what does "bright bore" mean

[leapfrog]

Often I see the term gun has bright bore, usually in ones posted for sale.
None of my rifles have what I consider a bright bore, unless you shine a light from the chamber then of course it looks bright.
The ones I have taken from new in box are not bright and after shooting and cleaning they are still dark.
The only one I can say is bright is my SS ar15.
So what does the term actually mean?

 

[Tony_the_tiger]

As I understand the term, a bore is the inside diameter of a firearm. Therefore, a bright bore would indicate that the barrel, rifling, and forcing cone are untarnished, clean, and exhibit the natural properties of the metal upon visual inspection.

Brightness is a function of light, and it is certainly reasonable to use a flashlight as part of the inspection process of a firearm.

A bore that has excessive lead, copper, or carbon fouling would not be bright, nor would one with damaged rifling, as opposed to a well kept steel bore.

 

[Smokey Joe]

The opposite term...

often said of badly neglected milsurp rifles, is "sewer-pipe bore," which is pretty much self-explanatory.

I agree, a "bright bore" requires a light be shined down it, though if you remove the bolt, and look down the bore while it is pointed at a light, you usually get a bright bore, if the bore is in fact in good condition.

I've seen this done on firearms which could not be disassembled so as to look directly down the bore from the breech end, by putting one's thumb into the action and using the thumbnail as a reflector to get light to go UP the bore, and looking down the bore from the muzzle. Doesn't work as well as the direct method, of course, but it beats not being able to see the bore of a prospective purchase.

BTW, a "bright bore" can be somewhat enhanced by a light coating of oil, something a used gun seller might try, and of which a used gun buyer ought to be aware.

 

[1KPerDay]

A strip of white paper works better than a thumbnail, BTW.

 

[rcmodel]

As others have already said.
A "bright" bore means it is still shiny steel and not corroded black or rusty with pitting.

An old neglected gun will no longer have a shiny polished steel appearance when you look through the bore.

rc

 

[brickeyee]

Clean and smooth.

Once you see a pitted barrel (even after cleaning) you will instantly understand.

A good barrel is like a mirror.
Surface roughness makes it look frosty (at best).

 

[tyeo098]

Heres the process I did for mosin hunting.

Remove bolt, look down bore, aim at light. (I was at a gun show so halogen lights were a plenty)
See bore shine? Thats good. See pits and rust? Thats bad.
See crisp rifling? Thats good. See rounded lumps where the rifling should be? Thats bad.

 

[Heretic]

WARNING, just because a bore is bright doesn't mean it's not worn. I've seen badly worn bores that were still very shiny.

 

[Apocalypse-Now]

Often I see the term gun has bright bore, usually in ones posted for sale.

more LGS nonsense.

WARNING, just because a bore is bright doesn't mean it's not worn. I've seen badly worn bores that were still very shiny.

this is why.


you can clean a horribly pitted bore until it's shiny, but that doesn't mean it's a good buy.

 

[Unistat]

A strip of white paper works better than a thumbnail, BTW.

This is how I was taught to check the bore. I always carry a notepad and flashlight when I go to gun shows.

 

[gym]

It could also mean a smart person who isn't much fun at parties. Normally it just means it's shiney

 

[leapfrog]

The reason I asked this question is I have 18 rifles all purchased new and none of them have ever had a shiney bore, right out of the box all of them looked as if the inside of the barrel was blued along with the outside, none of them have ever lost the dark appearance even with multiple cleanings.
I mostly use hoppes #9 and run patches until they come out clean.

 

[Jeff F]

The reason I asked this question is I have 18 rifles all purchased new and none of them have ever had a shiney bore, right out of the box all of them looked as if the inside of the barrel was blued along with the outside, none of them have ever lost the dark appearance even with multiple cleanings.
I mostly use hoppes #9 and run patches until they come out clean.

Most every factory new rifle has some sort of preservative on and in the barrel. This is why one should break down and clean and re-lube a new gun before shooting it. As far as bluing on the inside of the bore, I don't know the answer to that, I have never been around a commercial bluing process.

 

[brickeyee]

you can clean a horribly pitted bore until it's shiny, but that doesn't mean it's a good buy.

Unless you do a lot of lapping it is NOT going to look like fresh cut steel.

It should look so shiny you can see the rifling reflected in the lands from the opposite side of the barrel.

Unless someone did a LOT of lapping it is not hard to see the damage from even minor surface rust.

 

[gym]

Use a bore light or you are seeing reflected light. It is just a light tube, they are cheap like 20 bucks. You put the Hook like side in the barrell and you can see every flaw. Usually they sell them at gun shows or look at midway or brownells, they will keep the light indide the barell instead of trying to look at it by pointing it at a light source, Every good kit should include one