What is it with cz hornet barrels

[Reloader708]

Why is it all the cz hornets ive seen over the years (mine included) have horribly pitted barrels?
Mine came like that (second hand) but it seems to be a common problem.
Anyway for years ive been wanting to K it, but id like a decent barrel screwed on first if im going to the effort.
Id just get a new cz rifle but thats no longer an option so a barrel is the only way. Seems rash on a sub £400 rifle?? It shoots.....alright, but how good could the little hornet be without a gnarly barrel?
What a shame cz discontinued the hornet!

 

[cjm1066]

Friend had one with a blue in the barrel, it still shot nicely.

 

[ashray]

Iknow this does not help but my cz527 223rem <bought new> had a badly pitted barrel after 6 months use ,cz said not their problem ! it was very well looked after and although pitted 20 of its 24" length<i had it borescoped> it shot extremely well for the 20 years i owned it. i am informed that cz barrel tubing is stored outside until needed but it could have been caused by anything .

 

[Klenchblaize]

Is it just CZ barrels? I very much doubt it as the issue is in the type of powder used in 22 Hornet ammunition. Being of shotgun powder characteristics it leaves the bore filthy and with globules of crud that act as a moisture magnet. If left in the bore for any time they are the perfect catalyst for erosion.

Always give your Hornet barrel a few passes with clean patches after use.

K

 

[Reloader708]

Is it just CZ barrels? I very much doubt it as the issue is in the type of powder used in 22 Hornet ammunition. Being of shotgun powder characteristics it leaves the bore filthy and with globules of crud that act as a moisture magnet. If left in the bore for any time they are the perfect catalyst for erosion.

Always give your Hornet barrel a few passes with clean patches after use.

K

Thats interesting and certainly makes sense!

 

[Smellydog]

Is it just CZ barrels? I very much doubt it as the issue is in the type of powder used in 22 Hornet ammunition. Being of shotgun powder characteristics it leaves the bore filthy and with globules of crud that act as a moisture magnet. If left in the bore for any time they are the perfect catalyst for erosion.

Always give your Hornet barrel a few passes with clean patches after use.

K

Close but not quite my friend.
It is a character of 22 hornet not because of powder type but due to it's performance level.
22 hornet does not get the barrel inner surface hot enough with just one shot to clear the water vapour produced upon combustion. Or keep as a vapour for sufficient time.
Hence it condenses immediately on the bores surface.
Apart from a rusting action via oxygen released on the surface of the iron from the water the combusted materials can form mild acids.
Many hornets have passed through my hands and every one I could often observe a droplet of water near the breech end.
Look next time you have shot one.
Bigger cartridges generate much more heat which works against condensation as some is retained by the barrel.

 

[Kiwiguy]

Close but not quite my friend.
It is a character of 22 hornet not because of powder type but due to it's performance level.
22 hornet does not get the barrel inner surface hot enough with just one shot to clear the water vapour produced upon combustion. Or keep as a vapour for sufficient time.
Hence it condenses immediately on the bores surface.
Apart from a rusting action via oxygen released on the surface of the iron from the water the combusted materials can form mild acids.
Many hornets have passed through my hands and every one I could often observe a droplet of water near the breech end.
Look next time you have shot one.
Bigger cartridges generate much more heat which works against condensation as some is retained by the barrel.

This is a very interesting theory but suggests that all 22 WMR, 22LR, 17 HMR and any other small capacity cartridge rifle barrel should suffer pitting.

My Weihrauch 22 Hornet does not have pitting in the bore nor does any of my 22LR rifles.

This may be attributed to the fact that I always clean my rifles as soon as I get home from shooting.

 

[Smellydog]

This is a very interesting theory but suggests that all 22 WMR, 22LR, 17 HMR and any other small capacity cartridge rifle barrel should suffer pitting.

My Weihrauch 22 Hornet does not have pitting in the bore nor does any of my 22LR rifles.

This may be attributed to the fact that I always clean my rifles as soon as I get home from shooting.

There is the volume of water vapour produced factor.
With the smaller rimfires the volume of powder is much less than hornet.
17 and 22 magnum rimfires do suffer putting if not looked after.
22 is pretty safe due to the bullet lubes used coating the bore.
22 hornet is just in the sweet spot for a droplet to form.
By all means, rod a barrel returning to a warm home.

