Curious result from dumb gun smithing mistake
My wife tries to keep me away from power tools...
Awhile back I couldn't get the set screw out of the front sight of my Taurus Mil Pro and tried a small human powered hand drill. When that wasn't working I resorted to a power drill {note to self, disassemble gun first!!!}. Well, zipped right through and pinged/dimpled the barrel. It did not penetrate the bore so I put the new sight on and have continued shooting it. Never could hit with it so I picked up a new barrel on eBay figuring to trade it off. Strangely enough I shot it last weekend (was not going to trade it if it didn't function) and lo and behold it is a real shooter now!! Strikes me as interesting that with no visible damage to the bore by replacing the barrel it became much more accurate.
That is my dumb do it your gun smithing story of the day. I did learn something - if it ain't real simple, take it to a gunsmith and #2 THINK twice, drill once. Oh, and have I told you I HATE Heinie Straight 8 sights! I am not sure that the original barrel was any good - I started this mess because I couldn't hit anything with the gun, assumed it was the sights.
Curious result from dumb gun smithing mistake
by Lee J. 
, hagerman,NM, Wednesday, June 04, 2014, 14:54 (3767 days ago) @ stonewalrus
Or if it a do DIY situation, have proper tools and a good supply of gunsmithing books on hand.FWIW
Curious result from dumb gun smithing mistake
I have had 3 bbls that shouldn't shoot yet performed fine. Two were ringed by a double slug being pushed through Not by me. The last my first 45 bbl was pitted so bad when I shot a 230 gr bullet it exited a 215 gr but was unbelievably accurate. At the time Behlert said I will give you a free bbl and install it just to get it out of my gun. J.Michael
Curious result from dumb gun smithing mistake
Funny you should say that, I have .45 caliber revolver with either a restriction or a bend on the middle of the barrel. I have to go down around .015" on pin guages to get it all the way through the bore.i can't recall the number off the top of my head but for example a .442" will go in a couple of inches from either the front or the back, but stopps with a thud. I have to go down to around .427" to get it all the way through. I think it is a bend as I can see something but can't tell for sure what it is, may just be a shadow,
It shoots fairly well considering. I can get 3-4" groups at 25 yards. It will be rebarreled at some point but when I ran the pin guages through it that really surprised me.
I wonder what would happen...
by Slow Hand 
, Indiana, Thursday, June 05, 2014, 04:58 (3767 days ago) @ Jared
If you cut the barrel down to the spot with the restriction. It might give you a much more accurate revolver or may even give higher velocity. Of course, Italy shoot way worse! Might be an interesting experiment to do when you are ready to rebarrel it.
My guess is that your replacement barrel...
by Sarge , Central Misery, Wednesday, June 04, 2014, 18:34 (3767 days ago) @ stonewalrus
fits better in the locking surfaces and slide. At any rate, never look a gift horse in the mouth. If it shoots better- you won.