Well it is a solid 224 from end to end..thanks for all the help...Still Squeaks to clean it...one issue resolved..time to start trying new loads...found some OLD 22 caliber rimfire to pull the bullets out of..For the muzzle end I just tapped it in with a bit of hard wood then reversed it with the pusher on the cleaning rod...The second bullet I upset with a tiny hammer got it up over .230 lubed it with Imperial wax & started it in the breech end..a little judicious tapping & down the clean bore it went..pressure needed to move it did not vary a bit..Extremely uniform feel from end to end..A jewelers loupe to check the muzzle & the slug ...it all looks good..no hard spots or loose places..muzzle looks square & true....pic attached..I still think it would have been fun to fire squib loads into water & then mic them.....CSI CT,that was cute Dave....jobs done, time to move on with this barrel..mike in ct..edit added sunday am..I looked at the muzzle again in better light..many striations down in the grooves..looks like sanding against the grain...I'd like to put some extremely fine jewelers polishing compounds on a tight patch & try a few strokes in that bore..who has used JB paste or any fine grinding compounds in such a barrel before...Results??...TRY it Or NOT???..If it seems better & has not ruined the barrel..I was going to impregnate the surface of some bullets with the 800 grit tripoli 10 rds..then do 20 with the 1200 grit rouge..I'd fire them using only a reduced charge cleaning well between grits..& then really well before shooting real ammo..Your thoughts gentlemen ?? mike in ct