Hey guys, I have a 1911 1899A in 303 savage. The first 1/4" or so of the bore at the muzzle has no rifling probably due to a steel cleaning rod. This gun is all original but it is a shooter not collector. It only shoots 5" group at 100 yds. My options are. 1. Cut barrel down from 26" to 25 3/4". 2. Counterbore the inside diameter to 1/4" depth and see if it shoots better. (Anyone ever do this with good results). Or 3. Leave if be and dont take a hunting shot over 100 yds. Opinions welcome.
The GCA empirically determined that steel rods, even segmented ones, in and of themselves, don't cause muzzle wear, and, in fact, it is muzzle erosion, same as the throat, except at ~ 1/3rd the rate/round fired.
As for the muzzle itself?
Countrer-boring - to solid lands, has been known to improve precision dramatically.
GR
