TraverseSavage: At the bead, from about 1.5" to about 1" in from the muzzle, the diameter of the barrel is .598" to .592"
If you unscrew the reticle that I have on the rear sight, you get a very open "ghost ring" type sight picture.

Rear sight with my adjustable reticle:


Rear sight without reticle (the rifle really isn't as dirty/dusty as the macro setting with flash makes it out to be):


Another view:



I hope this helps. I couldn't really get the camera to focus as if it were looking through the sights.