I'm such an idiot, how can I tell if my bore is scratched?

[SA Town]

Like a moron, I let a $5 Hoppes' cleaning rod with the external threading on the bottom sticking out (it's a 3 piece cleaning rod) slide down my AK bbl a few times. I'm not sure if the threading actually touched the sides of the bore and scratched it. Heck, maybe it just got scratched from the rod itself (obviously it's crappy non-coated).

Is there anyway to put something through it to get accurate impressions of the inside of my barrel (I've heard of the term "slugging the barrel" using soft lead slugs for determining groove diameter, will that work?) or do I just have to do it the old fashioned way and look it straight down with a flashlight in hand? I'm obsessive compulsive so this bothers me quite a bit, lol. You may wonder why I would even be so meticulous with an AK, but this one cost me quite a bit of change (Krebs KTR-08 = $1,375).

Thanks in advance for any solid replies

 

[Deus Machina]

Assuming the rod is brass, you probably don't have much to worry about a few brushes down there. Especially if it's a good chrome-plated bore. Krebs guns are converted Saigas, right?

But, slugging won't show much. That measures the diameter and possibly groove depth, but is unlikely to do much but fill a scratch with lead. You're stuck looking down there with a light.

 

[Still Too Many Choices!?]

First off, it's an AK, who cares if the bore is scratched? Its a 50 yard gun anyway Lol.
Now that I got that out of the way, I use the flashlight method. Works on all my rifles. If you slug the barrel( I assume the soft lead is pulled all the way through ), you will only see the threads at the crown end. So unless the damage is nearb the end, slugging won't help, and a fladhligh would be cheaper and easier. Hth.

Still 2 Many Choices!?

Still 2 Many Choices!?

 

[Martyk]

Borescope

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borescope

If you really want to see what your barrel looks like find someone with a borescope and take a look.

Based on what you described it may not be so bad. The cleaning rod is soft aluminum and the rifle bore is hard steel. The chances of putting and significant deep scratches in there with the rod are kind of small I would think.

Have you looked down the barrel with a good light to see if anything can be seen?

 

[Walkalong]

Quit worrying about it, buy a good one piece rod, a bore or muzzle guide, and never run a dirty rod down your bore. (wipe it off before every pass)

 

[SA Town]

Thank you guys, and to answer your questions, no I haven't yet looked down it with my flashlight... I was too cowardly to see what my negligence might have destroyed, lol.

 

[rbernie]

The AK bore is chrome lined. It's doubtful that you hurt it at all. Chances are that it has more machining marks from being made than any marks you might have left.

 

[benEzra]

I'm going to put in a plug here for a bore snake, too. You may still want to use a rod occasionally, but foaming bore cleaner plus a couple of passes with a bore snake gets a chrome-lined bore really clean, really fast, and without having to worry about bore scratches.

 

[avan47]

The cleaning rod is soft aluminum and the rifle bore is hard steel. The chances of putting and significant deep scratches in there with the rod are kind of small I would think

Grit can become imbedded in the soft aluminum and cause it to act like a lap. It will eventually damage the bore. I got my first stainless steel rod with a bore protector (Rig Rod) many years ago when I bought a Browning BLR because I could not clean it from the breach. I have not used an aluminum rod since. Considering the cost of rifles today, I do not think spending $30 on a good cleaning rod is excessive.

 

[rcmodel]

I was not aware it was possible to scratch an AK barrel.
They usually come pre-scratched from the worn-out factory tooling!

BTW: If burning through 30-round mags of steel jacket bullets the Ruskies like so well on full-auto doesn't hurt the bore, a Hoppes cleaning rod sure isn't going to either!

rc

 

[Kindrox]

BTW: If burning through 30-round mags of steel jacket bullets the Ruskies like so well on full-auto doesn't hurt the bore, a Hoppes cleaning rod sure isn't going to either!

This the gun equivalent to the supped up, jacked up 4X4 drive ever so gingerly over a speed bump, then watch the driver get out and flop around wondering if the speed bump bend the frame or something. “The cleaning rod slid in the bore, OMG!”

 

[benEzra]

First off, it's an AK, who cares if the bore is scratched? Its a 50 yard gun anyway Lol.

You were joking, I hope...

Everyone above is correct that chrome-lined steel is much harder than mild steel. You might could abrade it with a cleaning rod over time (especially an aluminum one that has become oxided) but it would probably take some work. The barrel is definitely fine.

 

[jklinstein]

Ditto on what's been said.

(1) It was an aluminum or brass rod, which is much softer than steel and won't "gouge" it with any significance. Even a steel rod won't "gouge" the inside of a barrel. If the bore was chrome lined, you're even better off as chrome is harder than steel. Don't worry about it.

(2) It's an AK, not a match rifle, don't worry about it.

 

[jpwilly]

If your bore got scratched I'd be really surprised. But even if it did I doubt it will shoot any different. I'm only guessing but you could probably run a stainless steel brush down the bore and scratch it all to kingdom come and the thing would still shoot just about the same as it does now (-+5moa).

 

[lencac]

it's an AK ..................... doesn't matter just shoot and forget

 

[dubbleA]

it's an AK ..................... doesn't matter just shoot and forget

yeah, it's not like it's a 1/4 MOA match rifle

 

[SwampWolf]

I agree with other posters. A couple of passes with a softer than steel cleaning rod should have had no ill effects on a good steel bore. Continued use, over time, might be a different story. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[lencac]

Heck, it's entirely possible that scratching up the barrel of an AK might just make it shoot better. It sure as heck can't shoot much worse

 

[Wes Janson]

You could probably go dropping steel nails down the barrel and shaking them around, just to hear them rattle, without ever seeing any difference in accuracy. Unless you're shooting match-grade 7.62x39 (which doesn't really exist), using a good scope, and an exceptional trigger pull, the quality of the barrel is always going to be foreshadowed by the other factors in the equation.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Hoppes is a soft aluminum rod. I have used them for many years in rifles that are many times as accurate as an Ak is without any ill effects. You could fire the Hoppes rod out of an AK without hurting anything!

 

[Still Too Many Choices!?]

BenEzra:

You going to call everyone else for joking about the AK's reputation as innacurate, or just me?

Guess I should have used a , ! For any AK(even a century WASR), to shoot that poorly(only accurate to 50 yards) you'ld have to a) have canted sights, b) no experience with the platform, or c) be an idiot and use the wrong caliber... There, feel better? I know I do!

 

[BlackHand1917]

I don't think a few scratches will cause any major problems with performance. Shoot 60 rounds or so and any little burrs will disappear. Have fun and don't sweat it sir!

 

[Prince Yamato]

Think of it this way: The cleaning rod that comes with the AK is made of steel. I'm pretty sure your cleaning rod didn't damage the gun. FWIW, I love AKs as much as you do, so I understand the emotional investment in this rifle.

 

[NC-Mike]

I smell troll.

 

[Uncle Mike]

I smell where a Troll has stopped and squatted.