After a disaster at the range yesterday (scope broke, left, replaced it and went back to rezero new scope), I got home and comensed to the noraml cleaning.
I recently purchased this from a friend whom got it in trade for some work he did for his uncle. It is a Marlin 336 and was made it '79. Its seen some abuse and you could tell it has seen its fair share of hunting. When I got it is had some light rusting on it and the bore appeared to be in "decent" condition with some very minor pitting towards the muzzle end.
Well yesterday I decided to give it the cleaning of a lifetime. Broke out the bore cleaner and the G96 and started working it over. Patch after patch and bore brush after reapeted bore brush. I finally got it to the point where it was passing a very light grey on the patch. Then I started running the dry patches through it and rinse and repeat the entire process.
Towards wrapping it up I started noticing very small flakes of chrome on the patches. And when I finished I took my sure fire 2Ed and hit it with 120lumens down the barrel (closest thing to a "bore scope" I have. And noticed another large (roughly "1/8") flake at the chamber.
To me it says the rifling is on its way to checking out or the new Hornaday lever evolution ammo is just to much for this rifle.
What say the hive mind of the hunting forums? The rifle still shoots very well. After getting the new optic on it it is shooting 2MOA at 100 and it would have been 1 MOA except for about every 3rd round I would get a flyer.
Time for a new barrel? Possible sources of chrome? Any ideas?
