Best way to remove pitting in barrel?

[Matt Ellerbee]

Jc Higgins model 31 with some rust pitting on the barrel,anyone got any tips short of a grinder? Lol. I've taken a wire brush to knock the rust off and some of the bluing,is there any hope for this good old shooter?

 

[galvatron]

Grinder???? For the love of all thats holy put the grinder down and step away......
It's only cosmetic and there's no way to repair it so just clean it, oil it and enjoy shooting it.

 

[Matt Ellerbee]

I was joking about the grinder!

 

[snatch3838]

Are you planning on refinishing it as a project? If so rust soak by wd40 will get blue and rust off. White vinegar on paper towels with a little oven heat will too. The pit is a hole so you don't remove a hole you fill it or remove everything around it to match. To fill while refinishing try a brake caliper paint it has ceramic it is so thick it will cover serial numbers so be careful. Imagine it as a poor mans cerakote. Just a thought I tried all methods and all worked to some degree

 

[Matt Ellerbee]

I was thinking of having it coated. Cerakote probably. But was looking for other options/ideas.

 

[Nonliberal]

Hacksaw will take it right off

 

[Wheeler]

A really good gunsmith with a heliarc welder and the correct carbon content rods can fill in the pits and blend it back.
The carbon content has to match the original steel else the bluing will appear different on the spots built back up.

It'll probably cost more than the gun is worth but it's the only way to completely restore it.

 

[3clicks_Off]

Just heavy patina... let it be

 

[RamRoddoc]

.22 LR barrel, I'd check in a lathe and take down to the deepest pit. Or if at the end as suggested cut it off.

 

[palmettomoon]

A good smith can draw file the barrel. It won't be cheap.