I Broke My Shotgun

[dovedescending]

My delightful little NEF Pardner is somewhat busted. All of the most important bits are in great condition, and the gun still functions quite well, but the lug under the barrel that the forearm screws into sheared off. It looks like it was nothing more than a sloppy weld.

I want to get that forearm back on, but on a $70 otd gun, I don't feel like a visit to a smith is in order. Any suggestions? I don't mind a little bit of Bubba-fication as long as it gets the gun in proper functioning order again.

 

[FROGO207]

I would find out if H&R would repair it. They have done repairs for free on a couple of mine. Go to their web site and email them about it. Nothing to loose for sure. Barring that if you know someone that would Tig Weld it back on this would be the least damaging way to weld it back. Also they have a barrel replacement program if the serial numbers are in the correct range. Might be easier to get a replacement of a different size. Shotgun barrels are not expensive IIRC.

 

[Triphammer]

Plain 50/50 lead solder, Worked for the old guns & works today, if you can find it. It
s been a little hard to find since the whole
no lead in drinking water systems".

 

[BADUNAME37]

I would also only trust the manufacturer for such a repair. If they say they won't or cannot do it, then I would trash the gun.

I would not risk my safety and that of anyone else by trying to solder or otherwise attach a screw lug for the barrel.

 

[Rail Driver]

I would not risk my safety and that of anyone else by trying to solder or otherwise attach a screw lug for the barrel.

Just curious as to what you think the manufacturer might do differently in repairing the lug? It came from the factory with a "sloppy weld", how is it more dangerous for a skilled welder to repair the weld using the proper equipment?

 

[dovedescending]

Well, NEF/H&R won't do the repair for me for free. It would cost more than the gun is worth to have it shipped off and repaired. What about JB Weld or Quick Steel? Another thought I had was to install some bands around the stock a la pick-a-black-powder-rifle.

 

[scythefwd]

jb weld would work. A good welder could possibly do it without damaging the barrel. How thick is the barrel right there? My single shot (not a nef, I'm not too familiar with them) uses a dovetail to mount the sleeve the screw goes into. Might be able to get a machinist to cut the dovetail into the barrel and modify the bottom of the stem, sleeve, whatever you want to call it to mount into it. It would require a longer screw most likely.

 

[Clark]

That looks like a spot weld.

 

[dagger dog]

Take it to a weld shop that has the ability to TIG weld, take some bath towels with you and ask the welder to wet the towels and wrap them around the barrel before he TIGS the lug.

The tungsten inert gas (TIG) process focuses the heat on a very small area, with proper cooling (wet towles) the heat will not have a chance to spread, and even if it did I seriously doubt it woul affect the barrel in any way.

 

[gunplumber]

It's a simple silver solder fix; any smith can do it for about 35.00 I would think.

 

[FROGO207]

Using JB Weld and such will only be a temporary repair. It will shear off after a shot or two most likely. There must be a welder that is available in your area. Where the lug is located on my 12 GA is reasonably thick. As I stated earlier Tig welding will be fast, permanent, and most likely not damage the barrel. My lugs are also spot welded on the shotgun barrels (12, 20, 410 NEF"S) by the factory I see.

 

[Clark]

FROGO207
Using JB Weld and such will only be a temporary repair. It will shear off after a shot or two most likely. .

I have never seen epoxy-metal bonding in shear get passed ONE shot.

When they bed scope mounts to receivers, the epoxy is in compression and the screws are in tension.
There is shear force on the epoxy structure, but no shear on the epoxy to metal bonding.

Take out the screws, and the mount pops off with the first shot.

 

[Mike1234567]

Hmm... is it better to "break your shotgun" or "shake your brought gun"? I choose the latter.

 

[gamestalker]

Mine did the same thing after many years of use. It must be a common flaw with those? I threw mine away, I mean $70 for years of use isn't a bad deal really.