Start with lightweight ammo. Build up gradually to what you will be normally shooting.

Nice find.

[Untamed1972]

if it was in that case during the fire and the case itself is that good a shape.....I'd say the rifle should be just fine. Optics might be iffy......but again the case barely looks touched. Good cleaning and you're prolly GTG!