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Hello, Introduction, and advice for a barrel with a ring in it....


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Hello All, My name is James and thank you for the membership to this great board. I am an avid collector of all things that go bang, and have been a member of the Sturm board since about 2000. I have just recently wandered over to this board and have been lurking until now. I really like the camaraderie and calm here. I have owned a 28 Savage Bridgeport since 2008 and just a couple of weeks ago brought home an Early M1 Savage Bridgeport. When I purchased the M1 back in June of 2017 the gun was advertised as a shooter. I was aware that the barrel had "Damage" in it and paid lower price accordingly. The ring is in the taper on the back front sight and is hardly visible but can be felt with the fingers. Approximately 3/4" in from the crown, and is a visible shadow when looking down the bore. Otherwise the barrel is in excellent shape with great lands and grooves. When I got the M1 home, I gave it a good cleaning and inspection. There was a lot of lead build up in the ring that constricted the bore, and completely concealed it. Someone had been shooting cast bullets without cleaning it. It took a lot of effort but eventually I scrubbed the 3/8" long lead deposit from the barrel. That being said, I bought this gun to be my regular shooter. I believe I basically have 3 options. 1. Shoot it as is with the ring, and monitor the barrel for any continued degradation. 2. Have the barrel replaced. 3. Back bore the barrel removing the damaged area and leave a deep crown. Options 1 and 3 leave the gun with a lower resale value if I was forced to sell it. I acquired a NOS savage M1 barrel shortly after purchasing the gun. I would greatly appreciate everyone's thoughts on how they would move forward, and or sage advice. Thank you for you time and advice. James.

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Welcome James! Ive only been a member and collector a few years, but really enjoy reading all I can on here as these guys know their stuff.

 

Just a few thoughts, but being its a shooter I would clean up the barrel and continue shooting with it. When you go to sell, put the new barrel on. Unless youre competing with it it sounds like the barrel on it still works great. Bob Naess of BRM may also have some ideas - he does first class work. All the best and congrats on joining a great forum, Andrew

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Welcome to the board! You will get different opinions, but my thoughts are also with the above statements. Keep shooting it while keeping an eye on it and keep it clean. Save the extra barrel for later or if you ever sell it. Is the existing barrel definitely the original? Or is it a replacement from a long-ago arsenal rebuild?

 

Andrew

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Thank You everyone. The M1 has a mismatched Savage lower and has been stamped with OG left of the serial number. I was told that is an Ogden Arsenal stamp. The serial # is in the 93,XXX range has the un protected L sight and still marked M1 with no A1 stamp . The barreled upper has been parkerized, while the lower looks original. Do you think it would be a good thing to upgrade the recoil buffer with a uerothane buffer? Thanks. James. Edited by J50shootr
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Army repair manuals at the time did not require replacement as long as the firearm operated correctly. I have a 1928A1 with a slight bulge that has shot well for many years, you only notice it when running a patch down the barrel.

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Thank you to everyone that has contributed. I am going to put it on paper to check accuracy and for round holes. If all is good I will just shoot it like it is. I initially did not want to shoot it like this due to being ignorant of a possible hazard. If I do sell it at some point I will have the barrel changed. What is the going rate to change out a barrel? Thanks. James.
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Buying another '28 that has a small ring but also comes with a new takeoff (parts kit) barrel. I plan to shoot the ringer until I wear it out THEN will swap it out.

I have a Richardson wrench and have done a couple and there's nothing mysterious about it.

If say enjoy it with an eye open and if your accuracy starts to slip, swap it out.

 

Welcome to the boards!

 

john

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Barrels are built to withstand overpressures within their design limits. A bulged barrel has had that reserve strength compromised. That spot may burst rather than bulge farther in the future. There can be no logical reason not to replace the barrel, especially if the new part is in hand.

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If you have access to tools and/or a smith Id probably replace it and pick up a couple more spares while they are generally available. My logic is simply that I would know it was there and thinking about it would be on my mind when I shot or cleaned or showed it off. Id rather put all that behind me with a new barrel. If the barrel was original Id keep it, but already a rebuild so Id swap.

Also, Pk made me a urathane M1 buffer that has worked great. I think mine was a prototype, but I suspect he could make another.

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