SKS barrel pitting question

[u/Bobba_cs]

Is this safe to shoot long term? I dont want the pitting to lead to a larger failure down the line. I’d like to use this rifle long term as it is my go to semi right now.

Also, would normal cleaning and oiling prevent it from worsening?

Thanks!

[u/Bowmann-94]

Those look bad/scary but ultimately superficial. I’ve got a few guns mostly antiques that have worse pits than that that I shoot regularly. I’d shoot it but I’m just some guy on the internet to you 😂 get yourself a cheap caliper measure the od of the barrel then measure the deepest pit subtract the pit from the od and check it against light weight pencil barrels in heavy 30 cal cartridges and I bet you have more metal than you think. A good smith can fix this but it’d be a lot of time with a welder going slow so as not to warp it and a reblue when it’s all filled in. Cost more than the gun probably so just rock it the way it is.