[pjuztarizo]

I purchased a double barrel 28" (O/U) Beretta SG from a friend that had the upper barrel fixed due to a mishap.

The upper barrel was damaged at the last 3 inches (muzzle side), it was repaired but the repair looks pretty odd to me. I has a very small pin hole of the size of a needle point at about 2 inches from the tip.

Questions:

Is it safe shooting having a pinhole near the muzzle?

or

Should I saw it down to 24"?

:confused: :confused: :confused:

[yankytrash]

I'd find out who fixed it and ask them about it, if it concerns you. Sounds to me like they might've put a new choke in it.

[Badger Arms]

You could turn it into a 25" barrelled O/U! It sounds like it might have been cracked and stop-drilled? Not unsafe so long as the choke constriction isn't that bad. Don't know. What kind of damage did it have in the first place?

[pjuztarizo]

I was told that it gor shot sideways at the muzzle, or something like that... it seems to me that the barrel side tip was bent inwards and got fixed (however cosmetically it doen´t look very clean) but functionality seems ok. Anyway I talked this morning to the previous owner and he told me that he had use it many times (after been repaired)without any problem.

Thanks you guys for the advise:)

[redneck]

One thing to keep in mind, its probably a little like the flash hole on a flintlock now. A small jet of hot gases might shoot out the hole when its fired. If its small it probably isn't to big a deal. But its something to keep in mind if you decide to help someone learn to shoot or something and have to stand close to them, stay out of line with the hole.

[pjuztarizo]

Fortunately is a very small hole. I could not stick a sharp pencil into it. I think a small needle tip could hardly fit. :)

[Al Thompson]

There's a place that will cut holes in your barrel sort of like that. It's called Mag-na-porting. :)

I'd shoot it - if the hole grows due to use, you can always cut the barrel. If you do cut the barrel, you'll lose the choke unless you have it cut for choke tubes.

Does it have fixed choke or tubes? :confused:

[pjuztarizo]

Nope, I does not have removable chokes :(

Can I have some threading device soldered to the barrel in order to accept removable chokes after the sawing job done (if required)?

[riverdog]

There are minimum Outside Diameter barrel requirements in order to have enough steel to install barrel chokes (Rem Choke, Tru-Choke etc). It would be best to contact the gunsmith who would do the work (I'd contact more than one) to see what they can do. Here's a few in the U.S. I don't know how that would work from Venezuela.
http://www.magnaport.com/
http://www.shotgunchokes.com/
http://www.vangcomp.com/

[Al Thompson]

Riverdog has the links posted. PJ, what are you planning on using it for?

[pjuztarizo]

(along with my CZ83 380acp) I plan to use it for home defense and occasional target shooting.

[riverdog]

A 24" barrel in an O/U is a good length for home defense. Your overall length would be about the same as my pump shotgun with 20" barrel. I just don't know what you mean when you ask, "Should I saw it down to 24"?" Are you planning to take a hacksaw and chop it yourself, or will you have it professionally shortened to remove the damaged muzzle? I get a picture in my head of hacking the end off a barrel and it's not a pretty picture.

[Al Thompson]

In that case, I wouldn'y worry about it. Shoot it as is, if you feel uncertain about the repair, have it cut. You won't have any choke, but for clays or just plinking, no problems. For most HD, choke is not important, unless you have really long shots or move out side.

[pjuztarizo]

Yes, I´ll shoot it the way it is now, if I got in trouble with the barrel, I´d find a gunsmith to have it cut down to 24". I´ll do some research about aftermarket chokes to see if I can have them installed (if possible). Otherwise that will be open barrel.

Will it still be effective at 40 yards with an 9 pellet 00 buckshot?

[riverdog]

Will it still be effective at 40 yards with an 9 pellet 00 buckshot? The pattern will be fairly open at 40 yards with no choke. Nine pellets and probably a 40" pattern isn't a lot of density. My cylinder bore barrel has a torso size pattern at 15 yards. You will need to shoot yours at whatever range you need to see what you get.

[Al Thompson]

How effective is it now? :) I've tested buck at 50 yards and tight patterns are tricky. My best was with a modified choke. Cylinder choke tended to give few hits per IPSC target.