Barrel problem, S&W M-52

First topic message reminder :

I bought my M-52 a couple of years ago.  The fellow I bought it from used it for a short time probably in the 1980's, then put it away.  I bought it, but didn't get to use it much.  I cleaned it once, but before that I hadn't shot it very much.  For the past few weeks, I'm shooting it more, and working on what to do to improve my shooting.  Today I intended to do a thorough cleaning.  

When I got to the barrel, the cleaning brass brush felt "funny" when it was close to the chamber end of the barrel.  I looked in, and saw what I thought was lead fowling.  So, lets of patches, lots of "Shooter's Choice", followed by lots of Hoppe's #9 - now it's better, but it's not clean.


Somehow I managed to get a photo of it.  The photo looks worse than what I see looking at it, but my main issue right now is what to do about it.  Can I clean it at all, or do I need to send it to a specialist?  Can it even be fixed?  Maybe I should post this in the S&W forum as well - maybe someone there has already dealt with this problem.  Here's the gruesome photo:

kjanracing wrote:DON’T as in DO NOT follow that guy in the video showing how to take down a 52! He has no clue how it’s done.
Kurt

+1 

I just watched that whole video, it was painful.  Someone should take that 52 away from him, he has no business with it!

mikemyers,
I'd remove the video just so someone doesn't try to take down their 52 following the steps in the video.
- Dave

Your problem may the result of a too hot load or undersize bullets or improper reloading. If these are hbwc, the sized case may be swaging the bullet as you seat it. A full (bullet) length expander plug should solve that if that is the case.

Never use a drill to power a bore brush. You can fire brush it. Use a Propane torch or cigar lighter on low stable flame, run up the bore for 5 sec, then brush and patch with solvent. Bbl doesn't get hot, heat flux through the deposit loosens it. Good luck

dronning wrote:mikemyers,
I'd remove the video just so someone doesn't try to take down their 52 following the steps in the video.
- Dave

I didn't delete the video, as I found it useful for other reasons, but I did add a note in CAPS warning people not to do it as in this video, and to follow the S&W instructions also posted up above.

Sorry for not doing this sooner.