polishing bore on .22

[ViperR]

Hey all,
Got myself a almost-brand-new 80's vintage 34-1 non-pinned 2" barrel. Looks like it was never/hardly shot by the lack of cylinder stop lines and no detectable chamber fouling. Problem is, the bore looks rather rough on the lands & grooves compared to my 70's 34-1 4" pinned that has seen alot of rounds. It's bore is like a mirror!
I get decent groups from the 2", but most rounds are keyholed on the paper.
Is there a way to polish the barrel without hurting the lands & grooves, or do I just have to shoot alot of ammo to eventually smooth up the machining marks?
Thanks!!

 

[Culina]

maybe this will help

Let me google that for you

 

[HAM]

Kurac, how did you do that Google thing?

HAM

 

[n4zov]

If the bullets are "keyholed" something is wrong! You might try another brand of ammunition just to confirm that it is not ammunition related, but I would most certainly send the gun back to S&W. I would include a couple of targets to show them the problem. I do not think polishing the bore is going to solve your problem because the bullets are not being stabilized before they exit the muzzle.

 

[ViperR]

Ok folks,
Polished the barrel a bit with alternating patches of JB Bore cleaner/polish with the blue label and shot a bunch or HV rounds thru. Key holeing is gone and get pretty decent groups in the 7 yard defence range. Guess it just needed some polish and some breaking in, even though it's a 70's vintage and really didn't see many rounds from previous owner/s. Case ejection is good after 200, so chamber is good.
Thanks for all the help!

 

[dant]

Viper, obviously you are on the "right track...' a marked improvement. You can try one of those 'Lewis lead removers. small brass screen on a rod, with a rubber end connector...you'd be surprised how much 'stuff' comes out ,even after a so called GOOD cleanig....just cause its nice and shiny, doesn't meant there is not a lead build-up in side...( lead does get real 'shiny' after a lick & promise bore run through...)

 

[TSQUARED]

Those "rough spots" in the barrel may have been lead fouling which caused the keyholing. Had that happen when using Remington Thunderbolt 2 LR ammo which leaded the bore badly.

 

[ViperR]

Thanks for all the help and replies. Glad it got corrected. Did not want to consider sending it to S&W for replacement. Shipping and possibly having to pay for a barrel & labor since it's from the 70's. And the blue might not match, larger barrel/cyl gap (mine is perfect), etc..
Just have to clean and shoot some more.
Hey dant, didn't know Lewis made a lead remover for .22. I have one for .38/.357/9mm cal.