How dangerous is shooting a 12 gauge shotgun with a slight bulge close to the muzzle? I understand the why risk it point but as long as i shoot lead bird shot I cant see any real danger, besides maybe the wad getting stuck but all the pressure will be able to escape. The possibility seems slim. Thinking about it now, the metal might be fatigued at the bulge allowing a failure in the barrel in that area? But again the pressure would be allowed to escape when it hit that area. Maybe performance would suffer cause of the ability for the gas to escape around the bulge? Anyone have any experience with this?
Barrel Bulge
- Thread starter DASHMAN77
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ironworkerwill
Member
If it's really close to the muzzle, why not have it cut off. Hack it off and true it up with a file. The bulge can't be good for consistently and like you said, it could trap a wad.
If it's a vent rib, cut it to the end of the last rib that it effected. Then replace the bead.
If it's a common shotgun, buy a new barrel. Why risk it?
If it's a vent rib, cut it to the end of the last rib that it effected. Then replace the bead.
If it's a common shotgun, buy a new barrel. Why risk it?
ironworkerwill
Member
As long as nothing gets stuck in the bulge it'll be fine. But if it does.....
LoneGoose
Member
I have a buddy that quail hunts with a shotgun that has a perfect bulge about 1/3 of the length back from the muzzle. It got the bulge when he was a teenager. He's 60 now and hunts with it every year.
Sunray
Member
A bulge is a weak point in the barrel. NO amount of any kind of shooting with any ammo is safe. A bulge can be fixed though. Needs a shotgun smithy to do right.
its close enough to the muzzle that i can feel the area with my finger. If there is a void in the bulge area, it would take a micrometer to see it. I am no longer worried about anything becoming logged. Again, I'm not saying its going to be used. I don't think it wise to use this barrel. Just wondering what real dangers could be waiting or if anyone has real world experience with this. I can see theoretical danger but as long I shoot bird shot, the odds seem just that "theoretical". Thank you to all who have posted for not calling me moronic and thank you in advanced for any future comments. I love THR because most on this site take just that! The high road.
Virginian
Member
There are a lot of barrels that got a slight bulge shooting steel through a fixed choke in the early days of (awful) steel shot. Most are still shooting I expect.
Just curious, what makes anyone think that a payload going 1,000FPS or faster is going to stick in a slight bulge ?
Just curious, what makes anyone think that a payload going 1,000FPS or faster is going to stick in a slight bulge ?
entropy
Member
It's not the shot you need to worry about, it's the wad; they can get stuck. It doesn't take much for a barrel to blow when obstructed.
1911 guy
Member
Especially from a Mossberg 500 barrel, I'd replace it just for peace of mind. They aren't free, but the next best thing when compared to some other shotgun parts. Midway has a smoothbore 18 1/2 inch barrel for $112.99 right now.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/18...-3-18-1-2-cylinder-bore-with-bead-sight-steel
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/18...-3-18-1-2-cylinder-bore-with-bead-sight-steel
Virginian
Member
I have never seen a wad get stuck unless it was a blooper load, or there were slits cut in the barrel or a choke device. I have seen several Cutts/Weaver style cokes with petals sticking out, shooting very light loads, and the owners just kept right on shooting. I did not look closer as I was standing well back on purpose. I had the last 2 or 3 inches on the barrel of a Mossberg 183K with the C-Lect choke and barrel vents blow off and fly into the marsh many years ago. It may have had a caught wad and I didn't notice, but after Mossberg fixed it I sold it pronto.
I have known several people who continued to shoot guns with a slight bulge out near the end with heavy waterfowl loads with no further issues. I think some of you are greatly overestimating the dangers here. I wouldn't leave it like that because I am esthetics conscious only.
I have known several people who continued to shoot guns with a slight bulge out near the end with heavy waterfowl loads with no further issues. I think some of you are greatly overestimating the dangers here. I wouldn't leave it like that because I am esthetics conscious only.
ironworkerwill
Member
I had a wad get into the receiver of an 870. How the hell did that happen? I cannot make out the physics, maybe Remington shipped a new shotgun with a wad in the receiver. Then shooting it dislodged it later making it impossible to cycle.
As for making the barrel weak, sure if it was near the breech. One inch from the end won't matter in the slightest. Shoot it until the rib turns loose it won't make any difference.
As for making the barrel weak, sure if it was near the breech. One inch from the end won't matter in the slightest. Shoot it until the rib turns loose it won't make any difference.
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