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Smoothbore 22??

Redtail
I have an old Stevens "Favorite" 1915 22Rf,The barrel was pitted and leaded so I bought a new Numrich barrel that works very well for 22LR.
My question for the experts> Is there anything I can do to my old barrel to improve the shotshell pattern? I have a Flobert 22 smoothbore that puts at least four times as many shot in a 4X4 card at 15 feet than the old Stevens bbl does.
I'd like to make the old Stevens bbl pattern better with shotshells and sell the Flobert.What if anything can I do?


Thanks,Joyce
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • azpowerwagon
    Might try jug choking the barrel First. If that doesn't help, then backbore the barrel. Never have done it on a rimfire barrel....just shotguns. Good luck.
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  • chicoppee
    Stevens did make a smoothbore barrel for the 22cal Favorite.
    You might try the parts wanted forum for such a barrel.
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  • Redtail
    Thank you very much for your reply,but I am not familiar with a lot of gun jargon.What is "jug choke" and "back bore"?

    Please forgive my ignorance.

    Joyce


    Thanks,Chicoppee,

    Yes I have found a couple of smooth bore bbls for sale for around $100. I'm not trying to put togather a set,just want something that'l work on rats and starlings in and around the barns.
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  • Emmett Dunham
    I have never herd of jug pulling a .22 cal rifle, I have a 12 gauge shotgun that has had the barrel pulled or rolled down to a tighter choke to get a tighter pattern. Counter boring is common on mitlitary weapons they ream the muzzel of the barrel to get down to some good lanes and groves to improve the proformance of the rifle. I have a few old .22 rifles and when you look down the bore they all look like they could be close to being shot out but they all shoot quite well, do you think that you may have a shot out barrel on your lieu of a smooth bore. I also would think that a smooth bore rifle would have limitations according to how you are using the rifle, If it is just a shooter rifle, find a rifled barrel for it put it on and improve you shooting


    Emmett
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  • hrf
    Emmett, he already has a new Numrich barrel, and what he wants is a better pattern when using shot loads in the old barrel.

    Redtail, I think you're pushing your luck using modern loads in an old Flobert, but maybe it's not rifled? Maybe you can get an unrifled liner for the old Stevens barrel, or polish the bore?
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  • Redtail
    hrf

    I was warned against useing anything other than shotshells or CBlongs in the flobert(Warnant type) and have heeded that advise religiously and yes I have tried shot shells in the original Favorite bbl and the smoothbore flobert works much much better.I intend to sell the Flobert to cover the cost of the new Numrich barrel for the Stevens and improve the original Stevens bbl to shoot shotshells.That way I can keep one gun with two bbls (one scoped 22LR and one smoothbore) in the tack room for a quick bbl change for whatever virmin shows up.
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  • perry shooter
    I had a cheap revolver that I wanted to use in a grain house for rats but the Crimped rat shot did not pattern at all I took a 1/4 inch drill and drilled out the barrel Man what a difference. maybe just luck I don't think you have anything to lose if you get the longest drill you can find an very slowly with plenty of oil drill your worn pitted rifle barrel from the front. Don't let the chips fill up the drill flutes go slow remove drill OFTEN
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  • tsr1965
    quote:Originally posted by perry shooter
    I had a cheap revolver that I wanted to use in a grain house for rats but the Crimped rat shot did not pattern at all I took a 1/4 inch drill and drilled out the barrel Man what a difference. maybe just luck I don't think you have anything to lose if you get the longest drill you can find an very slowly with plenty of oil drill your worn pitted rifle barrel from the front. Don't let the chips fill up the drill flutes go slow remove drill OFTEN


    Remember to leave some rifling near the chamber if the barrel is less than 18" in length. Can be a very sticky situation.

    Best
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  • Redtail
    Thanks Perry and TSR,

    The barrel is 24 inches long.I will have a 22inch X 1/4 or 7/32 made,and drill out the barrel from the muzzle end and then polish the best I can with steel wool on a cleaning rod chucked up in a hand drill.If it shoots shotshells nearly as good as the flobert,I'll be happy.

    Thanks again,Joyce
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  • babun
    In my old worn out Rifled .22 revolver that I use for mice killing around the barns, I've found that the CCI shotshells with the plastic capsule around the shot groups better than the crimped shells. You may want to try them. Bob
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