Installing a Shotgun Bead

[Badger Arms]

I've got some barrel cutting planned and I'm wondering if anybody has any pointers for installing a bead on a shotgun. I've got the tap, I've got the beads, but I've never done this before. I also have a drill press. I was planning on just sight-aligning the barrel clamped in a padded vice. I'm going to use the current bead as a guide to get it as close to top-dead-center as possible. I might even pattern the gun so if the current bead shoots right or left, I can adjust the position of the new one.

So, I will drill it in the drill press, tap it, and then what? When I tighten the bead, how do I trim it inside? Is there a special procedure that I can do to prevent scratching the bore?

 

[Clemson]

Cut the bead shank very nearly to length, install with Loctite, and trim inside with a two-stone cylinder hone with plenty of honing oil. You are only out to polish the end of the shank down, so don't overdo. Since you are probably removing all the choke when you cut the barrel down, you should not negatively affect the way it patterns. Move the hone in and out of the barrel rather than staying in one place.

Clemson

 

[Jim K]

I won't argue against using a hone if you have one, but I did hundreds with a half round pattern-makers file and masking tape. I used a file I ground down so it wouldn't scratch the barrel if I overshot a little.

A small protrusion will not affect the pattern or cause a buildup of plastic wad material.

Jim