pjifl wrote:I think there maybe room for experimenting with a 'muzzle weight such that it exactly cancels a naturally bent bore when indexed to 12 OClock. It is not hard to calculate a weight depending on amount of bore bend.
I am fairly neutral when it comes to both. Anyway, in my present state of health I cannot do justice to any of my older good barrels anymore - none of which seemed to need these refinement.
I sometimes wonder just how many barrels are badly fitted which could explain many of the barrel problems we aim to fix. I would think a barrel fitted indexed would always have been handled with more care than many lazy Gunsmiths do.
Peter Smith.
Your last paragraph perhaps says it all Peter ... guarantee some 'Smiths' work is not good ! But then so is the work of many tradesmen so nothing new there. Caveat emptor.
Just hang a big fixed weight off your current barrel. Make sure it has a pure magnesium core ( Mg has VERY high damping properties ) and a heavy outer skin, finishes 1" forward of the muzzle and is bloody big. Works for me.