What should a Model 10 bore look like?

[chakotay]

Hey guys, new member with a question. One of my local shops has an old nickel-plated Model 10 that has caught my eye (I'm a young-ish guy with a penchant for collecting guns older than myself - I really can't explain it.) It's a bit worn around the edges from what I suspect to be holster wear, but seems in generally good shape otherwise.

However, having never owned one of these before (never even owned a S&W revolver before) I'm a little concerned about the rifling. The bore is shiny, but the rifling seems really shallow to me. . . more like small lines spiraling down the barrel than pronounced lands and grooves that I'm more accustomed to. Perhaps this is normal. . .or maybe the bore is shot out? Does someone have a picture of what the bore on a Model 10 should look like? Any knowledge would be appreciated.

 

[m1gunner]

The lands should be well defined with sharp edges. The bore should appear mirror like under strong white light with no dark of frosted areas.

The rifling isn't deep like on a black powder gun. The measurements are on the net, but I don't have any links to them, a quick search should turn up the normal land height. Just looking it appears a couple thousandths at most.

 

[john traveler]

Bore appearance can be deceiving because of the variables of lighting, angle, freshly oiled surfaces, etc.

The bore inspection of an M1 Garand or M1903 Springfield or an M14 can be very enlightening. You would swear that the land-to-groove depth is only a couple of thousandths, but it is a full 0.004" deep. Check the military specifications. They check out at a nominal 0.300" bore and 0.308" groove diameters.

It's been a while since I looked up the bore and groove specifications of the S&W .38 Special, but as I recall, it too is a full 0.004" rifling groove depth. It was something like 0.349"-0.350" bore and 0.357"-0.358" groove diameters.

You normally have to go to .22 rimfire caliber to find rifling groove depths of 0.002"-0.003" inch.

 

[BillBingham2]

Has anyone ever done....

Has anyone ever done some good quality pictures of good and bad barrels for us newbies to learn from?

It would really help us learn what to watch for if we had pictures of good and bad examples of used/broken parts with different models.

Any takers out there? I'd offer but I'm missing three important parts. One, I have no Smith & Wessons, yet. Two, I have no idea of what to look for. And three, I have not time with two teen age sons and a wonderful wife who could organize.......

It would be a great sticky or subforum to start. Examples of all the models.....

Please?!?!?!

B2 (;->

 

[blujax01]

... (I'm a young-ish guy with a penchant for collecting guns older than myself - I really can't explain it.) ....

Hey, so are we. See "1896 -1961" for details.

 

[Pisgah]

I have seen dirty bores; I have seeen rusted bores; I have seen pitted bores; I have never seen a worn-out bore on a Model 10. With lead bullets, I really believe it would be all but impossible to wear one out, and firing enough jacketed rounds to do it would require a boxcar-full.

 

[H Richard]

I do not believe there is enough ammo in the country to wear out a Model 10 bore. If it is clean, no pitting or rust it is normally good. You can "lead it up" by shooting very hot lead bullets with too soft a lead bullet. That would appear as strips of lead, concentrated just past the forcing cone but some throughout the barrel. It can be cleaned out with enough work and a Lewis Lead Remover.

 

[smithman]

I have seen a 38 barrel worn out at the muzzle from what I presume to be cleaning too much with a jointed steel rod. Never seen one shot out.

 

[Art Doc]

The above beat me to it. I don't think it is effectively possible to wear out a 38 Special barrel from shooting. All of the bullets are softer than the steel of the barrel and will have minuscule if any effect and the cartridge doesn't use enough powder to cause heat or flame damage. As long as there is no damage like rust, or bulged from being fired while the bore was obstructed, it's probably just fine.

 

[srsmyth]

I agree with the possibility of leading. I purchased a severely leaded model 66 that appeared to have thin grooves until I cleaned the bore. The bore even looked shiny clean in the light but the bore cleaner started taking chunks out until it was cleaned.
Steve

 

[lagavulin62]

in the 3 years since I was a fresh newbie I have bought 18 used guns and never had an issue with a shot out bore. like others have said as long as it is shiny, you see no signs of rust or bulges it should be fine. with a used revolver there are other concerns more pressing than the condition of the bore. mostly cylinder play, timing, push off etc.... there is a sticky I believe on how to check out a used revolver.

 

[dogngun]

I have owned a lot of Model 10's over the last 45 years, in various conditions and have never had a bad shooter. If you like the way it feels in your hand, and the price seems reasonable to you, buy it.

mark

 

[What the]

Ask the owner to run a lightly oiled patch down the barrel and follow with a clean one then use a good bore light and look again. It's possible the bore is leaded but pretty sure it's not shot out.

 

[Shooting Padre]

Unfortunately, there are no guns older than myself. Once when George Burns was asked why he only dated younger women, he responded, "Because there are no older ones." Kind of how I feel about guns.