SMLE Barrel Pitting
Printed From: Enfield-Rifles.com
Category: Enfields
Forum Name: Enfield Gunsmithing
Forum Description: Submit any how-to's or other gunsmithing suggestions here.
URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14274
Printed Date: March 26 2026 at 3:39pm
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Topic: SMLE Barrel Pitting
Posted By: ssallber
Subject: SMLE Barrel Pitting
Date Posted: November 26 2025 at 9:23am
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I bought a very nice looking SMLE that has sever barrel pitting from just forward of the chamber to the muzzle. I am guessing that this is to the point where it cannot be fired safely. I am looking for a second opinion  |
Replies:
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: November 26 2025 at 10:35am
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Unless there is something else concerning about the rifle it may not be particularly accurate & it may also foul quickly, but this doesn't strike me as being "unsafe" in any way. You could try a thorough cleaning with something like J.B. Bore Paste, used as instructed. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Brownells-J-B-Non-Embedding-Bore-Cleaning-Compound-0-25oz-083-065-025/17766253396?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=101001778&adid=22222222222000000000&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=s&wl2=c&wl3=10352200394&wl4=pla-1103028060075&wl5=90284&wl6=&wl7=&wl10=Walmart&wl11=Online&wl12=17766253396_10001021148&wl14=J.B.%20Bore%20Paste&veh=sem&msclkid=aecfaf7962561c9c06d7c65e2a31822e&gclsrc=ds" rel="nofollow - https://www.walmart.com/ip/Brownells-J-B-Non-Embedding-Bore-Cleaning-Compound-0-25oz-083-065-025/17766253396?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=101001778&adid=22222222222000000000&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=s&wl2=c&wl3=10352200394&wl4=pla-1103028060075&wl5=90284&wl6=&wl7=&wl10=Walmart&wl11=Online&wl12=17766253396_10001021148&wl14=J.B.%20Bore%20Paste&veh=sem&msclkid=aecfaf7962561c9c06d7c65e2a31822e&gclsrc=ds Borescopes magnify minute imperfections & it takes a little experience to interpret them correctly removing the high magnification used, ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Bear43
Date Posted: November 26 2025 at 10:51am
| There is nothing in that image that would make it unsafe. I have and have had rifles with sewer pipe bores. I mean bores so pitted they tore up cleaning patches. I still shot them and they functioned just fine. Groups weren't the greatest but they reliably put rounds on paper. |
Posted By: DisasterDog
Date Posted: November 26 2025 at 11:09am
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In the words of my friend: “I’ve shot worse!” That pitting is maybe mild to moderate, in no way is it severe.
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Posted By: britrifles
Date Posted: November 26 2025 at 11:23am
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Agree with the above. Pitting would have to be extreme and in the chamber or just forward of the chamber reinforce to make it unsafe (risk of bursting a barrel). This barrel still has rifling, not all corroded away. Give it a good clean first, looks like a lot of hard carbon, likely copper fouling under that. Then borescope again. The deep pits will appear dark. |
Posted By: DisasterDog
Date Posted: November 26 2025 at 1:24pm
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The proof is in the pudding, as they say. Shoot it & see, that’s the only way. Borescopes can make tiny imperfections seem utterly massive. I wouldn’t even think twice about shooting this rifle based on that one photo. If everything else is in order, see what it can do before you ruin your day over it!
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Posted By: Irish Blonde
Date Posted: November 26 2025 at 2:18pm
| Prior to borescopes "dark bores" in milsurps were fired all the time with most reporting decent precision remaining. |
Posted By: ssallber
Date Posted: November 26 2025 at 7:13pm
| Thanks all! |
Posted By: ssallber
Date Posted: November 27 2025 at 5:15am
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Thanks all for the feedback. It is good news. I checked the bore at the muzzle with a .303 round that goes in only 2/3 so it seems the bore is not worn out. I spent a lot of time with Hoppes #9 cleaning it to this point. I was using a bronze brush cleaning from the breach. The bore ahead of the breach actually looks quite good. Should I also try cleaning from the muzzle? I also see on Youtube someone cleaning using a brush on a cleaning rod using a cordless drill. This seems over aggressive to me. Does anyone have an opinion on this? |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: November 27 2025 at 10:05am
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"I also see on Youtube someone cleaning using a brush on a cleaning rod
using a cordless drill. This seems over aggressive to me." Dreadful idea, don't do it. The back & forth motion is what you need not high speed rotation. I know the vid you're thinking of, the man is a total butcher.  What you could do for a thorough deep clean is patch out with Hoppes til the bore is swimming with the stuff. Then stand it muzzle down overnight on old newsprint. Next night patch out till dry & repeat as needed till you get no blue or green on the patches. let the Hoppes do the work, you can leave the stuff in for ever without harm.  ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: DisasterDog
Date Posted: November 27 2025 at 10:11am
| I’ve used a brush in a drill for cleaning chambers, but I would never run one down the bore. |
Posted By: Zed
Date Posted: November 27 2025 at 11:52am
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If it's rust in the bore and not just pitting. You can get rid of a lot of it with electrolysis. I used the method on rifle that had been stored for 70 years. It gets rid of a lot of crap without being aggressive to the good metal. I will find the link for the post I did at the time. http://www.enfield-rifles.com/dirty-barrel_topic13085.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.enfield-rifles.com/dirty-barrel_topic13085.html Page 2 and 3 have the details.
------------- It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice! |
Posted By: ssallber
Date Posted: November 28 2025 at 5:30am
| Thanks again for the feedback. I ordered some J-B Bore paste and will spend some quality time with the rifle to clean up the bore as much as possible. I will post results as a follow up. |
Posted By: mrbieler
Date Posted: November 29 2025 at 10:40am
| Have been terrified to bore scope mine. They both shoot well but look horrid from the muzzle side. Years of shooting WWII dated reenacting blanks I'm sure didn't help despite keeping up on the cleaning. |