I am a long time shooter, but new to this group. I have recently aquired a nice Euro martini type rifle in 8.15x46R. I'd like to slug it. Is there an easy method to slug this? I remember reading somewhere about using hollow fishing weights.

I use round balls, too, but I push them all the way through. That way I can tell if the bore has any loose or tight spots. Make sure you have a lubricant in the barrel before sluging. 

Trying to use a bullet can get you into trouble. I got one stuck about 6" in from the muzzle. It just STOPPED and wouldn't go either way. I had to turn a bore sized rod and then drill and tap it for a aircraft drill to get a hole in the bullet so that it would come out.

Frank

Marlin,
Good idea. Tried to do the same thing with muzzle loaders by putting a twelve inch long steel rod in the bore. Insert the rod and ball. Invert the rifle and shake until the rod drives the ball out. Works OK for large calibers, but your idea is much better for small calibers.
Chuck 

Chuckster wrote on Feb 3^rd, 2012 at 10:53pm:


Thanks Chuck. I start with large round lead balls for .45 cal. and re-use them for smaller calibers, rather than make up numerous size balls. Once I've checked anything down to around .30 cal. I toss them in the melting pot. Never had anything larger than .460 cal. to check.

Rather than using a soft lead ball I prefer to use Cerrosafe and cast the bore.  I think it gives you a more accurate reading of the lands.
   
I once made the mistake of not lubrication the bore before pouring it into the barrel.  What a pucker moment, when I couldn't get it out.  Ended up modifying an air chisel so I could insert a brass rod in the end and jackhammered the center of the slug out.  Luckily it was on a bolt action so I had a straight shot into the barrel. No damage to anything.

digitall423 wrote on Feb 11^th, 2012 at 8:56am:

You don't even need a lot of heat...Cerrosafe melts between 180 and 200 F.  It shrinks on cooling and expands to actual size in about 3 hours, but will continue expanding for several days...not much, but still...  If you had pits, roughness or a bulge in your bore, Cerrosafe will hang up via a mechanical lock, and you're back to melting it out.

David