Tightening a shotgun

[Jessesky]

Hi guys,

I have a decent shotgun I picked up but it has loose barrels. They are loose both up and down and side to side. It’s not nice enough to warrant the cost to bring it to a smith. I’m aware of putting in a new pin or welding metal onto the lump. Personally I’d prefer to just move some metal by peening the bite a little. I have seen improvement on the vertical wobble from doing this, but horizontally not as much. What part of the lug, lump, etc should I peen to tighten up the side to side movements?

I have a loose beater shotgun I’ve pictured below that I’m using to practice on.

 

[entropy]

Use JB Weld and pieces of feeler gauge to face the underlug and tighten it up.

NO! Lampblack it to see what's connecting and what isn't. Then plan where to rebuild the steel with TIG weld, not JB Weld. If you cannot do the weld, find a good welder who will understand what to do. BTW, your terminology is incorrect. The block is loose, not the barrels. That would be indicative of the rib welds being loose. Unless this is practice for gunsmithing school (in which case you shouldn't need to ask here), or a family heirloom, it appears to not be worth the trouble.

 

[troy fairweather]

there is a good series midwayusa did on youtube, with a old british gunsmith. it goes over what you need.

 

[skeeterfogger]

Yeah I'd do the find the spots and metal (weld) then fit. Find factory specks on parts. Will help greatly on knowing if fit at each point is true to specs and save you from removing and or leaving metal maintaining symmetry.
Or look around and see if new parts are available.
I don't think peening won't last.
I know you are not really liking this as advice but really think it's best and lasting fix.

 

[eastbank]

if mine I would retire it.