The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

I have heard both sides of the counter boring debate and wanted to get the general consensus on the topic. I understand that the measure is taken to improve the accuracy of a bore that may have experienced damage. Some say that it doesnt affect the value yet many sellers tout, "not counter bored" in their ads like it is detrimental to the value.

If the procedure has been done to anyone's rifles here and you have range tested them, are they good shooters? If not, what would you expect to see from a poorly counter bored rifle?

I have quite possible fallen for the marketers scare tactic and avoided a purchase because it was counter bored. I posted this here because I am looking at an SKS that is counter bored and sitting right on the center of the fence. The price is about the same range as a non-counter bore SKS, but if its not a shooter then I dont need it...oh heck, lets face it....I dont need any of them...but that's not a good excuse not to buy!

thanks in advance for your responses...

Counter boring was done to improve damaged rifling and crown. In other cases, it may have been done to whole batches for expediency, as it was easier to just do it, than analyze each rifle individually. It is better than not counter-boring. Anyone who lets that feature be a negative determiner on an otherwise fine refurbished rifle just being silly. Gun sellers take advantage of any "feature" or lack there-of to improve the sale ability of a given rifle. Its about salesmanship, not practicality. In the words of Bill (not Zbill):

To bore, or not to bore, that is the question—
Whether 'tis Nobler in the mind to suffer
The Slings and Arrows of a bored muzzle,
Or to take Arms against a Sea of opinions,
And by opposing, end them? To bore, to not—
No more; and by a bore, to say we end
The Heart-ache, and the thousand Natural shocks
That Flesh is heir to? 'Tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wished.,

In other words, don’t freaking worry about it.

NLMosin wrote:I have quite possible fallen for the marketers scare tactic and avoided a purchase because it was counter bored.

I hope all future buyers do the same, leaves more goodies for me.

Seriously though, never pass up a good deal because of a counter bore.

Exactly what I was hoping to hear. Its amazing that the ones talking negatively about counter boring dont come out and defend their position when the question is asked out right like it was here...thanks gents!!

When I started pouring over all the auction websites reading ads there were many different aspects described in them, counter boring being one of them, that I was unfamiliar with...then there was all the ways to fake a sniper and so on. Made me quite gun-shy (pun intended) about buying anything. I appreciate everyone willingness to help educate us newbies.

The uniformed think a counter bore is detrimental but us collectors know it is not. We use that against them and use it as a bargaining point to get it at a lower price.

I have a number of counter-bored rifles and they all shoot well. I consider a counter-bore to be a normal part of a rifle's history. In the same way that some people consider a counter-bore a detractor they also consider worn blue or stock dings to be the same detractors. These are all the features of military rifles that interest me so I would no more pass a counter-bored rifle as I would a rifle with no bluing left.

I too like the "defects". I have purchased rifles just because of stock repairs where others passed them by because of those repairs.

I'd rather have an accurate, counterbored rifle than an inaccurate unbored one. Wear tells you that the rifle was carried by some poor SOB that used it for its intended purpose.

What is counter boring and how can you tell if a rifle has had it done?

hudson29 wrote:What is counter boring and how can you tell if a rifle has had it done?

Unload the rifle, and look down the barrel.

This is a counter bore. The bullet no longer uses rifling in the very end of the barrel (where the damage was).

Sometimes the counter bore will be deep, and sometimes very shallow, as in this '43 Tikka M91

The quick test. Take a #2 lead pencil and try and put the eraser end down the barrel. If it goes in it is counterbored. If not it is not.

Yes, thanks for the pictures. I have seen rifles that were counterbored but did not know the term.

Hmmmm........never seen a counterbored SKS myself.

Is that why they show this pic? to show its not counterbored?

It shows that it's not counter bored as well as how worn the bore at the muzzle it. Less wear, bullet won't go in as far.

I've personally never worried about it, I view it as one of those "maintenance" things. Crown got scratched, counterbored. Finish wears off, I'll give Tula a call for their recipe. Not kidding on that, they've responded to other inquisitors, but I'm yet to contact them.