 

[cjs66]

Not just CZ, my Weihrauch 22 Hornet barrel is as rough as a badger's aris! About 1.5" from the throat.
Still shoots though. I now pull a bore snake through it after every outing, but I think I'm a bit late on that one.

cjs

 

[hoodwink]

This is a very interesting theory but suggests that all 22 WMR, 22LR, 17 HMR and any other small capacity cartridge rifle barrel should suffer pitting.

My Weihrauch 22 Hornet does not have pitting in the bore nor does any of my 22LR rifles.

This may be attributed to the fact that I always clean my rifles as soon as I get home from shooting.

The Rimfire cartridges use a propellant (cellulose i believe) that doesn’t attract moisture like the salt that is produced by a centerfire

 

[enfieldspares]

Why is it all the cz hornets ive seen over the years (mine included) have horribly pitted barrels?
Mine came like that (second hand) but it seems to be a common problem.
Anyway for years ive been wanting to K it, but id like a decent barrel screwed on first if im going to the effort.
Id just get a new cz rifle but thats no longer an option so a barrel is the only way. Seems rash on a sub £400 rifle?? It shoots.....alright, but how good could the little hornet be without a gnarly barrel?
What a shame cz discontinued the hornet!

Maybe folk using old Eley ammunition mercuric primed ammunition or more likely folk that have not got a .22 cleaning rod?* A friend did the K-Hornet thing to his German O/U combination gun 16 bore over .22 Hornet that I sold him. the cartridge for those that don't know then looks like aa Austin Powers "Mini Me" .303 round. He reported back that the performance in every aspect was much much improved. Easier to reload, better case life, better power and better accuracy apparently.

* Can afford a decent rifle but didn't quite have the money to hand for a correct diameter cleaning rod and cleaning brush sort of person!

 

[Klenchblaize]

I think the consensus is don't store rifle with crud and moisture in barrel and all will be fine some 44-years on:

K

 

[Smellydog]

The Rimfire cartridges use a propellant (cellulose i believe) that doesn’t attract moisture like the salt that is produced by a centerfire

As far as I'm aware the only powder that produces salts is black powder and it's substitutes.
Water is produced by the combustion of powder itself.
You are correct though in that some combustion residue is hygroscopic. More so black powder and it's substitutes.

 

[Liveonce]

The Rimfire cartridges use a propellant (cellulose i believe) that doesn’t attract moisture like the salt that is produced by a centerfire

all propellants use nitro cellulose, except black powder, if only using nitro cellulose they are termed single base, if they contain nitro cellulose and nitro glycerin they are termed double base, their is also triple base which is double base plus Nitroguanidine but it’s use is larger artillery shells rather than small arms ammunition.

so Rimfire and centerfire will use either single or double base propellant depending principally on the propellant burn rate required.

No salts are produced as the result of nitro cellulose based combustion of propellants.

 

[Reloader708]

Ive had a good look around at other 527's in .22 hornet, they're obviously showing their age now, such a shame you cant buy a new one!
Mine gets some use, its perfect for hares and squirrels, very quiet too which is also appealing but the pitted barrel looks dreadful.
Does it shoot? Its alright, but no better than my very accurate. 22lr
There's perhaps a lovely cabinet queen out there thatll come up for sale, because when ive asked anyone about a new barrel for mine I just get a laugh.
The thought of screwing £1000 onto a £100 action! .....but like I said their isn't any new ones being made.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Ive had a good look around at other 527's in .22 hornet, they're obviously showing their age now, such a shame you cant buy a new one!
Mine gets some use, its perfect for hares and squirrels, very quiet too which is also appealing but the pitted barrel looks dreadful.
Does it shoot? Its alright, but no better than my very accurate. 22lr
There's perhaps a lovely cabinet queen out there thatll come up for sale, because when ive asked anyone about a new barrel for mine I just get a laugh.
The thought of screwing £1000 onto a £100 action! .....but like I said their isn't any new ones being made.

No need to replace barrel:
Sako .22 Hornet M78 | GunTrader
K