jOe, I have measured some L.C. Smiths that had a tapered bore, one being a Long Range gun.
Small Bore, I did that, when I put the gage into the muzzle end after being zeroed on the .700 ring. It read .718 to the full depth of 12", withdrawing it slowly read the same until it was out of muzzle. The right barrel was .718 all the way. As I stated, from the breech end they both were .728-.729 which is common for older "elsies".
Oldfarmer, I do agree with you, pattering is the only way to tell, and with different loads and different manufactures.
"I'm with the Rabbit there's been some honing going on somewhere."
This is where I'm confused, backboring or honing, doesn't that remove metal and wouldn't the dial gage read larger when it hit that area in the barrel?
An example: An 1892 Greener with the mark of 13 on the watertable means it is a 13 ga. or .710 bore. The bores now read .728 and .729, so they were most likely backbored as that is a lot of honing. Gun still has .009 choke in right barrel and .034 in left. (still have minimum .022 wall thickness). It does shoot very well with low pressure, low velocity reloads (under 7,000 psi), just have to get used to the side safety.
Last edited by JDW; 10/01/10 08:24 AM.
